Global Entrepreneurship Week Kansas City Returns for Its 18th Year, Nov. 17–20 at Union Station

Four days of free workshops, inspiration and connections for Kansas City entrepreneurs, plus a new youth track launching as part of Forging the Future

KANSAS CITY, MO, UNITED STATES, November 10, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- For nearly two decades, KCSourceLink, a program of the UMKC Innovation Center, has helped Kansas City entrepreneurs find the people, resources and inspiration they need to grow. That work takes center stage again this fall as Global Entrepreneurship Week Kansas City (GEWKC) returns for its 18th year, Nov. 17–20 at Union Station.

Registration is open, and this year's lineup is packed with speakers, makers and networking opportunities designed to meet entrepreneurs wherever they are in their journey. Topics and speakers this year include "Monetizing Social Media" presented by Lara Bond, "From Coffee Shop to Movement", by Dulcinea Herrera, a Keynote presentation by Rich Bracken, "Nobody’s Thinking of You Yet", presented by Matt Seeley, a business pitch competition facilitated by Brandt Stacy, and much, much more. A full list of speakers and topics can be found at https://gewkc.com/speakers.

In addition to a high impact speaker lineup, the GEWKC Maker Fair will showcase local makers Tuesday - Thursday, Nov. 17 - 19 from 9:00am - 6:00pm.

“Every year, we think we can’t possibly top the previous year; and yet every year, our attendees, speakers, makers and supporters blow us away,” said Callie England, Director, GEWKC. “This event is one of the highlights of our year because it shows everything the Innovation Center and our partners do for entrepreneurs, all in one place. Businesses genuinely grow because of what happens at GEWKC. That’s why we keep building on it, year after year.”

New this year is Youth Entrepreneurship Day, a free, immersive day for high school students to learn from real entrepreneurs, test their ideas, and see themselves as founders. Students will hear from keynote speakers, learn directly from entrepreneurs about their experiences, challenges and success, participate in interactive breakout sessions and much more. The initiative has seen great success and is currently sold out. It was started by Forging the Future’s Cultivating Talent Team with Rachelle Hofstetter as the lead in this project. Hofstetter is the owner Plato’s Closet in Belton, Missouri and a KCSourceLink Community Navigator.

“As a business owner who employs students, this initiative is close to my heart,” said Hofstetter. “Our youth have intelligent, sound ideas around business concepts but need mentors and others pouring into them to help foster and grow their skills. The youth are the future of entrepreneurship in Kansas City, and we must invest in them. This event is one way we can do that.”

Youth GEWKC also reflects KCSourceLink’s commitment to Forging the Future, a regional initiative that brings together entrepreneurial support organizations, community leaders and ecosystem partners to strengthen innovation and economic opportunity across Kansas City including by building the next generation of entrepreneurs. Learn more about Forging the Future at https://www.kcsourcelink.com/forging-the-future/.
GEWKC is free to attend and open to every entrepreneur, innovator, side-gig-haver and small business owner in Kansas City. The event is based at Union Station, with sessions, workshops and a Navigation Station where attendees can connect one-on-one with a KCSourceLink Navigator and learn about more than 230 local resources for growing a business. Register for GEWKC 2026 → https://whova.com/portal/registration/c0e965JKG6ZV1ypF36kl/

About KCSourceLink
Starting and growing a business can be difficult when entrepreneurs don’t know where to turn for help. Through Regional Ecosystem Development, KCSourceLink connects entrepreneurs and small business owners to the right resources, funding opportunities, support organizations, and business expertise needed to move forward faster. As part of the UMKC Innovation Center, KCSourceLink helps make ideas real by building stronger partnerships and improving access to the support systems entrepreneurs need to succeed.

About the UMKC Innovation Center
Starting and growing a business can be overwhelming — knowing where to turn for funding, guidance, commercialization support, or trusted business expertise can be the difference between an idea that stalls and one that takes off. The UMKC Innovation Center brings together programs, resources, and strategic partners that help entrepreneurs navigate every stage of building a business whether validating new technologies and launching startups to securing funding, scaling operations, or entering new markets. Wherever you’re starting from, we help you spend less time searching for help and more time building something that lasts.

Cindi Rogers
By George PR
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