SparkLabKC, a Kansas City Business Accelerator, Chooses First Class
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Contact:
Jennifer Fettchenhauer
Eidson & Partners,
Inc.
816-474-0747
jennifer@eidsonandpartners.com
SparkLabKC, a Kansas City Business Accelerator, Chooses First Class
Eleven
Companies accepted for in-residence program including seed capital,
mentors
and business advisory services
Kansas City, Mo. – May 9, 2013 – Eleven early-stage startup companies have been selected for SparkLabKC’s inaugural class, including: The Briefcase, FolioMatch, Knoda, Prodigy Arcade, NeighborsGrow (Rockhill Strategic), Innovative Health Media, VolunteerMark, FormZapper, Your Adoption Finance Coach, Ante Meridiem and FanAddict.
SparkLabKC supports startups using a proven business accelerator model adapted to the Kansas City region.
“We had planned to select 10 companies for the initial class. However, we were very impressed with the applicant quality and opted to take eleven companies,” said Kevin Fryer, SparkLabKC managing director and Kansas City entrepreneur. “Not only have we oversubscribed the initial class, we have oversubscribed the mentor pool. We set an original target of 80 mentors, and the response has been enormous. More than 100 experienced entrepreneur/mentors are now part of the SparkLabKC team.”
Of the eleven companies, all are from the Kansas City region. These companies represent a wide range of business segments and all have a technology component to their operations.
“It is interesting to note that SparkLabKC was successful in competing with other well-established business accelerators at the national level, including a well-known New York City-based accelerator,” noted Fryer. “We have a significant level of support from regional entrepreneurs who are committed to making each SparkLabKC company a success.”
SparkLabKC’s program includes:
Seed capital of up to $18,000
More than 100 mentors with deep experience across virtually every industry
Free workspace
Legal, accounting, financial and human resources advisory services
A formal prototype demonstration day for potential investors
-More-
SparkLabKC’s mentors, sponsors and partners come from the public and private sectors, and provide the depth of resources, experience and knowledge needed to help startups on their path to success.
SparkLabKC sponsors and partners include:
Polsinelli
Meara. Welch. Browne.
Mid-America Angels Investments, LLC
Missouri Bank
OneLouder
HR On-Call Solutions
DST Systems, Inc.
EPR Properties
MRIGlobal
KC Next
University of Missouri-Kansas City Innovation Center
University of Kansas Center for Technology Commercialization
University of Missouri
Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute
How the Program Works:
SparkLabKC selected 11 companies and the accelerator program will begin May 29 at the SparkLabKC office, located at 215 West Pershing Road, just across the street from Union Station in Kansas City, Mo.
SparkLabKC program timeline:
Month one is heavy mentoring to help refine business and product strategy.
Month two is product focused with work on prototype development.
Month three focuses on refining the prototype pitch for Demo Day.
Aug. 23 is Demo Day when each company presents its prototype product to angel investors and venture capitalists.
About SparkLabKC: We are an early-stage business accelerator based in Kansas City, Mo., created to help driven Midwestern entrepreneurs forge their ideas into successful companies. SparkLabKC selects 11 promising startups each year for a 90-day intense, in-residence, mentor-driven program that provides up to $18,000 in seed capital, business advisory services, free workspace and a formal demonstration day with potential investors. This is a proven accelerator program adapted to the Kansas City region. Our program builds on public-private partnerships and the strengths of the region’s vast entrepreneurial community. Startups that have been through this kind of program have a superior track record of generating new companies, new jobs and achieving a significant impact in their communities. For more information go to www.SparkLabKC.com.
