Top Kansas VC Firms for IT Startups 2026

Kansas's tech sector drives an estimated $8 billion or more in economic impact for the state, and a handful of venture firms account for most of the IT-startup funding activity in and around it.

Two of the firms below are headquartered in Kansas. The other three are Midwest-regional firms based in neighboring states that actively invest in Heartland tech startups, including companies in Kansas and the greater Kansas City area.

Want to know who these investors are?

After researching each firm directly, we put together this list of the top-ranked investors in Kansas that fund IT startups, along with what each one actually invests in and how much.

Find Out The Top 5 Venture Capital Firms in Kansas that Fund IT Startups

Here's a closer look at each one.

Leawood Venture Capital

• Contact: Contact page

• Website: Leawoodvc.com

• Focused Sectors: Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, Edge Computing, Mobile and Wireless, Fintech, Automation and Infrastructure

• Funding Stages: Early and Seed

• Present in: Leawood, Kansas

• Notable Investments: Analytical Flavor Systems and Quadric

Leawood Venture Capital is a venture firm headquartered in Leawood, Kansas, founded in 2016. The firm invests in disruptive, early-stage technology companies nationwide, drawing on a team with deep experience on both coasts.

Leawood Venture Capital focuses on startups with strong, innovative business models, experienced leadership teams, and the potential for high growth.

The firm has raised multiple funds and has invested in dozens of portfolio companies, including a $7 million round for AI food-and-beverage company Analytical Flavor Systems and a $21 million Series B for high-performance computing company Quadric.

The investment range of Leawood Venture Capital can go up to several million dollars per deal.

Drive Capital

• Contact: [email protected]

• Website: Drive Capital

• Focused Sectors: Technology, Healthcare, and Consumer

• Funding Stages: Early, Seed, and Growth

• Notable Investments: Root Insurance, Olive, Beam Dental, Branch, Duolingo

• Total Investments: 180+

Drive Capital is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, and invests across what it calls the "Driveway," the region stretching from Pittsburgh to Kansas City to Minneapolis, so Kansas startups fall within its territory even though the firm itself isn't Kansas-based.

The firm was founded by Mark Kvamme and Chris Olsen, both former partners at Sequoia Capital. Drive Capital is stage-agnostic and has made more than 180 investments since its 2012 founding, ranging from seed through growth equity.

Like most VC firms, Drive Capital looks for visionary founders and big market opportunities. Check sizes range from as little as $100K up to tens of millions of dollars, depending on the stage.

McCarthy Capital (now M-One Capital)

• Contact: [email protected]

• Website: McCarthy Capital

• Focused Sectors: Business Services, Consumer Products, and Technology-Enabled Services

• Funding Stages: Growth and Expansion

• Notable Investments: Cabela's, Guild Mortgage Company, Omaha Steaks, NUSO, Caraway

McCarthy Capital is a private equity and growth-equity firm headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. In September 2025, the firm rebranded to M-One Capital, though it still does business under both names in places.

Founded in 1986, the firm has invested in more than 80 companies over its history, partnering with management teams who retain operating control. It closed its eighth fund, Fund VIII, at $870 million in 2024.

McCarthy Capital (M-One) typically invests between $30 million and $125 million in growth equity or private equity positions, generally in companies with more than $10 million in revenue.

Rev1 Ventures

• Contact: Contact Rev1 Ventures

• Website: Rev1 Ventures

• Focused Sectors: Tech, Security, Healthcare, and Consumer Products

• Funding Stages: Early and Seed

• Notable Investments: Simple-Fill, Clarivoy, and Myonexus Therapeutics

Rev1 Ventures is a venture development studio headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, that combines capital with startup services across the Midwest. It is not Kansas-based, but it's active in the broader Heartland startup ecosystem.

Rev1 has invested in more than 300 companies to date and also helps startups grow through its studio programs, offering space, mentoring, and connections alongside capital.

The firm looks for startups with high-growth potential and experienced founders, typically at the early or seed stage.

Konza Valley Capital, Inc.

• Contact: Contact - KVCI

• Website: Konza Valley Capital

• Focused Sectors: Manufacturing, Business Services, Distribution, Retail, and Technology-Related Companies

• Funding Stages: Growth and Recapitalization

• Present in: Kansas, serving the broader Midwest

• Notable Investments: Superior Boiler and KCAS Bioanalytical Services

Konza Valley Capital, Inc. (KVCI) was founded in 1976 as Kansas Venture Capital, Inc., through the efforts of the Kansas Bankers Association. The firm took its current name in 2013 to reflect its wider geographic reach beyond Kansas.

KVCI is a licensed Small Business Investment Company that provides private equity capital to lower-middle-market companies, generally those with $10 million to $100 million in revenue and at least a 10% EBITDA margin. It isn't exclusively an IT investor: the firm is sector-agnostic with a particular focus on manufacturing and business services, though it does back technology-related companies as part of that mix.

The firm targets minority or majority equity positions and generally looks to hold a board seat, working closely with management over a 5 to 7 year investment horizon.

Investment size at Konza Valley Capital typically runs from $500,000 to $2.6 million, with an initial target size of $1 million to $2 million.

FAQ: Raising from Kansas and Midwest VC Firms

How much do Kansas-area VC firms typically invest in an IT startup?

It varies by firm and stage. Konza Valley Capital typically writes $500,000 to $2.6 million checks into established lower-middle-market companies, while Leawood Venture Capital and Drive Capital fund earlier-stage tech companies with checks that can run from around $100,000 up to several million dollars.

Do I need to be headquartered in Kansas to raise from these firms?

No. Only Leawood Venture Capital and Konza Valley Capital are actually headquartered in Kansas. Drive Capital, Rev1 Ventures, and McCarthy Capital (M-One) are Midwest-regional firms based in Ohio and Nebraska that invest across the Heartland, including Kansas and Kansas City.

What industries do these firms fund most?

The earlier-stage firms on this list, Leawood Venture Capital, Drive Capital, and Rev1 Ventures, lean toward software, AI, cybersecurity, and healthtech. Konza Valley Capital and McCarthy Capital (M-One) are broader private equity investors that also back manufacturing, distribution, and business services companies.

Are there other investor types worth pitching besides these VC firms?

Yes. Kansas also has active angel investors and angel groups that write smaller, earlier checks than the firms above. You can browse Kansas-based investors directly on AngelMatch's Kansas investor list to find individual angels alongside these VC firms.

Wrap-up:

So, there we have the list of the top venture capital and private equity firms funding IT and tech-enabled startups in and around Kansas.

Before you start reaching out, a few things are worth keeping in mind.

• Confidence comes with practice.

  Rehearsing your pitch at least two or three times, either in front of an audience or alone, will boost your assurance and protect you from any unexpected stumbles.

• During the presentation, emphasize why the investors should invest in your business and provide clear, honest evidence for the profitability and growth potential of your business.

• Try to build up a warm introduction with your target investors. You can do this by scheduling a meeting beforehand or by meeting an investor through a mutual connection or a related event. Browse the full list of Kansas investors or search by venture capital firm type and IT-focused investors on AngelMatch to build your target list, and use the investor email outreach tool to start reaching out to investors.