Network Kansas
Network Kansas (Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc.) is a statewide nonprofit founded in 2004 under the Kansas Economic Growth Act that connects 656+ resource partners and 82 rural eCommunities with small-business entrepreneurs across all 105 Kansas counties, deploying loans, equity investments, and entrepreneurship programs funded by federal, state, and philanthropic capital.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersAndover, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Network Kansas does
Network Kansas (legally Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3)-style statewide nonprofit headquartered in Andover, Kansas, founded in 2004 under the Kansas Economic Growth Act and rebranded to its current name in 2006. The organization functions as an umbrella platform connecting a network of 656+ resource partners and 82 eCommunity partnerships (77 of which are rural) with small-business entrepreneurs across all 105 Kansas counties. Its core programmatic offerings include the GrowKS small-business loan program funded under the federal SSBCI 2.0 initiative, the eGrowth Ventures equity investment vehicle, the Impact Investment Center, the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, the Destination Business BootCamp, and the Kansas Healthy Food Initiative. The underlying platform is operational rather than technological: Network Kansas originates, structures, and disburses capital through partner-administered pipelines, with statutory and contractual rights (rather than proprietary software) forming its structural advantage.
The business model is grant- and contract-funded rather than fee-for-service. Revenue sources include a $3M Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation grant (2022), SSBCI 2.0 federal contracting for loan-program administration, state appropriations enabled by the Kansas Economic Growth Act, and state tax-credit mechanisms that channel private capital into the eGrowth Ventures and Impact Investment Center funds. Loan principal ($90M cumulative, 1,980 loans) and equity capital ($14.9M deployed across 88 investments) are deployed into the Kansas economy rather than retained as recurring revenue; the organization instead captures program service fees, administrative fees, and grant-funded operating support. Cumulative capital leverage figures of $520M (loans) and $276.1M (equity co-investment) imply a roughly 1:6 to 1:18 leverage ratio against Network Kansas's own capital deployment, and 36,000+ entrepreneurs served through the IIC underscore the program's scale. Customer segments are small businesses, rural entrepreneurs, youth entrepreneurs, and community-based partner organizations, with no single end-customer representing a material share of activity.
Network Kansas firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Network Kansas
- Legal name
- Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc.
- Website
- https://networkkansas.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Network Kansas (Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc.) is a statewide nonprofit founded in 2004 under the Kansas Economic Growth Act that connects 656+ resource partners and 82 rural eCommunities with small-business entrepreneurs across all 105 Kansas counties, deploying loans, equity investments, and entrepreneurship programs funded by federal, state, and philanthropic capital.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Network Kansas is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Andover
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Network Kansas business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Grant Funding: Network Kansas operates primarily through grant funding from organizations like the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation ($3M grant in 2022) to develop inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems across Kansas.
- Loan & Equity Programs: Network Kansas administers loan and equity investment programs including GrowKS loans, eCommunity gap financing, Kansas Community Investment Fund (KCIF), and equity investments. They mobilize capital to help entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Network Kansas product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Network Kansas is a statewide nonprofit network that administers loan and equity programs, technical assistance, and community-based entrepreneurial ecosystem support to help Kansas entrepreneurs start and grow small businesses. It connects entrepreneurs to capital, training, and a network of 656+ resource partners and 82 eCommunity partnerships across all 105 Kansas counties.
Product overview
Network Kansas is a statewide network of non-profit business-building resources that operates as a comprehensive entrepreneurship support ecosystem rather than a single product. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs including the eCommunity Partnership (which provides community-level entrepreneurial ecosystem development with gap financing), eGrowth Ventures (equity investments), GrowKS (the primary loan program), and the Impact Investment Center (which serves as the central hub connecting entrepreneurs to resources). Additional offerings include ePrograms for youth entrepreneurship competitions, Networked for convenings and events, Technical Assistance, and specialized initiatives like the Kansas Healthy Food Initiative. The portfolio is organized around helping entrepreneurs access capital (through loans and equity), education, and connections throughout the business lifecycle.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- eCommunity Partnership: A program dedicated to fostering vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems throughout Kansas by working hand-in-hand with local communities to provide essential tools, expertise, education, and financial resources.
- eGrowth Ventures
- ePrograms
- GrowKS
- Impact Investment Center (IIC)
- Networked
Products and services
- eCommunity Partnership Flagship initiative that brings together community leaders, financial institutions, economic development organizations, and entrepreneurs to build stronger local entrepreneurial ecosystems with a locally controlled gap financing loan fund, entrepreneur educational programs, and technical assistance.
- eGrowth Ventures
Quantifiable outcome
- Every $1.00 loaned generates $7.89 in wages, $3.73 in state tax revenue, and $185.79 total gross output
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Network Kansas
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Network Kansas technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Network Kansas partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Destination Business BootCamp (Jon Schallert)minorNetwork Kansas sponsors Junction City/Geary County businesses to attend the Destination Business BootCamp, a nationally recognized intensive training program to help businesses transform into consumer destinations.
- Debra Teufel (Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce)minorNew board member joining Network Kansas Board of Directors; President & CEO of Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, overseeing the Reno County eCommunity host organization (Startup Hutch).
- Doug Williams (Grow Hays)minorNew board member joining Network Kansas Board of Directors; Executive Director of Grow Hays, the economic development organization for Ellis County, leading the Ellis County eCommunity which has facilitated 65+ loans totaling $2.7M.
- Dan Lara (Kansas Small Business Development Center)minorNew board member joining Network Kansas Board of Directors; State Director of Kansas SBDC which operates statewide through Fort Hays State University.
- Omni Circle GroupcoreTopeka-based Omni Circle Group, host organization for Shawnee Startups eCommunity, is expanding its Ignite program to Douglas County through partnership with the Douglas County eCommunity. This represents the first time two Network Kansas eCommunity partners have teamed up to expand resources for Kansas entrepreneurs.
- Douglas County eCommunitycoreDouglas County eCommunity partnered with Omni Circle Group to expand access to the Ignite: New Venture Discovery program for Lawrence and Douglas County entrepreneurs.
- Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training CenterminorPeaslee Tech hosts Ignite program sessions for the Omni Circle expansion into Lawrence/Douglas County area.
- Kansas State University (K-State) ExtensioncoreK-State Extension partners with Network Kansas on the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Series and State competition. KSU Extension provides nearly $100,000 annually in program support over a three-year commitment. The partnership supports nearly 1,200 middle and high school students annually.
- Kansas 4-HcoreKansas 4-H partners with Network Kansas on the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Series, providing youth development programming across all 105 Kansas counties.
- K-State Center for the Advancement of EntrepreneurshipcoreThe K-State Center for the Advancement of Entrepreneurship partners with Network Kansas to host the Annual State Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in Manhattan, Kansas.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Network Kansas competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Accion: Accion is a national nonprofit CDFI providing small business loans, coaching, and networks to underserved entrepreneurs — directly comparable to Network Kansas's GrowKS loan program, eGrowth Ventures equity, and Impact Investment Center referral model, with similar target customers (aspiring and existing small business owners).
- Colorado Enterprise Fund: Colorado Enterprise Fund is a Colorado-based nonprofit CDFI providing small business loans, capital, and entrepreneur support — a near-perfect structural peer to Network Kansas's state-level CDFI-like operating model with loan programs, equity investments, and community-based entrepreneur support.
- Kiva US: Kiva operates a crowdfunded microloan platform for small businesses in the US — directly comparable to Network Kansas's small business lending model, with similar focus on community-supported capital for entrepreneurs who cannot access traditional bank financing.
- LiftFund: LiftFund is a Texas-based nonprofit CDFI providing small business loans, coaching, and capital to underserved entrepreneurs — directly comparable to Network Kansas's loan deployment (GrowKS), equity investments (eGrowth Ventures), and entrepreneur support ecosystem, operating at similar scale within a single state.
Broad incumbents
- Grameen America: Grameen America is a national nonprofit microfinance organization providing small loans and training to entrepreneurs — comparable to Network Kansas's mission of deploying capital to underserved small businesses, though focused on microloans rather than Kansas-specific community development.
- Pacific Community Ventures: Pacific Community Ventures is a California-based nonprofit providing small business advising, capital, and research to underserved entrepreneurs — comparable to Network Kansas's blended capital-plus-advisory entrepreneur support model, though operating at larger California scale.
- SCORE: SCORE is the nation's largest network of volunteer business mentors, providing free mentoring, workshops, and resources to small business owners — directly comparable to Network Kansas's entrepreneur support, technical assistance, and resource referral mission, though operating nationally and relying on volunteer mentors rather than capital deployment.
Regional players
- Justine Petersen Housing & Reinvestment Corporation: Justine Petersen is a Missouri-based nonprofit CDFI providing small business loans, credit building, and entrepreneur support — comparable to Network Kansas's capital deployment and entrepreneur education model, with similar rural/Midwest small business focus but serving a different state.
- Vermont Community Loan Fund: Vermont Community Loan Fund is a Vermont-based nonprofit CDFI providing small business loans, microenterprise development, and community economic development — comparable to Network Kansas's state-level nonprofit capital deployment and community partnership model, operating in a different New England geography.
- Coastal Enterprises (CEI): CEI is a Maine-based nonprofit CDFI providing capital, advisory, and policy support to small businesses and communities — comparable to Network Kansas's integrated model of loans, equity, technical assistance, and community-based ecosystem development, but operating in a different New England geography.
Market position
Competitive moat6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Network Kansas social profiles
Digital presenceNetwork Kansas financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Network Kansas leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Network Kansas funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Network Kansas M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Network Kansas
What does Network Kansas do?
Network Kansas is a statewide nonprofit network that administers loan and equity programs, technical assistance, and community-based entrepreneurial ecosystem support to help Kansas entrepreneurs start and grow small businesses. It connects entrepreneurs to capital, training, and a network of 656+ resource partners and 82 eCommunity partnerships across all 105 Kansas counties.
Is Network Kansas a public or private company?
Network Kansas is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Network Kansas founded?
Network Kansas was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Network Kansas based?
Network Kansas is headquartered in Andover, United States, in the North America region.
How does Network Kansas make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Grant Funding is the primary driver. The others are loan & Equity Programs.
Who are Network Kansas's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Accion, Colorado Enterprise Fund, Kiva US and LiftFund. Broad incumbents are Grameen America, Pacific Community Ventures and SCORE. Regional players are Justine Petersen Housing & Reinvestment Corporation, Vermont Community Loan Fund and Coastal Enterprises (CEI).
Does Network Kansas have an API?
No public API is recorded for Network Kansas.