The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, established in the mid-1960s by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman, is a prominent philanthropic organization based in Kansas City, Missouri, with assets of around $2 billion. The foundation's mission is to cultivate a society of economically independent individuals who actively engage in improving their communities. To achieve this vision, the Kauffman Foundation concentrates its efforts on two primary areas: education and entrepreneurship. These focus areas reflect Kauffman's belief in the interconnectedness of education and entrepreneurial spirit as essential components for fostering individual and community development.

Established in 2014 and headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, Kompass Kapital Management is a private equity firm specializing in expansion capital and growth capital investments. It typically invests between $3 million to $15 million, taking minority stakes in operating companies, partnerships, funds, financial instruments, and real assets.

Founded by Darcy Howe in 2016, KCRise Fund is a venture capital firm based in Kansas City, Missouri. It invests alongside other institutional investors in early-stage companies located in Kansas and the western half of Missouri. The fund focuses on sectors such as software, TMT, B2B products/services, energy, financial services, healthcare, and information technology.

Founded in 2013, Stray Dog Capital is a venture capital firm based in Leawood, Kansas. It specializes in early-stage investments, focusing on businesses that drive alternatives to the use of animals in the supply chain across food, beverage, and biotechnology sectors in the United States and Europe.

An early-stage venture capital firm investing $100k-$250k in US-based B2B Vertical SaaS and FinTech companies, focusing on principled entrepreneurs solving real problems.

Founded in 2007, Five Elms Capital is a global growth equity firm specializing in investments in fast-growing B2B software businesses. With over $2.4 billion in assets under management and a team of over 70 investment professionals, the firm provides capital and resources to help companies accelerate growth and solidify their industry leadership.

OpenAir Equity Partners is a venture capital firm established in 2008 and based in Overland Park, Kansas. The firm specializes in early-stage investments, primarily targeting startups in the mobile, wireless, and connected device sectors within the technology industry. OpenAir Equity Partners aims to support innovative companies that seek to advance technology and enhance connectivity.

Nueterra Capital is a venture capital investment firm based in Leawood, Kansas, founded in 1997. The firm focuses on investing exclusively in early and growth-stage healthcare companies, aiming to empower entrepreneurs by providing them with the necessary capital, resources, and expertise to drive innovation in the healthcare sector. By aligning its investments with the needs of these companies, Nueterra Capital facilitates business expansion and the creation of new growth opportunities. In addition to healthcare, the firm has interests in consumer products and services, real estate, and technology sectors.

The Kansas Bioscience Authority is a venture capital provider focused on advancing bioscience innovations across various sectors, including agribusiness, animal health, human health, and life sciences technology. With the largest concentration of animal health companies globally, Kansas serves as a hub for groundbreaking research in oncology, information technology, medical devices, and other critical areas impacting human health. The authority leverages the state's strong agricultural heritage to foster advancements that benefit both the bioscience industry and the broader economy.

Leawood Venture Capital, established in 2016, is a Kansas-based private equity firm specializing in early-stage investments in tech companies across the United States. With a team comprising successful founders and experienced business operators, the firm leverages its extensive market and technology expertise to add value to its portfolio. Focusing on sectors such as technology, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, Leawood Venture Capital has invested in over 25 companies since its inception.

The U.S. Department of Energy is a government agency established in 1977, located in Washington, D.C. Its primary mission is to ensure the security and prosperity of the nation by tackling energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges. The Department focuses on promoting transformative scientific and technological solutions to address these issues, thereby supporting the country's energy needs and environmental sustainability.

Firebrand Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2016 and based in Kansas City, Missouri, with additional offices in Austin and Boulder. It concentrates on early-stage investments in software and technology startups, with a preference for companies in the United States and Canada and for opportunities arising in communities underserved by traditional venture capital. The firm supports early-stage companies as they scale, focusing on software and technology sectors.

Novel Capital is a fintech funding platform that provides non-dilutive, revenue-based financing to B2B software companies. It centers on future recurring revenue, enabling entrepreneurs to access capital immediately without giving up equity. The platform pairs capital with data-driven insights and learning resources to help growth-stage businesses accelerate scale. Using key company data points and financial metrics, it delivers capital, resources, and strategic support tailored to recurring-revenue models, helping ventures grow faster while preserving ownership. The company aims to support entrepreneurs and growing businesses with flexible funding solutions aligned to revenue streams and momentum, contributing to a thriving startup ecosystem.

Established in 1892, Sunflower Bank is a comprehensive financial institution headquartered in Dallas, Texas. It offers a range of personal banking services including checking and savings accounts, mortgages, and loans. For businesses, the bank provides deposit services, loans, treasury management solutions, and trust and wealth management services.

Equity Bancshares, Inc. serves as the bank holding company for Equity Bank, a commercial bank based in Wichita, Kansas. Founded in 2002, the bank offers a comprehensive range of financial services primarily targeting businesses, business owners, and individuals. It accepts various deposits, including demand, savings, money market, and time deposits. The bank's loan offerings encompass commercial loans, real estate-backed financing, working capital loans, and various consumer loans, catering to a diverse clientele that includes national and regional companies, restaurant franchisees, hoteliers, and agribusinesses. Additionally, Equity Bank provides a suite of online and mobile banking solutions, debit card services, and treasury management options. As of December 31, 2019, the bank operated 52 full-service branches across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, making it a significant player in the regional banking landscape.

Koch Industries is a multinational conglomerate headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, with subsidiaries involved in manufacturing, refining, trading, and investments. The company operates in core industries including the manufacture and distribution of petroleum, chemicals, energy, fiber, intermediates and polymers, minerals, and fertilizers, as well as pulp and paper, chemical technology equipment, ranching, finance, and commodities trading. Its portfolio includes Invista, Georgia-Pacific, Flint Hills Resources, Koch Pipeline, Koch Fertilizer, Koch Minerals, and Matador Cattle Company, reflecting a broad footprint across materials, energy, and consumer and industrial sectors. The group employs more than 100,000 people across more than 50 countries. Through investment arms such as Koch Equity Development and Koch Investments Group, the company pursues strategic acquisitions and venture initiatives to expand capabilities and value chains while maintaining a focus on innovation and vertical integration across its businesses.

Prospect Capital Corporation is a publicly traded business development company that provides flexible private debt and equity capital to sponsor-owned and non-sponsor-owned middle-market companies in the United States and Canada. It originates and manages a range of investments, including secured and unsecured term loans, mezzanine debt, private debt and equity, and real estate investments (notably multifamily housing). It supports growth, acquisitions, recapitalizations and restructurings, often through sponsor-backed transactions as well as direct lending to owner-operated businesses. The firm targets middle-market opportunities across industries, with a history of financing across energy, industrials, and other sectors, and pursues both primary origination and secondary loan portfolios. It aims to deliver steady, attractive returns to shareholders by providing capital across the capital structure and leveraging a diversified investment approach.

Founded in 2006, Techstars is a global platform that supports and invests in early-stage technology companies. Through its mentorship-driven accelerator programs, seed investments, and venture capital fund, Techstars fosters innovation across various sectors worldwide.

Founded in 1996, MPM Capital is a global investment firm focused on the healthcare and life sciences sectors. It specializes in early-stage investments, typically ranging from $5 million to $50 million, with a primary focus on biotechnology, oncology, medical technology, and specialty pharma. The firm invests globally, with a concentration in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

Riley Permian specializes in high-growth energy exploration in the Permian Basin, focusing on horizontal development of the San Andres Formation.

Physician Housecalls specializes in providing home-based primary care services across Oklahoma and Kansas. They offer chronic care management, wellness visits, behavioral health integration, and transition management services to patients in private homes and post-acute facilities.

Littlejohn Capital, LLC is a private equity firm headquartered in Savannah, Georgia, that focuses on investments in mature companies undergoing significant transitions, including management buyouts, corporate carve-outs, and growth equity opportunities. Established in 2013, it specializes in small to mid-sized private companies with enterprise values under $75 million and EBITDA ranging from $2 million to $12.5 million. The firm typically invests between $5 million and $15 million, with the potential for co-investments up to $30 million, targeting transaction values between $20 million and $75 million. Littlejohn Capital avoids sectors such as retail, consumer products, fashion, gambling, startup technologies, and biotechnology, instead concentrating on industries like manufacturing, logistics, materials, and business services within North America. The firm aims to make control investments that facilitate operational or strategic improvements in its portfolio companies.

Fulcrum Global Capital is a venture capital firm based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 2016, it focuses on investing in companies operating in agriculture, agtech, food production, food safety, food waste, and animal health.

C3 Capital Partners, LP is a private equity firm based in Kansas City, Missouri, with additional offices in Dallas, Texas. Established in 1994, the firm specializes in investing in small to middle-market companies across various sectors, including energy, healthcare, specialty chemicals, consumer products, and business services. C3 Capital focuses on growth capital, buyouts, industry consolidation, and recapitalization transactions, typically investing between $2 million and $15 million in companies with sales ranging from $10 million to $210 million and EBITDA between $1 million and $20 million. The firm prefers to take board representation but does not seek controlling stakes in its investments. C3 Capital has a history of investing over $300 million in 63 small businesses and is led by experienced principals with extensive backgrounds in private equity and management across several industries.

Founded in 2010, Great Range Capital is a Kansas-based private equity firm specializing in middle-market investments across various sectors including business and industrial services, healthcare services, retail/consumer, and niche manufacturing. The firm focuses on leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, growth financings, and structured equity investments primarily in the Midwest region.

Hostess Brands, Inc. is a packaged food company specializing in the development, manufacturing, marketing, sale, and distribution of fresh sweet baked goods across the United States. Founded in 1919 and headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, the company offers a diverse portfolio of products, including snack cakes, donuts, sweet rolls, breakfast pastries, cookies, and snack pies. Hostess operates through two primary segments: Sweet Baked Goods, which includes both fresh and frozen offerings under renowned brands such as Hostess, Dolly Madison, Cloverhill, and Big Texas, as well as store-branded products, and In-Store Bakery, which focuses on items like eclairs, madeleines, brownies, and iced cookies sold in grocery and club store bakery sections. Hostess Brands aims to deliver beloved treats to consumers, maintaining a strong presence in the North American market.

Capital For Business, Inc. is a private equity investment firm based in St. Louis, Missouri, with an additional office in Kansas City. Founded in 1959, the firm focuses on investing in middle-market, family-owned businesses, particularly in the manufacturing and value-added industrial services sectors. Capital For Business specializes in various investment strategies, including management buyouts, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, and corporate divestitures, while avoiding sectors such as real estate, financial institutions, and unproven technologies. The firm typically invests between $500,000 and $30 million in companies with revenues ranging from $10 million to $100 million and targets enterprise values between $5 million and $100 million. It has a patient investment approach, generally holding investments for five to seven years, and actively seeks to participate in the management of its portfolio companies by taking board positions. Capital For Business also leverages its extensive network within the private equity community to support its investments and facilitate follow-on funding when necessary.

Midwest Growth Partners is a private investment firm that focuses on growth-stage companies.

St. Croix Hospice is a prominent provider of hospice services for patients facing life-limiting illnesses. With 21 office locations across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas, the company offers a comprehensive range of services designed to support patients, their families, and caregivers. These services include physician care, nursing, hospice aide assistance, continuous care nursing during crises, social services, spiritual care, therapy, nutritional counseling, and routine medical check-ups. St. Croix Hospice focuses on enhancing the comfort and quality of life for those with terminal diagnoses while addressing their physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs.

DataBank Holdings, Ltd. is a data center and co-location company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with additional facilities in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Eagan, Kansas City, and Atlanta. Founded in 2004, DataBank provides a comprehensive array of services, including co-location solutions that ensure security, power configurations, and cooling. The company also offers managed services such as cloud computing, virtual hosting, network connectivity, and security, along with consulting services that encompass design and implementation, migration, and continuity planning. DataBank emphasizes compliance with various industry standards, including those for payment card security and health data protection. Catering to a diverse clientele across sectors like healthcare, finance, gaming, and hospitality, DataBank is committed to optimizing IT environments and ensuring data availability for enterprises.

Arvest Bank, established in 1961 and headquartered in Fayetteville, Arkansas, is a regional bank operating over 250 branches across Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas. It offers a wide range of banking services, including loans, deposits, treasury management, credit cards, mortgage loans, and mortgage servicing. Arvest also provides investment and wealth management services through its subsidiary, Arvest Investments, Inc. The company is known for its local management structure, with each of its 16 markets having its own local board and management team, serving customers in over 120 communities. Arvest is recognized as an Equal Housing Lender and is a member of the FDIC.

Block Real Estate Services, LLC is a comprehensive commercial real estate firm based in Kansas City, Missouri, with additional offices in Overland Park and Lenexa, Kansas, as well as various locations in Missouri. The company manages over 43 million square feet of retail, office, and industrial properties, and its affiliate, Block Multifamily Group, oversees 7,350 multifamily units for equity partnerships and third-party owners. Block Real Estate Services offers a wide range of services including owner representation, acquisition and disposition management, construction management, and property management. The firm also provides strategic advisory services, investment management, and consultation for technology systems. Established in 2004, Block Real Estate Services aims to deliver tailored solutions to meet the diverse needs of its clients in the commercial real estate market.

Brinker International, Inc. operates casual dining restaurants, primarily under the brands Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy. Chili's is known for its bar and grill offerings, featuring a menu that includes signature items such as slow-smoked baby back ribs, craft burgers, fajitas, and tableside guacamole. Maggiano's specializes in Italian cuisine, offering a diverse menu that includes appetizers, chicken, seafood, veal, prime steaks, and desserts. As of June 2013, Brinker International's system included 1,591 restaurants across 50 states and Washington, D.C., as well as locations in various countries including Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. The company generates the majority of its revenue from the Chili's segment, reflecting its strong presence in the casual dining market.

FireMon, LLC, founded in 2004 and based in Overland Park, Kansas, specializes in enterprise security management solutions tailored for large organizations. The company's product suite includes FireMon Security Manager, which provides real-time analytics for network security and IT risk, and tools such as the Policy Planner Workflow Module and Policy Optimizer Module that streamline firewall management and adapt security policies to changing conditions. FireMon also offers Immediate Insight, a big data solution for threat detection and response, and the Risk Analyzer Module, which assesses security infrastructure effectiveness. The company caters to various industries, including financial services, healthcare, and technology, offering services such as continuous monitoring, change management, and compliance support. With a focus on improving security outcomes, FireMon's platform enables clients to analyze, visualize, and enhance their network security infrastructure effectively.

Abstraction Capital, established in 2020 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is an early-stage venture capital firm. It specializes in investing in pre-seed or seed rounds for software companies developing technical tools, APIs, and infrastructure that enhance developer productivity and streamline software workflows. The firm's portfolio includes companies building open-source tools, low-code platforms, and solutions for software observability and DevOps.

Founded in 1882, Saint Luke's Health System is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive healthcare services, including physical, mental, and behavioral health. They are renowned for their heart transplant programs and cardiovascular disease research.

NQV8 is a venture capital firm founded in 2017 and based in Manhattan, Kansas. The firm specializes in making equity investments in the pet industry, with a particular focus on innovations in pet food. By targeting emerging trends and advancements within this sector, NQV8 aims to support and promote the growth of businesses that enhance the quality of products and services available for pets.

C2FO is a global platform facilitating fast, flexible access to low-cost capital for businesses. Using patented Name Your Rate® technology, it connects companies with large enterprises for early payments, unlocking billions in risk-free capital. Headquartered in Kansas City, USA, C2FO has delivered over $275 billion in funding worldwide since 2008.

EiKO Global, LLC is a manufacturer and distributor of a wide range of lamps and lighting products. Its extensive product lineup includes ceramic metal halides, various types of lamps such as LED, HID, fluorescent, halogen, and incandescent, as well as specialized lighting solutions for automotive, industrial, and healthcare applications. The company serves diverse industries, including audio/video, commercial, stage/studio, and photographic sectors. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Shawnee, Kansas, EiKO Global maintains a global presence with additional offices in Canada, China, Europe, Korea, and Taiwan, along with warehouses located in several U.S. states. The company collaborates with strategic partners like vosla GMBH and Sansi to enhance its product offerings and customer support.

TGP Investments, established in 1998 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is a merchant banking firm specializing in middle-market private equity investments. The firm, led by an experienced investment team, manages TGP Capital Partners, a private equity fund with $56.5 million under management. TGP Investments focuses on providing growth capital or facilitating liquidity events for well-managed, profitable, and growing companies in the manufacturing and business services sectors, with revenues typically ranging from $15 million to $150 million. The firm considers both control and minority equity investments, partnering with proven management teams, and usually invests between $5 million to $14 million per portfolio company.

Triumph Bancorp, Inc. is a financial holding company based in Dallas, Texas, that operates TBK Bank, SSB, offering a wide range of banking and commercial finance products and services primarily to retail customers and small-to-mid-sized businesses across the United States. The company is organized into Banking, Factoring, and Corporate segments, providing depository products such as checking and savings accounts, as well as various types of loans including commercial, industrial, and real estate loans. Additionally, Triumph Bancorp offers factoring services, equipment financing, and consumer loans, alongside electronic banking, trust, treasury management, and insurance brokerage services. The company has a significant presence with branches in several states, including Iowa, Illinois, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, and Texas, along with loan production offices to support its diverse customer base.

United Capital Management of Kansas is a financial planning firm that provides financial leadership for fiscally prudent individuals. It offers sound advice on asset management, trust services, and insurance options. The synergies that emerge from this collaborative effort are what enable them to provide unparalleled service. The firm was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Salina, Kansas.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), established in 1956, is a member of the World Bank Group dedicated to fostering private sector development in emerging markets. It provides financial services, including loans and equity investments, ranging from $1 million to $100 million, with a focus on projects that drive economic growth and social impact. IFC invests across various sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, education, technology, and financial services.

CURO Financial Technologies Corp. is a consumer finance company that specializes in providing alternative financial services to underbanked individuals in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Founded in 1997 and based in Wichita, Kansas, CURO offers a diverse array of products, including payday loans, title loans, installment loans, personal lines of credit, and check cashing services. Additionally, the company provides ancillary services such as cash for gold, prepaid debit cards, money orders, and money transfers. CURO operates through various channels, including physical stores across multiple states and online platforms, allowing customers to access services conveniently. The company is recognized for its integrated technology platform, which streamlines loan underwriting, servicing, and compliance, enhancing the customer experience.

Unite Private Networks is a provider of high-bandwidth, fiber-based communications networks and services, catering to a diverse clientele that includes schools, governments, carriers, data centers, hospitals, and enterprise businesses across 21 states. Established in 1998 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the company specializes in offering a range of services, including dark and lit fiber, private line, optical Ethernet, and Internet access. Additionally, Unite Private Networks provides customized solutions to ensure its clients benefit from reliable and uninterrupted network connectivity for their communication needs.

QTS Realty Trust is a prominent provider of data center solutions, offering over 7 million square feet of owned data center space primarily in North America and Europe. The company delivers a range of services including colocation, monitoring, systems management, and managed services such as disaster recovery and application management. QTS supports a diverse clientele, including hyperscale technology companies, enterprises, and government entities, by providing secure and compliant infrastructure solutions. The company's extensive portfolio comprises 27 data centers and serves more than 1,200 customers. Established in 2000 and headquartered in Suwanee, Georgia, QTS has facilities in various locations, including Kansas, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, California, Florida, and Indiana. Through strategic partnerships with industry leaders, QTS enhances its service offerings, positioning itself as a key player in the technology infrastructure sector.

Spire Inc. is a public utility holding company based in St. Louis, Missouri, specializing in the purchase, distribution, and sale of natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across the United States. The company operates primarily through two segments: Gas Utility and Gas Marketing. Its Gas Utility segment provides safe and reliable natural gas services to over 1.13 million customers in St. Louis, eastern Missouri, Kansas City, and western Missouri. The Gas Marketing segment involves the marketing of natural gas and offers energy services to both regulated and non-regulated customers. In addition to its core natural gas operations, Spire engages in the transportation of propane, compression of natural gas, risk management, and physical natural gas storage services. Founded in 1857, Spire Inc. was originally known as The Laclede Group, Inc. until it rebranded in April 2016.

SafetyCulture develops a mobile-first operations platform that digitizes inspections, audits, and training processes. Its platform enables teams across various industries to capture data, manage assets, and report issues in real-time, promoting safety and operational excellence.

BluSky Restoration Contractors, LLC is a construction company specializing in restoration, renovation, environmental, and roofing services across the United States. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Centennial, Colorado, the company has regional offices in multiple states, including Kansas, Georgia, California, Texas, and Arizona. BluSky offers a comprehensive range of services, including demolition, clean-up, fire damage restoration, water and flood mitigation, and environmental cleanup for hazardous materials. The company also provides specialized services such as electronics cleaning, data recovery, and document salvage. BluSky serves various sectors, including healthcare, education, assisted living, and multi-family projects, addressing the needs of both commercial and residential clients. With a focus on effective project assessment and coordination, BluSky is equipped to handle the complexities of restoration and renovation after natural and man-made disasters.

IMA Financial Group, Inc. is a prominent provider of risk management, insurance, employee benefits, and wealth management services. As the ninth largest privately held and employee-owned insurance broker in the United States, the firm employs approximately 650 associates across its offices in Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, New York, and Texas. IMA focuses on financial advisory strategies, goal-based planning, and retirement income modeling, ensuring that clients can achieve secure asset optimization and investment strategies. By balancing risk and return, IMA enables its customers to effectively manage their portfolios in accordance with regulatory requirements.