LaunchKC Grants Competition

LaunchKC Grants Competition is sponsored by LaunchKC. The LaunchKC Grants Competition invests in innovative, scalable, technology-enabled early-stage companies that agree to relocate their business to Kansas City, Missouri for at least one year.

We Believe in the Believers Powered by a purpose to ignite KC’s entrepreneurial spirit, LaunchKC invests more than $1 million a year in high-growth startups. Apply now to be a part of our 2026 cohort and for $60,000 in funding, plus access to a host of support services! $ 652 M Follow-On Capital Investing in Startups & KC’s Future Since 2015!

LaunchKC invites innovative, early-stage tech startups looking to take their business to the next level to apply for $60,000 in funding, plus access to a host of support services! Each year, we invest more than $500,000 in Pre-Seed and Seed Stage companies that relocate to Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, through our grants competition.

Founded in 2014, LaunchKC is a nonprofit initiative of the Downtown Council (DTC) and the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Kansas City, Missouri. The Social Venture Studio, powered by LaunchKC, connects business solutions rooted in solving social, environmental, or racial issues, with the firepower necessary to thrive. Ultimately, the program aims to create exponential societal impact by supporting scalable ideas and talent.

It was so incredible for us because it gave us so much immediate attention, everybody suddenly knew who we were and what we were doing. The funds and exposure were both so important to our company, it would be hard to say where we would be right now if we hadn’t received them. Heather Spalding CEO, Cambrian The award was not just validating, but access to more capital at one time than we had ever had before.

Tim Sylvestor President, Integrated Roadways KC was recognized as a “rising star” for its brisk pace of tech job growth in the last several years, even continuing to add jobs during the first year of the pandemic. Brookings , March 2022 The only Midwest city to make the top 10, Kansas City was recognized as a prime location for launching a business, noted for local support from homegrown investors and low filing costs.

Real Estate Witch , January 2022 Kansas City added the third-highest percentage of tech jobs anywhere in the United States in 2020, behind only Austin and San Francisco. KC Tech Council , May 2021 In an analysis from The Wall Street Journal, Kansas City’s job market landed high among metros with at least 1 million people, racing ahead of many bigger metros.

The Wall Street Journal , April 2022 Kansas City ranks No. 14 in the large metro category in Spanning Backup’s “Cities with the Most Technology Jobs Per Capita” list thanks to employment in computer and math occupations, median annual wage, and more. Spanning Backup , January 2021 The Kansas City region ranks No. 8 among 38 major metros for the largest migration gains since the start of the pandemic.

The top regions listed offer strong affordability and manageable housing prices. LinkedIn , March 2021