InvestMidwest
InvestMidwest is a private venture capital forum organization that curates an annual in-person conference in Kansas City, MO, connecting 50+ Midwest startups in AgriFood, MedTech, and Digital Technologies with approximately 300 active investors and strategic partners annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersSt Louis, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What InvestMidwest does
InvestMidwest is a private venture capital forum organization that operates the annual InvestMidwest Forum, a curated in-person conference connecting high-growth Midwest startups with active investors and strategic corporate partners. The organization is headquartered in St. Louis, MO, with the flagship event held at the Kauffman Conference Center in Kansas City, MO. The forum features 50+ presenting startups annually across three structured industry tracks — AgriFood, MedTech, and Digital Technologies (including a Digital Health sub-track) — and attracts approximately 300 attendees from across the United States. Over 25+ years, more than 640 companies have presented through the program, with each historically meeting an average of seven VCs at the forum.
The core product is the forum itself: a curated experience built around a competitive application and selection process (Early Decision in November, second round in mid-January), structured 6-minute pitch plus 4-minute Q&A formats, panel sessions, and one-on-one meetings. The platform also includes the IM Alumni Network, a BizBlip-powered media coverage partnership that provides year-round press visibility for alumni companies, and select sector-specific tracks. The technology backbone is intentionally lean — third-party registration via vfairs.com and applications via Google Forms — reflecting the organization's positioning as a high-touch, curatorial event rather than a software platform.
InvestMidwest generates revenue primarily through conference sponsorships (a broad roster including V360, Forvis Mazars, Kansas City BioHub, Cultivation Capital, Venture360, TGI, Bayer, Pfizer, and Nestlé Purina) and conference registration fees ($299 per attendee for presenting companies). The organization is governed by an Advisory Board led by Board Chair Jeremy Degenhart (Principal, Advantage Capital Partners) and Executive Director Claire Kinlaw, with board representation from a who's-who of Midwest VC firms. It appears to operate as a nonprofit or member-based ecosystem initiative rather than a profit-maximizing commercial enterprise, with no disclosed funding rounds and a 1–10 employee footprint.
InvestMidwest firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- InvestMidwest
- Legal name
- InvestMidwest
- Website
- https://investmidwest.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- InvestMidwest is a private venture capital forum organization that curates an annual in-person conference in Kansas City, MO, connecting 50+ Midwest startups in AgriFood, MedTech, and Digital Technologies with approximately 300 active investors and strategic partners annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
InvestMidwest industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital Forum and Conference Services
- NAICS
- Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Finance & Investment Conferences (MPAGAGAG)
Keywords
Where InvestMidwest is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St Louis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
InvestMidwest business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Conference Registration Fees: InvestMidwest generates revenue through ticket sales for the annual conference. Presenting companies pay $299 per attendee for conference access.
- Sponsorships: The forum is supported by generous sponsors including venture capital firms, corporate partners, and service providers that sponsor the event.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Presenting Company Registration |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
InvestMidwest product offering
Product offeringCore offering
InvestMidwest operates an annual venture capital forum held in Kansas City, MO that connects high-growth startups with active investors and strategic partners across AgriFood, MedTech, and Digital Technology sectors. The forum features a competitive application and selection process, with selected companies delivering 6-minute pitches followed by 4-minute Q&A sessions, along with structured networking, panel discussions, and one-on-one meetings. The event attracts approximately 300 attendees and showcases 50+ regional startups each year, with alumni companies having collectively secured millions in follow-on funding.
Product overview
InvestMidwest operates as a venture capital forum/event platform connecting innovative startups with capital and resources. The core offering is the annual InvestMidwest Forum featuring three industry tracks: AgriFood, MedTech, and Digital Technologies (including Digital Health). The platform includes a company selection program for presenting startups, an alumni network of 640+ companies, and a BizBlip media coverage partnership for portfolio companies. Companies are selected through a competitive application process and receive opportunities to pitch to investors, network, and gain visibility. The forum takes place annually in Kansas City, MO, typically spanning two days with structured networking, panel sessions, and one-on-one meetings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- InvestMidwest Annual Venture Capital Forum Day-and-a-half annual in-person conference that connects high-growth startups (selected through a competitive application process) with active venture capital investors and angel investors across AgriFood, MedTech, and Digital Technology sectors. Selected startups deliver 6-minute pitches followed by 4-minute Q&A sessions. The event includes structured networking, panel sessions, smaller invite-only sessions, and one-on-one meeting time. Approximately 300 attendees participate each year.
Quantifiable outcome
- 640+ presenting companies have attended, each meeting with an average of 7 VCs at the forum
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use InvestMidwest
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
InvestMidwest technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
InvestMidwest partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BizBlipcoreInvestMidwest has a partnership with BizBlip, an AI/human powered newsroom that turns portfolio company growth milestones into credible, investor-ready press. InvestMidwest sponsors access to unlock articles for all readers. Alumni companies are eligible for free news coverage through this partnership.
- Kauffman FoundationcoreThe Kauffman Foundation supports InvestMidwest through representatives like Jenny Kelly, Senior Impact Officer, who provide opening remarks at the forum. The foundation supports entrepreneurship and economic growth in the Midwest.
- Digital Health KCcorePartner for Healthcare 201 session at InvestMidwest 2026 focusing on Transforming Rural Healthcare
- Startup MidwestminorBoard member organization - Bob Calcaterra serves on the board and is founder of Startup Midwest
- Elevator Coworking SpaceminorProvides coworking space for InvestMidwest 2026 attendees with breakfast and lunch
- Aloft Country Club PlazaminorDesignated hotel for InvestMidwest 2026 attendees at 393 W 46th St, Kansas City, MO 64112
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
InvestMidwest competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Arch Grants: St. Louis-based startup competition and accelerator providing equity-free grants and investor exposure. Comparable as a Midwest-region founder-support organization; shares overlapping board representation (Alfred Jackson serves both).
- Cultivation Capital: St. Louis-based early-stage VC firm and InvestMidwest board member. Comparable as a regional Midwest venture investor; overlapping leadership (Brian Matthews) signals deep ecosystem integration.
Broad incumbents
- Web Summit: One of the world's largest tech conferences connecting startups, investors, and media across multiple tracks. Comparable in its multi-track, deal-making forum format, though global in scope rather than regional.
- BIO International Convention: The largest global biotech and MedTech partnering conference, featuring company presentations and one-on-one investor meetings. Comparable as a sector-specialized forum with structured startup-investor matchmaking — relevant to InvestMidwest's MedTech track.
- Money 20/20: The largest fintech-focused industry conference connecting startups with investors and financial institutions. Comparable as a vertical-specific investment forum, particularly relevant to InvestMidwest's FinTech/Digital Health sub-tracks.
- SXSW: Large multi-track conference combining technology, film, and music with active startup pitch competitions and investor programming. Comparable as a multi-track industry forum with startup-to-investor matching elements.
Direct peers
- TechCrunch Disrupt: The flagship tech-startup conference for seed-to-Series A fundraising, featuring startup pitches to active VCs — the same core mechanic that InvestMidwest offers. Disrupt operates at national scale and represents the primary upper-tier competitor for high-quality Midwest applicants.
- Plug and Play Tech Center: Global startup accelerator and VC platform running regular demo days and investor-matching events. Comparable as a deal-sourcing venue for early-stage startups, though with a more frequent cadence than InvestMidwest's annual format.
- Keiretsu Forum: A global angel investor network running regular pitch forums across multiple regions, including the Midwest. Directly comparable as a structured investor-startup matching event series, with similar sector-agnostic and regional chapter model.
Emerging players
- Techstars Startup Weekend: Community-driven startup events connecting founders with mentors and early-stage investors. Operates at smaller scale and shorter cadence than InvestMidwest but serves an overlapping founder-investor audience.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
InvestMidwest social profiles
Digital presenceInvestMidwest financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
InvestMidwest leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
InvestMidwest funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
InvestMidwest M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about InvestMidwest
What does InvestMidwest do?
InvestMidwest operates an annual venture capital forum held in Kansas City, MO that connects high-growth startups with active investors and strategic partners across AgriFood, MedTech, and Digital Technology sectors. The forum features a competitive application and selection process, with selected companies delivering 6-minute pitches followed by 4-minute Q&A sessions, along with structured networking, panel discussions, and one-on-one meetings. The event attracts approximately 300 attendees and showcases 50+ regional startups each year, with alumni companies having collectively secured millions in follow-on funding.
Is InvestMidwest a public or private company?
InvestMidwest is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was InvestMidwest founded?
InvestMidwest was founded in 1999. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is InvestMidwest based?
InvestMidwest is headquartered in St Louis, United States, in the North America region.
How does InvestMidwest make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Conference Registration Fees are the primary driver. The others are sponsorships.
Who are InvestMidwest's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Arch Grants and Cultivation Capital. Broad incumbents are Web Summit, BIO International Convention, Money 20/20 and SXSW. Direct peers are TechCrunch Disrupt, Plug and Play Tech Center and Keiretsu Forum. Techstars Startup Weekend is listed as an emerging player.
Does InvestMidwest have an API?
No public API is recorded for InvestMidwest.
What industry is InvestMidwest in?
InvestMidwest's product category is Venture Capital Forum and Conference Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAGAK, Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums, with a secondary code of MPAGAGAG, Finance & Investment Conferences. Its NAICS code is 561920 and its SIC code is 8600.