Global Entrepreneurship Week Kansas City returns Nov. 17-20 with new youth track

Global Entrepreneurship Week Kansas City is back for its 18th year Nov. 17-20 at Union Station, offering free workshops, maker showcases and networking for local founders. A new sold-out Youth Entrepreneurship Day adds a student-focused track tied to KCSourceLink’s Forging the Future initiative.

Why it matters: - Global Entrepreneurship Week Kansas City brings free programming to local entrepreneurs, makers and small business owners at a moment when access to mentors, resources and connections can shape whether a business grows. - The event also adds a youth-focused track, extending the region’s entrepreneurship pipeline by introducing high school students to founders, ideas and support networks.

What happened: - KCSourceLink, a program of the UMKC Innovation Center, said Global Entrepreneurship Week Kansas City returns for its 18th year Nov. 17-20 at Union Station. - Registration is open for the four-day event. - The lineup includes speakers, makers, workshops and networking opportunities. - GEWKC is free and open to entrepreneurs, innovators, side-gig-havers and small business owners in Kansas City.

The details: - The speaker lineup includes sessions on "Monetizing Social Media" presented by Lara Bond, "From Coffee Shop to Movement" by Dulcinea Herrera, a keynote by Rich Bracken, "Nobody’s Thinking of You Yet" presented by Matt Seeley and a business pitch competition facilitated by Brandt Stacy. - More speakers and topics are listed here. - The GEWKC Maker Fair will showcase local makers Tuesday through Thursday, Nov. 17-19, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. - The event is based at Union Station and includes a Navigation Station where attendees can meet one-on-one with a KCSourceLink Navigator. - Attendees can learn about more than 230 local resources for growing a business.

Between the lines: - The new Youth Entrepreneurship Day shows KCSourceLink is expanding GEWKC beyond established founders and toward the next generation of business owners. - The youth event is a free, immersive day for high school students to hear from entrepreneurs, test ideas and participate in breakout sessions. - The initiative is sold out, which suggests strong demand for youth entrepreneurship programming in Kansas City. - Youth GEWKC was started by Forging the Future’s Cultivating Talent Team, with Rachelle Hofstetter leading the project. - Hofstetter owns Plato’s Closet in Belton, Missouri, and serves as a KCSourceLink Community Navigator. - In comments, Hofstetter said students have strong business ideas but need mentors to help develop their skills. - KCSourceLink ties the youth effort to Forging the Future, a regional initiative focused on strengthening innovation and economic opportunity across Kansas City. - Learn more about Forging the Future.

What’s next: - GEWKC runs Nov. 17-20 at Union Station. - The Maker Fair runs Nov. 17-19. - Registration remains open at GEWKC 2026 registration.

The bottom line: - GEWKC is positioning itself as a free, high-touch hub for Kansas City entrepreneurs, with a new sold-out youth track signaling a push to build the region’s next generation of founders.