Enterprise Center of Johnson County

What Enterprise Center of Johnson County does

The Enterprise Center of Johnson County (ECJC) is a 501(c) non-profit organization headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, that operates an integrated entrepreneurial support platform for early-stage to growth-stage companies in the Kansas City bi-state region (Missouri and Kansas). It does not sell a single product but rather a stack of programs covering the founder journey from feasibility testing (LaunchU, an 8-week microenterprise development program using a nationally-recognized curriculum) through structured team-based mentorship (Growth Mentoring Service, a 14-month program modeled on MIT's Venture Mentoring Service, plus the newer 6-month GMS-Tech track for software startups launched in 2025) and into capital access via the Women's Business Center and two managed angel networks (Mid-America Angels with nearly 150 accredited investors and Women's Capital Connection with 40+ women investor members). Services are delivered primarily in-person at the Cloverleaf Office Park headquarters, supplemented by YouTube webinars, free workshops, the Wednesdays Entrepreneur Series, and referral partnerships with Kauffman Foundation, the SBA, AltCap (a CDFI offering microloans up to $50,000), and the OneKC for Women Alliance.

The underlying technology is not a software platform per se but a structured mentorship methodology — a Socratic, team-based mentoring framework adapted from MIT VMS — combined with program-management operations that match 3-4 volunteer mentors per founder-company and convene monthly in-person meetings. ECJC does not own equity in the companies it supports; its core technology is process, methodology, and curated networks.

Its business model is a hybrid non-profit model: programs are largely free or heavily subsidized (GMS delivers $17,000+ in consulting value annually per participant at no cost; LaunchU is offered at discounted pricing for microentrepreneurs at or below median income), while operating revenue comes from foundation grants (notably Kauffman Foundation), government grant pass-throughs (the $13.5M Johnson County CARES small business grant program administered in 2020), program fees for ancillary services, and partnership relationships with SBA, AltCap, and angel network members. The organization does not take equity in mentee companies and is governed by a board chaired by John Brandmeyer, with Jeff Shackelford serving as CEO since January 2020.

Name

Enterprise Center of Johnson County

Legal name

Enterprise Center in Johnson County

Website

https://ecjc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Enterprise Center of Johnson County (ECJC) is a Kansas City-area non-profit that supports early-stage and growth-stage entrepreneurs through the Women's Business Center, the Mid-America Angels and Women's Capital Connection angel networks, the Growth Mentoring Service (including GMS-Tech for software startups), and the LaunchU microenterprise program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Development Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Strategic Partnerships, Alliances & JVs Advisory (BPAHADAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Systems Administration & Infrastructure (Windows/Linux) (EDAOAIAE)

Keywords

• Small business mentoring
• Entrepreneur education
• Angel investment network
• Business incubation services
• Women business development

Headquarters

HQ city

Lenexa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Services and Grants: Non-profit organization providing entrepreneurial services including mentoring programs, education, and capital connections. Revenue derived from program services, foundation grants (Kauffman Foundation), and potentially government funding for small business support initiatives.
2. Microloan Facilitation: Facilitates connections to debt financing options including microloans through partner AltCap (up to $50,000) for entrepreneurs and small businesses, SBA 7(a) and 504 loan programs, and specialized loan funds for contractors and artists.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Enterprise Center of Johnson County (ECJC) is a non-profit venture development organization that delivers business consulting, entrepreneur education, structured team-based mentoring, and facilitated access to angel investment capital for Kansas City metro entrepreneurs. It operates multiple programs including the Growth Mentoring Service (GMS), GMS-Tech, LaunchU, Equipped for Equity, the Women's Business Center, Mid-America Angels, and Women's Capital Connection under one organizational umbrella.

Product overview

The Enterprise Center of Johnson County (ECJC) operates as a platform of interconnected entrepreneurial support programs rather than a single product. The core offerings include the Growth Mentoring Service (GMS) — a 14-month mentorship program modeled after MIT's Venture Mentoring Service — and its specialized track GMS-Tech for early-stage software startups. Supporting programs include LaunchU (8-week feasibility program for microentrepreneurs), Equipped for Equity (5-week capital raise strategy), the Women's Business Center (counseling and training), Mid-America Angels (150+ member angel investment network), and Women's Capital Connection (40+ member women-focused angel network). These programs work together to provide a full spectrum of support from ideation through growth and funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Growth Mentoring Service (GMS)
• GMS-Tech
• LaunchU Course
• Equipped for Equity
• Women's Business Center
• Mid-America Angels (MAA)
• Women's Capital Connection (WCC)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $3B economic impact generated for the Kansas City region over 25 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• MIT Venture Mentoring ServiceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerECJC's Growth Mentoring Service is modeled after and aligned with the MIT Venture Mentoring Service. GMS adopted the team mentorship approach and structured program methodology from MIT VMS starting in 2016.
• Kauffman Foundation Start Us Up CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECJC is a member of the Kauffman Foundation's Start Us Up Coalition, a diverse coalition working to level the playing field for entrepreneurs in America. ECJC was one of five original members of the 2017 Kauffman Foundation's Entrepreneurs' Policy Network.
• Kauffman Foundation America's New Business PlanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonpartisan four-part policy roadmap to create new jobs and rebuild economy through Access to Opportunity, Access to Funding, Access to Knowledge, and Access to Support initiatives.
• Digital Sandbox KCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProof-of-concept center that helped move early-stage entrepreneurs from concept-to-commercialization. Prior affiliation through CEO Jeff Shackelford's leadership before joining ECJC.
• Women's Employment NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of OneKC for Women Alliance along with Women's Business Center, Women's Capital Connection, and Women Lead Initiative, creating financial independence for women through sustained employment and business advancement.
• Women's Capital ConnectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAngel investment network managed by Women's Business Center staff, formed to educate women investors and support women entrepreneurs. Has 40+ women investor members seeking exceptional investment opportunities.
• Angel Capital AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational angel investor association that ECJC connects with as a regional hub for angel investing resources and networking.
• OneKC for Women AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of nonprofits focusing on women including Women's Employment Network, Women's Business Center, Women's Capital Connection, and Women Lead Initiative, launched in June 2009 to create financial independence for women.
• TechVentureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal training program for technology entrepreneurs. Graduates of TechVenture or similar programs given preference in GMS-Tech application process.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): SBDCs are SBA-funded nonprofit centers delivering no-cost business consulting, training, and capital access to entrepreneurs — closely aligned with ECJC's WBC, LaunchU, and capital-connection programs. ECJC leadership has even been recognized with an ASBDC state award.
• Digital Sandbox KC: Digital Sandbox KC is a Kansas City proof-of-concept/early-stage funding program led previously by ECJC CEO Jeff Shackelford; it targets the same regional startup pipeline and complements ECJC's pre-seed and mentorship offerings.
• Think Big Partners: Think Big Partners is a Kansas City-based startup accelerator and coworking organization providing mentorship and capital connections to early-stage companies, directly overlapping with ECJC's GMS and angel network services.
• SCORE Association: SCORE is a U.S. nonprofit network providing free mentoring, education, and resources to small businesses via volunteer mentors, directly mirroring ECJC's volunteer-driven mentorship and education model for entrepreneurs.
• Pipeline Entrepreneurs: Pipeline Entrepreneurs is a regional nonprofit identifying and supporting high-growth potential second-stage entrepreneurs, similar in cohort structure to ECJC's GMS and Women-Led High-Potential programs targeting scaling founders.

Regional players

• KCSourceLink: KCSourceLink is a Kansas City-based network connecting entrepreneurs to local resource partners, comparable to ECJC's role as a hub for KC entrepreneur services and overlapping with ECJC board member Brande Stitt's prior affiliation.
• LaunchCode: LaunchCode is a Kansas City-based nonprofit that trains and connects talent with tech careers and startups, complementing ECJC's GMS-Tech program targeting software entrepreneurs in the same KC metro.

Broad incumbents

• Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC): WBENC is the leading national certifier of women-owned businesses and supports women entrepreneurs — a broader incumbent analogue to ECJC's Women's Business Center and Women's Capital Connection.

Others

• MIT Venture Mentoring Service: MIT VMS is the originator of the team-based mentor model ECJC adapted for GMS; it is a methodology partner rather than direct competitor but anchors ECJC's framework credibility.
• Kauffman Foundation: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a major funder and policy partner of ECJC (Start Us Up Coalition, Top 100 Connector, recent loan readiness grant) and is the national reference for ECJC's entrepreneur-support ecosystem work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvx0CO_7jrj6v7LSXe9OUfA
• Xx.com/ECJC_KS
• Facebookfacebook.com/Enterprise-Center-of-Johnson-Count
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/enterprise-center-of-johnson-county

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Enterprise Center of Johnson County