Ten graduates of DoorDash’s 12-week Midwest accelerator gathered Wednesday to celebrate successes from the program, along with lessons they say will last longer than the $5,000 grants each entrepreneur received.
Tanyech Yarbrough, owner of Wah Gwan, discusses the impact of DoorDash’s new accelerator program for Kansas City small businesses in mid-May during a kickoff event for the program; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
“Running a small business is tough work, and it meant so much to receive support from DoorDash and my home of Kansas City,” said Tanyech Yarbrough, owner of Wah Gwan. “The DoorDash Accelerator for Local Businesses has been instrumental in ensuring that Wah Gwan is equipped to deal with whatever the future holds.”
Wrapping its first cohort in Kansas City — and designed in partnership with City Hall — the accelerator provided selected small business owners with dedicated mentorship, specialized programming, and grant funding to strengthen operations while fostering long-term growth through local government connections.
“When small businesses thrive, communities thrive,” said Quinton Lucas, mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. “I’m incredibly proud of our DoorDash Accelerator for Local Businesses graduates. You represent the best of Kansas City, and it has been inspiring watching you grow over the last several months. I’d like to thank DoorDash for recognizing the talent of our local entrepreneurs and for reinforcing that there’s no place like Kansas City to operate a small business.”
Over the course of the program, participants engaged in hands-on learning, including: one-on-one mentorship from seasoned DoorDash peer merchants; targeted business workshops focused on menu optimization, business operations, digital storefronts, and accessing local support resources; a grant to support business development efforts; and $1,000 in DoorDash ad credits to expand customer reach.
“I found the Advertising Credits especially impactful, after launching a marketing campaign utilizing best practices shared by the DoorDash team, the amount of customers at my business tripled,” said Yarbrough. “I’m incredibly grateful to have been included in this year’s programming and would strongly recommend DoorDash Accelerators to any small business owner who wants to see their businesses thrive.”
The 2025 Kansas City accelerator cohort included:
- Fifth & Emery Frozen Yogurt & Chocolate
- Gomers Wine and Spirits
- Jovitos Italian Cafe & Deli
- Mixing Bowl On The Go
- PH Coffee LLC
- Ruby Jean’s Juicery
- SAUCED
- Shop Local KC
- Wah Gwan
- Zero Zero Handmade Pasta
“When I think of the Accelerator for Local Businesses, I think of one word: opportunity,” said Katie Mabry van Dieren, owner of Shop Local KC. “It was an opportunity to learn, an opportunity to meet like minds, and an opportunity to further grow Shop Local KC. I want to thank DoorDash and my home of Kansas City for investing in local businesses like mine.”
Esther Ladipo Hill, social impact manager at DoorDash, expressed gratitude to Lucas, KC BizCare, the City of Kansas City, Missouri, and Pathway Financial Education for their efforts to champion small businesses throughout the program.
“This accelerator is about investing in small businesses that power our communities. It’s been so encouraging to hear how the DoorDash webinars and in-person workshops have helped merchants tackle real challenges in their businesses,” she said. “Thank you to all the local experts who shared their insights and made this programming possible. We’re excited to see what’s next for this incredible group of entrepreneurs.”
