Kansas City, MO

On day three of Spotlight Michigan’s qualitative research trip we visited The Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, Missouri.  The Kauffman Foundation is interested in encouraging a culture of entrepreneurship nationwide.  Their strategy is unique from the city and state-wide approaches expressed in Madison and Iowa City.  Ironically, their message was very similar to what we’ve already been hearing; networks are everything.

The Kauffman Foundation was founded by entrepreneur Ewing Marion Kauffman in the mid-1960s.  Their mission is to focus its grant making and operations on two areas: advancing entrepreneurship and improving the education of children and youth. Their FastTrac program already has big plans for Detroit, with the goal to develop 400 new businesses over the course of the next three years.  They have also implemented Kauffman Campus grants which will infuse as much as $200 million into cross-campus entrepreneurship programs over the next five years.

One of several important messages we were able to take away was one that echoed advice from Iowa City, we need to make a conscious effort to let people know how important they are to the community.  The best news, it’s free!  Who knew that apart from grants and policy initiatives, a simple gesture can have the biggest impact?

Further advice alluded to the “make or break” role the university plays in a college-town.  According to Nancie Thomas, manager of Kauffman Campus initiatives and collegiate programs, “the culture needs to start with the university first”.

Kauffman emphasized that no one intends for the isolation between the city, the business community, and the university.  Each entity has a crucial role in creating an entrepreneurial culture, but the university must realize it has the opportunity to transform the whole region.

Finally, Robert E. Litan, Vice President for Research and Policy, stressed that “Entrepreneurship doesn’t belong to anyone and it should be everywhere.”  We couldn’t agree more.  Spotlight Michigan is excited to assume the role of spreading this message to young professionals and we hope you’ll join us!

7 hours to Urbana, IL

Wednesday March 10, 2010