Community Partners, Programs and Resources

Our community thrives because of the strong network of partners, programs, and resources that support innovation and entrepreneurship at The Link Innovation Labs. From mentorship opportunities and business development programs to technical support and funding resources, this collaborative ecosystem helps turn big ideas into real impact. Below, you’ll find a variety of community partners and available programs that play a key role in driving innovation forward.

GO Topeka

GO Topeka is the economic development organization for Topeka and Shawnee County, focused on driving growth, supporting local businesses, and fostering innovation. Through strategic initiatives, business incentives, and workforce development programs, GO Topeka works to create a thriving economy and vibrant community for all.

Learn more about GO Topeka!

Choose Topeka is a talent attraction and retention initiative designed to welcome new residents and showcase all that Topeka has to offer. From relocation incentives to community engagement opportunities, Choose Topeka helps individuals and families build their future in a vibrant, inclusive, and affordable capital city.

Learn more about Choose Topeka!

Established in 2021 and guided by the Kansas motto of ‘Ad Astra per Aspera’, the Kansas Office of Innovation’s mission is to cultivate a dynamic innovation ecosystem across Kansas. Through strategic initiatives, thoughtfully designed programs and collaborative partnerships—KOI stands as a beacon for a bold and innovative future empowering Kansas innovators to reach new heights.

Learn more about Kansas Department of Commerce

Topeka and Shawnee County are cultivating an Innovation Corridor in Downtown Topeka. Plug and Play Tech Center is a key component of that strategy, bringing Animal Health and Ag Tech accelerator programs to the region.  Plug and Play is pairing Silicon Valley tech with the region’s industry leading research & development, skilled workforce, and animal health companies to create a hub on innovation in the Capitol City that complements and supports the regional innovation districts across Kansas. Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we’re present in 35+ locations across five continents. We offer corporate innovation programs and help our corporate partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. We also organize startup acceleration programs and have built an in-house VC to drive innovation across multiple industries where we’ve invested in hundreds of successful companies including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal, and Rappi. For more information, visit https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/

BioKansas is a non-profit organization founded in 2004 by the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute and the State of Kansas. It serves as a unified voice representing the biosciences in Kansas, focusing on enhancing the business and research climate, attracting and retaining bioscience talent, companies, and funding. BioKansas aims to promote the bioscience industry and support its growth through various initiatives, including educational outreach and strategic planning efforts.
 

Learn more about BioKansas

Companies with a strategic location in the KC Animal Health Corridor now represent 56 percent of total worldwide animal health, diagnostics and pet food sales.

The Corridor, anchored by Manhattan, Kansas, and Columbia, Missouri, is home to more than 300 animal health companies, representing the largest concentration in the world. 

But there’s more to the KC Animal Health Corridor than just being located within the world’s largest concentration of the animal health industry. A variety of value added benefits contribute to the growth and success of the companies in the Corridor, including:

  • Networking
  • Specialized Education & Training
  • Research Collaboration
  • Legislative Advocacy
  • Specialized Tax & Incentive Programs
  • Business Relocation Assistance

Learn more about KC Animal Health Corridor

The Washburn Small Business Development Center has a core set of values that dictates its mission and purpose in the market of small business. As an organization, the Washburn SBDC is a crucial catalyst for your business and a proponent of future success. We help your business succeed in ways that resemble the purpose of the national brand of SBDC.
 

Learn more about Washburn Small Business Development Center

Network Kansas is growing an entrepreneurial environment in Kansas by cultivating resources to start and grow small businesses. We are a statewide network of non-profit business-building resources that help entrepreneurs and small business owners startup and grow successful businesses.

Learn more about Network Kansas

Omni Circle is Topeka’s premier resource hub, dedicated to the personal and professional development of its members. We believe in the importance of connection and the power of community-minded individuals collaborating to create a better future. When you join Omni, you tap into a multicultural, multi-generational ecosystem of passionate people who encourage you to be your best. Omni curates workspaces and programming designed to meet people where they are, while providing members the support they need to thrive.

We firmly believe we are all products of our environment and how we respond to those environments has a direct impact on how we respond to the world we live in. We’re creating a space to meet people where they are and to provide them the level of support they need to reach any level of success they desire.

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Learn more about Omni Circle

The Technology Development Institute (TDI) at Kansas State University supports the advancement of innovative products and technologies by offering a comprehensive suite of design, prototyping, and commercialization services. Whether working with university researchers or private sector partners, TDI helps move ideas from concept to market.

Learn more about K-State TDI

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