ABOUT NETWORK KANSAS
The Statewide Network For Starting and Growing Your Business
NetWork Kansas is devoted to the growth of entrepreneurship and small businesses throughout the state of Kansas. Our mission is to promote an entrepreneurial environment by providing a central portal that connects entrepreneurs and small business owners with the right resources—Expertise, Education and Economic Resources—when they are needed most. In pursuit of this mission, we partner with well-respected business development organizations and educational institutions that work with entrepreneurs and small business owners who have the vision and potential to succeed. The result is a seamless system that accelerates economic and community development in Kansas.
Established by the Kansas Economic Growth Act of 2004 (KEGA) as the Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship, NetWork Kansas became operational at the beginning of the 2006 fiscal year. The NetWork Kansas portal is available statewide and currently enables entrepreneurs and small business owners to connect with 500+ NetWork Kansas partners throughout the state.
NetWork Kansas Vision
To be recognized nationally as a leading organization devoted to the establishment and growth of entrepreneurship and small business as a priority for economic and community development.
NetWork Kansas Mission
To promote an entrepreneurial environment throughout the state of Kansas by establishing a central portal that connects entrepreneurs and small business owners with the right resources—expertise, education, and economic resources—when they are needed most.
NetWork Kansas History
Established by the Kansas Economic Growth Act of 2004 (KEGA) as the Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship, NetWork Kansas became operational at the beginning of the 2006 fiscal year. The NetWork Kansas portal is available statewide and currently enables entrepreneurs and small business owners to connect with 500+ NetWork Kansas partners throughout the state.
To further its mission, NetWork Kansas developed E-Communities. These selected communities partner with NetWork Kansas to establish a locally-administered loan fund to assist entrepreneurs with capital, to increase connectivity to resources available to assist entrepreneurs and small businesses, to initiate activities to generate entrepreneurial development, and to participate in a statewide partnership with other E-Communities. Learn more about NetWork Kansas E-Communities.
In 2019, NetWork Kansas also became the home for e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, which is led by Don Macke, who has more than 40 years of community economic development and policy experience. e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems helps communities and regions connect, learn, and share best practices for building sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems across North America. The partnership between NetWork Kansas and e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems provides a platform to offer learning institutes, a consulting network, analytics support and mentoring to benefit the entrepreneurs, small businesses, resource partners and communities in Kansas as well as nationally.
True to its mission, Network Kansas continues to develop programming and tools to support Kansas entrepreneurs. In 2020, the organization launched VentureDash, an online entrepreneurship competition management system designed to streamline the facilitation of entrepreneurship fairs and business plan competitions. The system was created by Moonbase Labs based out of Wichita.
About the Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship Tax Credit
Donors receive a 75% state income tax credit for their donation. A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar credit against state income tax liability. This means that for every $1,000 donated, donors will receive $750 credit directly off of their state income tax liability. Additional details here.
Download Available: Supporting the Kansas Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (PDF)
NetWork Kansas recognizes the efforts of our anchor supporters for their investment in small business. Additional details here.
NetWork Kansas Founding Partners
