12 VCs and angel groups nourishing Kansas startups in 2026

Kansas raised $420M across 85 deals in 2025. Most capital went to agtech and aerospace, with B2B SaaS picking up what's left. The ecosystem is split between Wichita's aviation legacy and Kansas City's spillover from Missouri. You won't raise meaningful capital here without ties to agriculture, aviation, or enterprise customers in the Midwest.

Quick list

Why Kansas for fundraising

Kansas has 15-20 active funds but most are angel networks, not institutional VCs. Average seed round is $800K-1.5M, significantly lower than coastal markets. The ecosystem exists almost entirely for agtech, aerospace, and enterprise software serving Midwest customers.

Wichita is an aerospace company town. Spirit AeroSystems, Textron Aviation, and Bombardier create a deep bench of aviation engineers who angel invest. If you're building aviation tech or advanced manufacturing, Wichita has more domain expertise than anywhere except Seattle. Otherwise, skip it.

Kansas City straddles the border and most "Kansas City" VCs are actually Missouri-based. You'll compete with Missouri startups for the same capital. The advantage is lower burn rates and proximity to agricultural customers across the Great Plains. The disadvantage is you'll need Chicago or Denver capital for Series A in most cases.

Picking the right Kansas investor

Local presence is everything in Kansas. Investors here won't fund you if you're planning to relocate to the coasts after closing. They want companies that stay and hire locally. Wichita investors especially care about keeping aviation talent in-state.

Portfolio companies are heavily tilted toward agtech, aerospace, and B2B. Check if they've actually backed software companies if that's your category. Many Kansas angel groups claim to be sector-agnostic but their portfolios tell a different story. Look for real software deals, not just one token investment.

Check sizes run small. Angel networks write $50K-250K checks individually. Institutional rounds hit $1-3M for seed, rarely more. Series A rounds in Kansas top out around $8-12M and usually require out-of-state lead investors. Plan for smaller rounds and longer runway, or build relationships with Chicago and Denver VCs early.

Local network matters more than the capital itself. Kansas investors connect you to agricultural equipment dealers, grain elevator operators, and aviation supply chains. These relationships are why you raise here. If you don't need Midwest enterprise customers, there's no reason to raise Kansas capital.

Communication needs to be more personal than coastal markets. Upload your deck to Ellty and send unique tracking links to each Kansas investor. You'll see who actually opens your materials versus who's just being polite. Kansas investors are slower to respond than SF or NYC, but when they engage, it's genuine interest.

Follow-on capacity barely exists. Only a handful of Kansas investors can participate beyond seed rounds. Most startups raise seed locally, then go to Chicago, Denver, or Minneapolis for Series A. Build those relationships during your seed raise, not after you've burned through the cash.

How to approach Kansas investors

Research local deals through NetWork Kansas quarterly reports and the Kansas City Business Journal. These sources catch deals that never hit Crunchbase. Most Kansas seed rounds are quietly done through local angel networks without press releases.

Leverage local ecosystem through NetWork Kansas programs if you qualify. Their E-Community Partnership provides matching capital and forces you to build local investor relationships. Kansas State University's Innovation Partners connects you to agtech investors if your tech has agricultural applications.

Build relationships first at Kansas City Startup Foundation events and Wichita's Startup Week. Kansas investors want to see you at least three times before they'll seriously consider investing. They're skeptical of outsiders who show up just to fundraise and leave. Prove you're committed to staying.

Share your pitch deck using Ellty trackable links. Kansas investors take 2-3 weeks to review decks, much slower than coastal markets. If someone hasn't opened your deck in a month, send a polite follow-up. Email often gets buried here, so phone calls still work better than in other markets.

Attend local events like Wichita Startup Week in May, Kansas City Startup Week in the fall, and NetWork Kansas's E-Community Conference. These are the only events that matter for Kansas fundraising. Everything else is too small to generate meaningful investor connections.

Connect with portfolio founders by asking for intros through NetWork Kansas. The ecosystem is small enough that everyone knows everyone. A warm intro from another founder carries more weight here than a polished cold email. Reference checks happen informally through these networks before formal diligence even starts.

Organize due diligence before first meetings. Set up an Ellty data room with your financials, incorporation docs, and any letters of intent from Midwest customers. Kansas investors move slowly but they expect organized founders. Having everything ready speeds up their process by weeks.

Understand local pace runs 8-12 weeks from first meeting to closed deal for angel rounds. Larger institutional rounds take 14-20 weeks. That's 2-3x slower than San Francisco. Don't mistake slow process for lack of interest. This is just how Kansas works. Companies also keep communications controlled by using secure file sharing workflows and structured professional processes when handling investor information.

Kansas-specific considerations

Kansas investors strongly prefer businesses with clear paths to profitability. The "grow fast, worry about revenue later" pitch falls flat here. Show unit economics that work from day one. Midwest investors have watched too many venture-backed companies burn out trying to replicate Silicon Valley playbooks.

AgTech founders get the best reception, especially if your technology improves farm profitability or addresses water scarcity. Kansas sits on the depleting Ogallala Aquifer, so water management tech gets funded easily. Aviation and aerospace tech works in Wichita but needs clear applications for the local manufacturers.

Enterprise software can work if you're selling to agricultural co-ops, grain elevators, equipment dealers, or regional banks. Consumer internet won't get funded unless you have significant traction. Kansas investors don't understand consumer plays and won't pretend to.

Expect questions about why you're staying in Kansas. Investors here have been burned by founders who took their capital then relocated to Austin or Denver. Have a genuine answer about talent, customers, or quality of life. If you're planning to leave eventually, don't raise here.

12 top investors in Kansas

1. NetWork Kansas

Statewide organization that's the backbone of Kansas's startup funding through grants, loans, and matching capital programs.

• Recent Deals: 18 Kansas startups $3.2M E-Community Partnership (2025), consistent deployment across agricultural and B2B sectors
• LinkedIn: NetWork Kansas
• Sector Focus: AgTech, B2B software, manufacturing tech
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Statewide presence (Topeka headquarters)
• Website: networkkansas.com

2. Kansas City Angels

Active angel network split between Kansas and Missouri with strong agtech and healthcare IT deal flow.

• Recent Deals: Livestock Water Recycling $1.2M seed (2025), multiple Kansas City metro investments in ag and healthcare
• LinkedIn: Kansas City Angels
• Sector Focus: AgTech, healthcare IT, enterprise software
• Stage Focus: Seed
• Office Location: Kansas City, Kansas
• Website: kcangels.com

3. SpringTime Ventures

Kansas City-based fund that backs healthcare and B2B software serving Midwest markets.

• Recent Deals: SimplePractice $12M Series B (2025), multiple healthcare software investments with Kansas customer bases
• LinkedIn: Chris Budrow
• Sector Focus: Healthcare IT, mental health tech, B2B SaaS
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: Kansas City, Kansas
• Website: springtime.ventures

4. Tortuga AgTech

Manhattan-based fund connected to Kansas State University's agricultural research programs and extension services.

• Recent Deals: Three K-State agtech spinouts $2.8M total (2025), focus on precision agriculture and animal health
• LinkedIn: Tortuga AgTech
• Sector Focus: Precision agriculture, animal health, crop science
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Manhattan, Kansas
• Website: tortugaagtech.com

5. Blue Valley Angel Investors

Overland Park angel network that co-invests with Kansas City VCs and deploys disciplined follow-on capital.

• Recent Deals: Six Kansas City metro startups seed stage $4.5M total (2025), strong participation in follow-on rounds
• LinkedIn: Blue Valley Angels
• Sector Focus: B2B software, logistics tech, healthcare IT
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A participation
• Office Location: Overland Park, Kansas
• Website: bvangels.com

6. MidAmerica Angels

One of the few Kansas investor groups that participates in larger rounds beyond typical angel check sizes.

• Recent Deals: Bushel $50M Series C (2025), participation in multiple Kansas City area growth rounds
• LinkedIn: MidAmerica Angels
• Sector Focus: AgTech, food tech, supply chain software
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B participation
• Office Location: Kansas City, Kansas
• Website: midamericaangels.com

7. EPIC Ventures

Overland Park fund focused on supply chain, logistics, and freight tech serving the central United States.

• Recent Deals: Parade Innovations $8M Series A (2025), multiple Kansas City logistics tech investments
• LinkedIn: Bob Dorf
• Sector Focus: Supply chain, logistics tech, freight optimization
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Overland Park, Kansas
• Website: epicventures.com

8. Wichita Angel Investors

Aviation and manufacturing-focused angel network that leverages Wichita's aerospace engineering talent pool.

• Recent Deals: Eight Wichita startups $2.1M total (2025), emphasis on aviation supply chain and advanced manufacturing
• LinkedIn: Wichita Angel Investors
• Sector Focus: Aerospace, aviation tech, advanced manufacturing
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Wichita, Kansas
• Website: Contact through Wichita State University

9. Pipeline Angels

National network with Kansas City chapter that backs women and non-binary founders with local connections.

• Recent Deals: Two Kansas women-led startups seed stage (2025), co-investment with other Kansas angel networks
• LinkedIn: Pipeline Angels
• Sector Focus: Various sectors, women-led companies
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Kansas City presence (national network)
• Website: pipelineangels.com

10. Spirit AeroSystems Ventures

Corporate venture arm that invests strategically in aviation supply chain and manufacturing technology.

• Recent Deals: Three Wichita aviation supply chain startups strategic investments (2025)
• LinkedIn: Spirit AeroSystems
• Sector Focus: Aviation, aerospace, advanced manufacturing
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Strategic
• Office Location: Wichita, Kansas
• Website: spiritaero.com

11. Kansas Bioscience Authority

State-backed organization providing commercialization grants and connecting life sciences startups to capital.

• Recent Deals: Four Kansas life sciences companies commercialization grants $3.5M total (2025)
• LinkedIn: Kansas Bioscience Authority
• Sector Focus: Life sciences, animal health, diagnostics
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed, Commercialization
• Office Location: Statewide (Olathe headquarters)
• Website: kansasbioscience.org

12. Per Stirling Capital

Texas-based fund with Kansas agtech investments and strong relationships across the Great Plains.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Kansas agtech co-investments with local angels (2025), focus on precision agriculture
• LinkedIn: Jeff Stewart
• Sector Focus: AgTech, precision agriculture, rural internet
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Austin (Kansas investment presence)
• Website: perstirling.com

Start tracking your Kansas investor outreach

These 12 investors closed Kansas deals throughout 2025 and into 2026. Before you start reaching out to local angel networks and funds, set up proper tracking so you're not wondering who's actually interested.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create a unique link for each Kansas investor. You'll see who opens your deck and which sections they review most carefully. Kansas investors typically spend more time on customer traction and unit economics than on market size or vision slides. That tells you what to emphasize in follow-up conversations.

When Kansas investors ask for more materials during diligence, share an Ellty data room instead of sending separate email attachments. Your financial model, customer letters of intent, and incorporation documents in one place with view tracking. You'll know if they actually reviewed your three-year projections or just glanced at the summary page. Kansas investors move slowly, but organized data rooms speed up their process.

Common questions

Do I need to be based in Kansas to raise from Kansas investors?

Yes, effectively. Kansas investors want companies that will stay in-state and hire locally. If you're incorporated elsewhere or planning to relocate after raising, they won't fund you. The exception is if you have significant Kansas operations or customer base, but even then you'll face skepticism about your commitment.

How does Kansas compare to other Midwest states for fundraising?

Kansas has less capital than Illinois, Minnesota, or Colorado but more domain expertise in agtech and aerospace. Check sizes are smaller - expect $800K-1.5M seeds versus $2-3M in Chicago or Denver. The advantage is direct access to agricultural and aviation customers. Raise in Kansas if you need those specific networks, otherwise go to larger Midwest hubs.

What's the average seed round size in Kansas?

$800K-1.5M for most startups. AgTech companies can raise $1.5-2.5M if they have strong ag school connections or field trial data. Aviation tech in Wichita sees similar ranges. Series A rounds in Kansas rarely exceed $8-12M and usually require out-of-state lead investors with Kansas angels participating.

Should I raise locally or go straight to Chicago/Denver?

Raise locally if you're selling to farmers, grain elevators, agricultural co-ops, or aviation manufacturers. The Kansas investor network opens doors that Chicago VCs can't. Go to larger cities if you're building consumer products, need $3M+ seed rounds, or have no Midwest customer focus. Kansas capital works best for capital-efficient B2B businesses.

Do Kansas investors expect in-person meetings?

Yes, especially for initial meetings. Kansas investors want to meet you face-to-face at least twice before investing. After investment, most angel networks expect quarterly in-person updates. Wichita investors are particularly insistent on physical presence. Budget for monthly Kansas trips if you're not based locally.

What industries get funded most in Kansas?

AgTech dominates with roughly 50% of Kansas venture capital. Aerospace and aviation tech account for another 20%, concentrated in Wichita. B2B software for agricultural or industrial customers makes up most of the remaining 30%. Consumer internet, consumer products, and non-Midwest-focused businesses struggle to raise here.

How long does it take to close a round in Kansas?

Angel rounds take 8-12 weeks from first meeting to closed deal. Institutional rounds with Kansas participation take 14-20 weeks. That's significantly slower than coastal markets but typical for the Midwest. Kansas investors move deliberately and conduct thorough reference checks through informal networks before committing.