E-Scholars is designed for community members and UMKC undergraduate and graduate students from all areas of study who seek to launch a new business.
Ideas of all types are welcomed in the program, and since inception the program has worked with tech and software ventures, consumer packaged goods, consumer products, consulting businesses, health services, not for profits, and more. The commonality among the participants is not their industry or technology, but rather the fact that they are in the ideation stage. E-Scholars helps participants to systematically focus their idea and assess its feasibility and commercial viability, and then to launch the idea into a startup if determined feasible. Students develop new products and services, commercialize inventions, and innovate within existing for-profit and non-profit organizations.
The program takes place in and out of the classroom and connects student with experienced faculty and mentors throughout the process. Weekly practical workshops delivered by practitioners and University faculty provide a common foundation for all participants, while dedicated and intensive individual mentoring with one of Kansas City's largest business mentorship networks provides an experience with both depth and breadth.