Founded by Darcy Howe, KCRise Fund launched in 2016 as an initiative of KCRising, a long-term vision for the greater Kansas City region to build capacity, bring existing businesses to scale, and fully realize the KC region’s potential. Decidedly for-profit, KCRise Fund is a traditional venture capital fund that invests side-by-side with other institutional VC investors in early-stage companies based in Kansas and the western half of Missouri. Our investors include corporations, university endowments, family offices, and prominent business leaders in the region. KCRise launched Fund II in 2019 and followed with Fund III in 2023. Today, KCRise Fund manages over $100 million in committed capital across our funds.