Drew Solomon, vice president of business and job development with the Economic Development Commission joins host Kelly Scanlon this week on Smart Companies KC. This week LaunchKC is announcing the finalists from the 500 entrepreneurs who applied for 10 $50,000 LaunchKC grants.

For the past few months, LaunchKC has been looking for the best and brightest to compete to bring their business models to Kansas City. Each eventual grant recipient will receive a $50,000 grant and a network of support, including 12 months of free office space in Downtown; industry-specific mentor teams for each grant recipient; and opportunities to meet and learn from industry and entrepreneurial leaders in and around Kansas City – all designed to elevate their efforts to build high-growth, tech sector businesses and jobs in Downtown KCMO. Drew Solomon, who joined EDC in 2011 as coordinator of entrepreneurship and industry initiatives was an original member of the task force that created LaunchKC.    

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