City of Entrepreneurs

Rep Urs: City of Entrepreneurs reframes KC hustle as open door to community-backed culture of wealth

City of Entrepreneurs is not a single program, but a framework connecting efforts across policy, capital access, and physical space, all aimed at making entrepreneurship easier to navigate and more likely to succeed.

World Cup showcase: Small biz marketplace planned for high-traffic Union Station hub during games

A five-week activation at Kansas City’s Union Station is expected to give World Cup visitors and locals a taste of the region’s small business community — gathering a mix of retail, service-based concepts, and experiences not far from the official FIFA Fan Festival.

Emma Willis, Venture Noire

Ulta, Venture Noire apply foundation with new beauty startup accelerator to ‘uplift minority founders’

Ulta Beauty’s premier MUSE Accelerator is nothing short of life changing, said Emma Willis.  The national beauty retailer has partnered with Venture Noire to launch a 10-week, hybrid accelerator that supports Black, Indeginous and underrepresented founders of color as they prepare to break into and thrive in the beauty retail space, explained Willis, who serves…

Nia Richardson, KC Bizcare, and Emma Willis, Venture Noire

They want to create a SXSW-style festival in KC, but City of Entrepreneurs’ plans for Black founders dig even deeper

Activation is just the beginning for organizers of a new, high-profile partnership that aims to boost Black business owners — starting in Kansas City — via programming, resources, major events and a soon-to-be announced accelerator. Entrepreneurs, investors and local politicians gathered Wednesday to celebrate the soft launch of City of Entrepreneurs — a new initiative that…