KCRise Fund is a venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage technology companies with a strategic connection to the Kansas City region.
Check out this video to see what our portfolio company founders like Justin Davis (BacklotCars), Bek Abdullayev (Super Dispatch), and Matt Moody (Bellwethr) say about their relationship with KCRise Fund.
PORTFOLIO
Click on our company logos below to learn more
SELECT FEATURED EXITS
ADDITIONAL PORTFOLIO COMPANIES
INVESTING
Learn more about our approach to investing.
INVESTMENT PREFERENCE
We look to co-invest with other institutional investors, including venture capital firms and corporate investors, in pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A rounds of at least $1 million for early-stage technology companies with a strategic connection to the western half of Missouri or the entire state of Kansas, with a primary focus on business-to-business (B2B) companies.
INVESTMENT PROCESS
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INTRODUCTION
FORM
INITIAL SCREENING
SYNDICATION PARTNERS
BOARD VOTE
This is our first chance to meet your company. Before filling out the Introduction Form, ensure your company:
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Has a strategic connection to the western half of Missouri or the entire state of Kansas
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Is raising an equity round of at least $1 million
Timeline: Response within 2-3 days
Once you fill out the Introduction Form, your application will be reviewed by our team. If you fit our investment criteria, we will start with an introductory phone call to learn more about your company.
Timeline: 1-2 weeks after completion of the form
As a co-investment fund, we partner with other institutional investors. During this phase, if you already have an institutional investor committed to your round, we would like to connect. If you don't, we explore the interest of our network.
Timeline: 2-4 weeks
After progression through previous stages, the final investment decisions are made by the KCRise Fund Board.
Timeline: 1 week
VC PARTNERS
We match local early-stage companies with seasoned venture capital investors. Click the button below to view a list of our venture capital partners.
WHO WE ARE
Darcy Howe founded KCRise Fund in 2016 to fill a gap in strategic capital for local startups. KCRise Fund fits within a broader long-term vision for the greater Kansas City region, which seeks to foster entrepreneurship, bring existing businesses to scale, and fully realize the Kansas City region’s potential.
Today, KCRise Fund remains the only venture capital firm focused on the Kansas City region.
Decidedly for-profit, KCRise Fund is a traditional venture capital fund which invests side-by-side with other institutional investors in early stage companies based in Kansas and western half of Missouri.
Investors in KCRise Fund include corporations, university endowments, family offices, and prominent business leaders in the region. In 2023, KCRise Fund closed KCRise Fund III, and the firm currently has over $90 million in assets under management.
Founding Managing Director
Managing Director
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Board Member