Corporate Technologies KC
Small fish.
Big ideas.
Minnow Tank is Kansas City’s pitch competition for young entrepreneurs. Young Entrepreneurs ages 8–17 pitch a real business idea to a panel of KC business leaders — and walk away with real startup funding, real feedback, and a real mentor in their corner.
Real startup funding, backed by a national team that believes in KC.
Corporate Technologies has been powering businesses since 1981 — and now it’s powering Kansas City’s next generation of builders, funding every Young Entrepreneur who steps into the tank. Local roots. National strength.
Kansas City built us. We’re investing in who builds it next.
Our story started in 2008 with a small Kansas City IT company, a big idea, and a lot of hustle. Nearly two decades later — now with the national strength of Corporate Technologies behind us — we know exactly what a first “yes” means to a founder, because we remember ours.
Minnow Tank is our way of giving that first yes to the next generation. Not a participation trophy — a real pitch, in front of real business leaders, for the real money their idea needs. Because an 8-year-old with a lemonade stand is already doing pricing, marketing, and customer service. We’re just giving that instinct a stage.
How the funding works
- Young Entrepreneurs pitch for what they need. Every applicant requests up to $250, backed by a simple “what I’ll buy” list.
- Solid plans get funded in full. Judges fund the ask when the numbers hold up — just like real investors.
- Great plans earn a bonus. Standout ideas receive extra funding above their ask, with the judges’ reasons announced on stage.
- Nobody leaves empty-handed. Every participant receives funding, feedback, and a certificate. Bracket winners are matched with a Kansas City business mentor for a one-on-one coaching session.
From nomination to funded founder in four steps
A trusted adult says “we believe in this Young Entrepreneur”
Our Nominating Partners — churches, schools, coaches, youth leaders, and mentors across KC — each nominate 1–2 young entrepreneurs, ages 8–17, with a business idea and a spark.
The Young Entrepreneur writes a simple business plan
Seven friendly questions: the idea, the customer, the costs, the price, the marketing, the “why me” — and The Big Ask, up to $250.
Pitch day
Five minutes on stage, then five friendly minutes of questions from a panel of Kansas City business leaders. Props, posters, and product samples welcome.
Funding, feedback, and a mentor
Awards are announced investor-style — full asks, bonuses, and mentor matches — and every family leaves with a scheduled next step.
Three ways to put a young founder on stage
Nominating Partners
You know your families — and you can spot a Young Entrepreneur with a spark. Nominate 1–2 young entrepreneurs from your congregation. We handle everything else, from applications to event day.
Start a nomination →Parents & Young Entrepreneurs
Have a young founder at home? Ask any Nominating Partner — a teacher, coach, pastor, or mentor — about a nomination, then help your Young Entrepreneur dream up their pitch. The application takes about 20 minutes — and the ideas should be all theirs.
See the application →KC business leaders
Judge the pitches or join the mentor bench — one Saturday, or one 30-minute coaching session, to make a Young Entrepreneur believe a real business person takes them seriously. Because you do.
Volunteer as a judge or mentor →The fine print, minus the fine print
When and where is Minnow Tank?
Date, time, and venue are coming soon — the full event runs about six hours, including lunch, and families and cheering sections are welcome all day.
What kinds of business ideas count?
Anything a Young Entrepreneur can genuinely imagine running: lawn care, baked goods, pet sitting, crafts, apps, inventions, content. The idea matters less than the thinking behind it — who’s the customer, what does it cost, and why them.
How does the money work?
Each participant requests the startup funding their idea needs — up to $250 — justified by a simple spending list. Judges fund solid plans in full, right-size padded asks, and award bonus funding to standout plans, all from a $5,000 pool sponsored by Corporate Technologies. Awards are paid by check to a parent or guardian on the child’s behalf.
Does my child need to be a polished public speaker?
Not at all. Judges score Young Entrepreneurs against their own age bracket (Junior 8–12, Teen 13–17), and the panel’s job is to be encouraging. Nerves are normal — courage counts.
What happens after the event?
Bracket winners have a one-on-one, 30-minute coaching session with a Kansas City business mentor matched to their idea, scheduled before families leave event day. We follow up with every family, because the goal is momentum — not a one-day high.
Who’s behind this?
Minnow Tank is hosted by our Kansas City team — a local IT company founded right here in 2008 — and sponsored by Corporate Technologies, our national parent company. Local roots, national strength — invested in KC’s next generation of builders.
Submit a nomination
Nominations come through our Nominating Partners: the churches, schools, coaches, youth leaders, and mentors who know KC’s young entrepreneurs best. A parent or guardian is part of every application from day one.
Approved partners receive the nomination access code by email. Any adult mentor or organization that works with young people can become a partner — just reach out.
