LaunchKC Grants Competition
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LaunchKC Grants Competition
LaunchKC
ABOUT THE GRANT
The LaunchKC Grants Competition awards early-stage startups with $60,000 in equity-free grant funding plus a year of support services in exchange for relocating their business to Kansas City, Missouri for at least one year. Administered by LaunchKC (a nonprofit community benefit organization funded largely through the State of Missouri, the Missouri Technology Corporation, and the Kansas City community) the competition invests more than $500,000 into startups annually and searches nationwide for innovative, scalable, technology-enabled early-stage companies. In addition to the cash grant, recipients receive free office space in Downtown Kansas City for one year, one-on-one mentorship with industry experts, curated programming and fundraising support, and access to the LaunchKC network of investors and partners.
Eligible applicants must be for-profit entities with technology-based products or services, operate a scalable business model, and be at the validated-idea stage or later (with a minimum viable product, customer discovery, or other market validation). Applicants may come from anywhere in the U.S. or abroad but must agree to locate their headquarters or significant operations — including at least one full-time founder and 51% of full-time staff — in Kansas City, MO for the duration of the year-long program. Retail businesses with brick-and-mortar storefronts, residential real estate businesses, investment vehicles, sports venues, gaming and gambling businesses, lodging establishments, entertainment-related establishments, and past LaunchKC cash-prize winners are not eligible. Applicants are selected through a competitive three-round judging process that culminates in live in-person pitches at the LaunchKC Finals.
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NOTES
We haven't added commentary on this grant yet. In the meantime, the fundor's website (linkeded above) is the best source for application details and eligibility specifics.
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