Kansas Ag Connection - Smart Connected Capital Highlights Midwest Investment Ecosystems

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Smart Connected Capital Highlights Midwest Investment Ecosystems
Kansas Ag Connection - 10/25/2016

Over 200 top-tier investors from five continents gathered in Kansas City for the Kauffman Fellows Reunion VC Summit Monday and today. The summit is highlighting global trends in venture capital and focus on the explosive growth of the Midwestern startup scene, the transformation of agriculture and future investment opportunities in agtech, and the innovative spirit of the Midcontinent region. The conference marks the 8th Kauffman Fellows global summit, with previous events held in Singapore, Dublin, São Paulo, Shanghai, New York City, Mexico City, and Tokyo.

This ecosystem immersion conference features an array of venture capitalists, CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs from the Midwest and around the globe. Keynote speakers Steve Case, CEO of Revolution, and Brad Feld, managing partner of the Foundry Group, addressed challenges and opportunities of investing outside Silicon Valley. Their speeches were livestreamed on the Kauffman Fellows website.

Mark Kvamme, founder of Drive Capital, Freada Kapor Klein, partner at Kapor Capital, and a host of other industry leaders are focusing on developing diverse talent, opportunities, and capital formation in the U.S. heartland.

"I'm excited to welcome Kauffman Fellows to my home town for this year's VC summit," said Keith Harrington, partner at Fulcrum Global Capital and member of Kauffman Fellows Class 20. "I'm thrilled that KC's entrepreneurs have a chance to connect with top investors from around the world. By co-sponsoring the event, the Kauffman Foundation is honoring the spirit of Mr. K's entrepreneurial legacy."

The Kansas City summit is also a reunion. The Kauffman Fellows Program developed inside the Kauffman Foundation in 1995 as part of Ewing Marion Kauffman's vision to support entrepreneurs by promoting better relationships between venture capitalists and founders. This 8th Kauffman Fellows global summit celebrates the organization's renewed partnership with and roots in the Kauffman Foundation.

Kauffman Fellows describes its community of nearly 500 Fellows from 40 countries as "Smart Connected Capital" and plans to showcase similar efforts in the heartland.

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