Contact:
Melissa Beltrame, Marketing Director
mbeltrame@lead.bank
Jenny Kincaid Julian, Socialworx PR
(816) 550.4382 | jenny@socialworxpr.com
KANSAS CITY, MO (March 2020) Lead Bank, in support of the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City's (EDCKC) initiative to establish a minority-focused startup incubator, recently donated $25,000 to support their efforts. The EDCKC has partnered with Atlanta-based Opportunity Hub (OHUB) to provide inclusive access to tech, startup, in-demand technology education, training, and early-stage capital.
Lead Bank is a true financial leader when it comes to supporting minority business owners and recognizing the lack of support and fundamental needs these business owners face in Kansas City. Launching their Civic Contractor program in 2017, this program was specifically designed to streamline the loan application process for small contractors so they could bid on City projects. To date, the program has awarded more than $18M to area minority and women-owned businesses. "Everyone wins when we support entrepreneurs. We fully support the work the EDCKC and OHUB are doing in Kansas City and understand just how important it is to the sustainability of our city. We have a tremendous opportunity to make Kansas City a great entrepreneurial city and everyone at Lead Bank believes in supporting programs that encourage innovation, inclusion, and success," said Josh Rowland, CEO, and vice-chairman of Lead Bank.
KC.UP recently opened an inclusion-focused innovation lab in the 18th & Vine District and has announced five startups who will be a part of the first accelerator cohort with OHUB. Companies include Boddle Learning, Plabook, Forefront, Laudris Corporation, and Musicbuk. The group was set to introduce their businesses at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, TX. In lieu of that cancelled event, Lyndon Breckenridge (OHUB.KC Ecosystem Building Lead) and Ramon Ray (Founder, Smart Hustle Media) are co-hosting the demo day for these five startups on Friday, March 27, 6pm - 9pm CST virtually to a global audience.
“These are unprecedented times; and during unprecedented times, an intentional entrepreneurial spirit and obsession for solving the hardest problem that face us are required. Amplifying the first cohort of startups, three of which are educational tech companies, to OHUB’s global audience of potential investors, customers and stakeholders is key; and we are grateful to Josh and Lead Bank for their ongoing financial support,” says Rodney Sampson, CEO, OHUB. “As we look to year two of the program and accelerator, OHUB welcomes more partners to follow Lead Bank and join forces to continue this mission of creating shared prosperity for the region’s minority high growth startup entrepreneurs.”
About Opportunity Hub (OHUB)
Opportunity Hub (OHUB) was founded in 2013 by successful tech entrepreneurs in Atlanta, GA as the first and largest multi-campus co-working space, tech hub, and entrepreneurship startup incubator intentionally focused on increasing authentic diversity, equity & inclusion in the tech, startup, and venture ecosystem. Today, OHUB is the leading platform to ensure that everyone, everywhere is equitably represented and included in the future of work.
About Lead Bank
Lead Bank is a community-minded, independent commercial bank, recognized for its innovative approach to community banking and unique banking solutions that allows real people, real businesses, and their communities to thrive. Serving communities with treasury management and lending services, consumer client products, digital consumer banking, and innovative financial technology services, Lead Bank is the first choice for those looking for a future banking partner. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, yet serving clients digitally throughout the United States, Lead Bank is known for being a small business advocate, having outstanding client service, and creating financial pathways to those, who in the past, have been unbankable. 2020 member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), an international network of banking leaders from around the world committed to advancing positive change in the banking sector. For additional information, call (816) 220.8600.