Making a Business Move

New location puts entrepreneurship facility at heart of K.C. startup community

Entrepreneurs are making themselves at home in the new Bloch VentureHub facility at Plexpod Westport Commons.

The Bloch VentureHub joins entrepreneurs from across Kansas City at Plexpod Westport Commons with permanent office space in the giant coworking building along E. 39th St. The Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation announced a multiyear agreement this past fall with Plexpod, a local coworking facility. The redesigned VentureHub, which moved from its previous location at 43rd and Madison streets, features onsite mentors, a resource library and open hours for students and entrepreneurs. The historic Plexpod building once housed Westport Junior High School. A 2017 renovation transformed the 1923 structure into one of the world’s largest coworking communities. The coworking facility is one of several Plexpod locations throughout Kansas City, thanks to the work of several local entrepreneurs like David Brain, an inaugural member of the Bloch Entrepreneur Hall of Fame.

The Bloch VentureHub plans to offer Coworking Wednesdays, where enrollees and alumni of the Institute’s Entrepreneurship Scholars (E-Scholars) program, UMKC students and other entrepreneurs can work in the space and enjoy the benefit of Institute mentors.

“The mission of the Regnier Institute is to take entrepreneurship beyond the classroom. This is a deliberate step to offer Reigner Institute resources to the community,” said Andy Heise, managing director of the Regnier Institute.

In addition to housing active ventures, Plexpod hosts One Million Cups, a business pitch gathering sponsored by the Kauffman Foundation, as well as community events.

The VentureHub’s new home places the Regnier Institute in the center of Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Institute Managing Director for Venture Creation Bryan Boots oversaw the development of the agreement. “Being here will help the Regnier Institute stay close to the pulse of entrepreneurship communities,” he said.

Along with this new Plexpod annex, the Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation maintains its core offices in Bloch Executive Hall. INSTITUTES/CENTERS SPOTLIGHT

MIDWEST CENTER FOR NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP The MCNL, along with the Department of Public Affairs, is in the midst of the 2019-2020 Aaron Levitt Social Entrepreneurship Challenge. Now in its eighth year, the challenge educates early-stage social entrepreneurs on how to conceptualize, organize and start a social venture. Participants engage in sessions and workshops throughout the academic year, culminating with the Changemaker pitch event on June 16.

LEWIS WHITE REAL ESTATE CENTER Over 230 attendees gathered in February at UMKC for the 2020 UMKC Real Estate Symposium. Keynote speakers included Robert Kaplan, president of the Dallas Federal Reserve, who spoke on economic conditions and the stance of monetary policy; Paul Doherty of the digit group, inc., and Glenn Mueller, professor of real estate at the University of Denver. In addition, local professionals shared their insights.

L.P. COOKINGHAM INSTITUTE OF URBAN AFFAIRS The Missouri Housing Development Commission awarded the Cookingham Institute a contract for $228,000 to prepare a five-year affordable housing strategic plan for the State of Missouri.

The five-year plan will facilitate informed decision-making about how federal housing program dollars will be used to meet housing needs among members of the workforce, elderly and persons with disabilities.