Kansas City, Missouri – The launch of the 2025 DoorDash Accelerator for Local Businesses is giving Kansas City business owners a new boost. City officials, DoorDash staff, and a number of local business owners met earlier this week to formally kick off the initiative meant to assist small enterprises expand through concentrated mentoring, professional advice, and new financing prospects.
Running from May through July, the Accelerator is DoorDash’s most ambitious version of the program to date. Specifically designed for Kansas City, a city with over 50,000 small businesses, most of which employ fewer than 100 people. These local companies are the backbone of the city’s economy and help make major events, like the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, possible.
The program provides actual help, not just advice. Ten selected entrepreneurs will get a $5,000 grant each, along with $1,000 in DoorDash advertising credits. But the advantages extend beyond financing. Participants are linked with proficient mentors, including successful merchants who have expanded their own DoorDash enterprises. From menu optimization to digital storefront management, the Accelerator’s curriculum includes both in-person and online seminars. There is also assistance negotiating small business resources—items including funding, certification programs, and opportunities for government contracts.
The present collection of participants is a cross-section of Kansas City’s entrepreneurial scene. This year’s group includes: Fifth & Emery Frozen Yogurt & Chocolate, Gomers Wine and Spirits, Jovitos Italian Cafe & Deli, Mixing Bowl On The Go, PH Coffee LLC, Ruby Jean’s Juicery, SAUCED, Shop Local KC, Wah Gwan, and Zero Zero Handmade Pasta from restaurants and delis to juice bars and flower shops.
Mayor Quinton Lucas, present at the launch, stressed the importance of small businesses in Kansas City’s growth.
“When our small businesses succeed, Kansas City succeeds,” said Mayor Lucas. “Kansas City’s partnership with DoorDash will make our city an even better place to operate a business. I want to thank DoorDash for selecting Kansas City to participate in this program, and – more importantly – I want to thank our local entrepreneurs for being the engine that drives this city.”
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Esther Ladipo Hill, DoorDash’s Social Impact Manager, shared those sentiments. She underlined DoorDash’s dedication to assist Kansas City’s small business sector and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with the city and its entrepreneurs over the next months.
The Accelerator is also filled with mentorship; business experts like Patrick Bobrukiewicz of Thrive Restaurant Group are stepping forward to lead and assist the next batch. Bobrukiewicz called the initiative an exceptional opportunity for local business owners to network, exchange best practices, and cooperate to create more robust companies.
Kansas City’s small enterprises will gain from a mix of financial resources, practical training, and a sense of cooperation once the program starts. For many, the DoorDash Accelerator might be the push that enables them to rise to the occasion—and flourish—in the coming months and years.
