UMKC Innovation Center

Build smarter. Grow faster. Apply to ScaleUP! KC.

Growth-minded business owners and leaders like Carrie Kiefer at Ampersand Design Studio and Kamia Kindle at Soda Pop Graphics completed the ScaleUP! KC program to propel their business plans forward and drive growth.

“Take advantage of it. It won’t do anything but improve your business,” says Kamia. "ScaleUP! is a safe space. Don’t squander the opportunity."

ScaleUP! KC is currently accepting applications for its 16th cohort, which runs Aug. 6 – Nov. 19, 2026. Apply by July 17, 2026. Link in the comments.

Small business owners in KCK and Wyandotte County can turn to The Toolbox: Small Business Resource Center, one of KCSourceLink's many resource partners serving small business owners in Greater Kansas City.

Celebrating its fifth anniversary in October 2026, The Toolbox: helps multiple small businesses launch and grow in Kansas City by offering practical services from courses and workshops to consultations.

Executive Director Gabe Munoz shares how The Toolbox originated, evolved and actively serves people ready to start a small business. Link to the story in the comments.

Ever wondered how to get funding for your business? There is a lot of misinformation out there! Come learn the truths behind these 6 business funding myths.

“Entrepreneurs usually need funding, but accessing funds feels like a secret. We’ll cover grants, bank loans, SBA loans, and alternative lending sources. You'll learn the secrets of how to be funding ready.” – Senior Business Development Consultant Joel Barrett, Missouri SBDC at UMKC

Sign up today. Class starts July 14. Link to register in the comments.

Two-time founder Jannae Gammage is one of four panelists you'll want to see and hear at our next Sound Bytes, From Idea to Prototype: The Rise of Vibe Coding, a free event on June 11, 4:30-6 p.m., sponsored by Husch Blackwell.

Along with moderator Jeff Zhao and fellow panelists Paige Reese, Gwendolyn Gillette, and Alexandria Hamilton, Jannae will share perspective on the rise of vibe coding and AI-assisted development, the risks, realities, and best practices of vibe coding, and more.

Jannae speaks from a deep well of industry experience. She's the CEO of Cyphr which uses AI to power intelligent capital deployment across the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Jannae spent the last decade building tech-enabled solutions that merge empathy with innovation.

Her leadership is grounded in systems thinking, storytelling, and a deep belief in the power of modern tools to unlock legacy problems. That human-centered perspective adds value to the conversation about a fast-evolving landscape where AI is deployed.

Registration link in the comments.

Digital Sandbox KC, a proof of concept funding program of Tech Venture Studio at the UMKC Innovation Center, won the Access to Capital award from Keystone Innovation District on June 4, 2026, at the Third Annual Keystone Awards.

TVS Digital Sandbox KC Program Director Jeff Zhao and Program Manager Kayla Anderson show off the hardware.

Since 2013, Digital Sandbox KC has provided each awardee up to $20,000 in proof of-concept funding, supporting the development of more than 250 startups in the Kansas City region. Program participants also gather critical project feedback and access industry support. Awardees have also attracted more than $243 million in follow-on investment.

Want to learn more about Digital Sandbox? Link in the comments.

You have the idea. Now go for the funding.

Need funding for a program or idea that removes barriers and builds entrepreneurship in Kansas City?

$5-12K funding opportunities are available for great ideas that deliver big impact. Submit your application today. Applications close July 5, 2026.

Link in the comments.

Register today for Tech Venture Studio's Sound Bytes - From Idea to Prototype: The Rise of Vibe Coding on June 11, 4:30-6:00 pm. (Free event. Link in the comments).

Moderator Jeff Zhao chats about vibe coding with panelists Gwendolyn Gillette from Keystone Innovation District, Paige Reese from Husch Blackwell, Orinyx Founder Alexandria H., and Cyphr Founder and CEO Jannae Gammage.

You already know success as a small business owner. Get ready to scale. Apply to ScaleUP! KC.

Growth-minded business owners and leaders like Isaac Lee Collins of Fifth & Emery Frozen Yogurt and Chocolate completed the ScaleUP! KC program to propel their business plans forward and drive growth.

ScaleUP! KC is currently accepting applications for its 16th cohort, which runs Aug. 6 – Nov. 19, 2026. Apply by July 17, 2026. Link in the comments.