Missouri SBDC at UMKC

09/02/2026

The Challenge
Without sufficient investment capital, entrepreneurs and startup founders face the hurdle of how to further develop a product or platform or grow a business.

What You Can Do
Pitching investors is a learned skill you can develop to enhance the likelihood of securing funding.

Who Can Help
Michele Weigand, managing partner of Focused Perspective, leads Pitching to Investors designed for entrepreneurs who want to better understand how to present their business to potential investors.

Time to Invest in Yourself
Register by Sept. 19. Course begins Sept. 23, 4:30-7 PM. https://sbdc.umkc.edu/event/pitching-to-investors-7/

What You'll Learn
• Core components of an effective investor pitch

• How to clearly communicate the value of a product or service

• Describe your target market

• Explain competitive advantages

The Outcome
Gain practical guidance, clearer expectations, and greater confidence when preparing to pitch to investors.

08/20/2026

Missouri SBDC at UMKC was selected as #33 among 80 of America's Best Accelerators for its growth and expansion stage of support. Programs like ScaleUP! KC, which recently launched its 16th cohort featuring 19 entrepreneurs, and Growth360 support business owners ready to accelerate growth.

Notably, Missouri SBDC at UMKC is the only accelerator in the bistate MO/KS region on the list prepared by Time and Statista.

"What an honor to be recognized nationally," says Jill Hathaway, Regional Director, Missouri SBDC at UMKC.

As Time's writer Charlotte Hu reported, startups poised for growth have become attractive targets for investment. Accelerators like Missouri SBDC at UMKC are instrumental in supporting businesses ready to scale.

“I think part of what's pushed this movement into accelerators for many founders is that U.S. venture capital has moved over time from seed- and early-stage to more growth-oriented investment,” says Valentina Assenova, an assistant professor at University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. “It's a lot more capital that's coming after startups are very scalable.”

Several hundred candidates were evaluated in the Time/Statista multi-stage research process. Results highlight "the most outstanding hubs offering incubator and accelerator programs in the United States."

Missouri SBDC at UMKC's work In 2025 demonstrated its ongoing practical impact, further proof of its earned recognition. It helped 67 new small businesses launch, trained more than 1,900 entrepreneurs through its programs and classes, delivered more than 4,100 hours of 1:1 business advising at no cost, and its clients collectively experienced $249 million in sales growth.

Their work to support dedicated founders continues in 2026-27.

View the full rankings: https://time.com/article/2026/08/18/americas-best-incubators-accelerators-2026/

08/04/2026

What Spanish-language business resources are available in Kansas City? We put together a guide.

Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs in Kansas City have access to free business advising, startup training, funding guidance, networking events, and bilingual workshops through UMKC Innovation Center, KCSourceLink, the Missouri SBDC at UMKC, and community resource partners like The Toolbox: Small Business Resource Center.

https://www.kcsourcelink.com/2026/08/03/spanish-language-resource-guide-for-entrepreneurs-at-umkc-innovation-center/

08/03/2026

Apply: https://gewkc.com/maker-fair-apply

08/03/2026

Congrats to our recent Growth360 program graduates!!

Registration deadline for the next English-only session of Growth360 is Sept. 14th. Growth360 is held on Fridays 9am-noon in person at 4747 Troost from Sept 18-Nov 20, 2026.

Learn more about the program: https://sbdc.umkc.edu/event/growth360-22/2026-09-18/

07/13/2026