Building the Silicon Prairie: Startup Kansas and Startup Missouri Launch Jan. 31

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR

A little less than a year ago, the Startup America Partnership was formed.  The nationwide initiative strives to grow entrepreneurship and startup companies in every state.  The partnership was founded with three main goals:  1) to provide valuable resources and connections to help young companies grow, 2) to support regional startup ecosystems throughout the country, and 3) to recognize startups as the drivers of our economy and their founders as American heroes.

This is all good and well, but what actions are participants making to actually make the Startup America goals a reality?  We can talk the talk all we want...but will this organization walk the walk?

Kansas and Missouri have both taken the first step to make Startup America a reality.  Both states have organized their own partnership networks known as Startup Kansas and Startup Missouri.  Both networks hope to create hubs that combine existing entrepreneurs, investors, officials and coalitions into a central space to help boost entrepreneurship as a whole.

So we know what these two organizations are doing...but how are they going to do it?

It all starts on January 31, 2012, when Startup Kansas and Startup Missouri launch.

Startup Kansas
Winston/Meriwether of Topeka is launching Startup Kansas at the Topeka and Shawnee Country Public Library from 1:00 to 2:00pm.  With a welcome from Matthew Gassen, President of Winston/Meriwether, a video from Magic Johnson, and speeches from Cameron Cushman and Riley Scott, Startup Kansas hopes to bring in some of Kansas' most passionate entrepreneurs, investors and startups.

Startup Missouri
Missouri is hoping to transform from the "Show Me State" into the "Grow Me State" during its Startup Missouri launch on January 31.  The event will go from 11:00am-4:00pm at the Railway Exchange Building in St. Louis.

Will Startup Kansas and Startup Missouri help grow Kansas City into the most entrepreneurial city on earth?

Hey! That's cool! Startup Weekend and Tech Cocktail are going head-to-head to see who can recruit the most startups and become a member of Startup America.  Learn more here.  

Follow Startup Kansas! @StartupKS
Follow Startup Missouri! @StartupMO
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