Blog

By Beccy Tanner | The Wichita Eagle Reprinted with Permission “There are regional pockets of goodness throughout the state,” said Pederson, vice president of the Entrepreneurship NetWork Kansas, a state organization that assists businesses starting and expanding in rural communities.

By Amara Kniep | June 19, 2017 The Ice House Entrepreneurship Program is a class devoted to encouraging participants to develop an entrepreneurial mindset – to view problems as opportunities. This course is sponsored by NetWork Kansas in selected communities across the state. In my role at NetWork Kansas, I’ve been to many Ice House classes and have seen and want to share the impact it has on participants.

By Simone Elder | June 5, 2017 Earlier this year, I shared my thoughts about growing an entrepreneurial culture by hosting a Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge event. Now that we are on the other side of the YEC season, I’ve been thinking more and more about the YEC event not being the end goal. It’s a visible and energetic part of building the entrepreneurial ecosystem that may need additional pruning and watering to really make a difference.

Erik Pedersen discusses 10 years of the Entrepreneurship Community Partnership

Erik Pedersen discusses attracting entrepreneurs to small towns in a SourceLink Best Practices blog post that has been reprinted with permission.

Amara Kniep shares lessons she learned from Growing Rural Businesses, and how the course spurred entrepreneurial and professional growth.

Many E-Communities and E-Community businesses are already familiar with Jon Schallert’s popular Destination Business Boot Camp (DBC), one of our board certified programs. This summer, NetWork Kansas expanded our board certified programs to include an advanced course for graduates of DBC who want to take their business to the next level.

A local Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge event may be just the key to planting the seeds to grow the next generation of entrepreneurs in your community. Simone Elder offers some best practices to help your event be a success.

The entrepreneurship activity in Wichita is growing at a rapid pace. From pitch competitions to growing attendance at education workshops, from strategy meetings to the creation of new funding opportunities, there is excitement about broadening the spectrum of people able to create companies as the city also works to reclaim its entrepreneurial edge. As momentum gains, it brings to mind this quote by famed basketball coach, John Wooden, “Don’t mistake activity for achievement.” With so much activity, what are we truly trying to achieve?

Leadership Team Performance Training The Leadership Team Performance Training pilot was a success! On Monday, June 27, five E-Communities gathered in McPherson for a full-day training. Don Macke, Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, led a lively workshop filled with thought-provoking discussion points and ideas for participants to take back to their communities.