Two Tracks. One Mission: Corporate Innovation, Designed for Action.
Corporate
Connections Studio
Innovation by Design
Think of it as your corporate R&D extension — powered by the region’s most dynamic entrepreneurs.
Corporate
Connections Accelerator
Innovation at Speed
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The Studio helps you explore possibilities. The Accelerator helps you make them real.
The Studio’s flagship 12-week initiative that transforms startup collaboration into results. While the Studio builds long-term readiness, the Accelerator drives near-term outcomes by pairing corporations with vetted startups to co-develop and test pilot solutions.
In the Accelerator, you’ll:
De-Risked Innovation Access
Work with vetted, enterprise-ready startups aligned to real business challenges.
Tailored Deal Flow
Shape startup engagement around your strategic priorities, ensuring relevance, focus, and measurable outcomes.
Organizational Agility
Build internal innovation capability, like startup-level speed, and adaptability, without disrupting core operations.
Talent & Capability Pipeline
Early access to founders, teams, and technologies for hiring, partnerships, and acquisitions.
Brand & Market Magnetism
Strengthen employer brand and market credibility through visible innovation leadership.
Our Partners
Why Industry Leaders
Partner with Corporate Connections
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How Corporate Connections Achieves Results
A Proven Model for Enterprise Innovation
innovation works best when it’s intentional, structured, and connected to real priorities.
Cross-Sector by Design
Convening corporations, founders, and universities, around real, vertical-specific challenges that matter now.
Curate National Deal Flow
Target startups with enterprise-ready tech solutions from across the country, ensuring quality and strategic fit.
Structured On-Ramps
Clear pathways allowing teams to engage at the right depth, at the right time.
Flexible Engagement Models
Tiered engagement aligns investment with outcomes, ensuring focus, relevance, and internal buy-in.
Measured & Visible Outomces
Progress is tracked and shared—so innovation doesn’t disappear into slide decks.
Start the Conversation to De-Risk Innovation & Create Tailored Deal Flow Today!
Steps To Engage
01. Set Up a Call
We'll explore your goals and identify your best fit.
02 . Select Your Tier
Community, Innovation or Accelerator Partner
03. Design your Engagement Package
Tailored programs, challenges, and pilots.
04 . Begin Innovating
Work alongside startups and Keystone advisors to bring ideas to life
The Path to Partnership
Choose the level of engagement that fits your innovation strategy
Tier 1: Community Partner
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Host or participate in Keystone Sessions programming
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Engage with Keystone’s corporate mentorship network
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Receive exclusive invites to CCS events and programming opportunities
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“First Right” opportunities to sponsor Keystone programming and events
Ideal for: Organizations beginning their innovation journey or exploring the startup ecosystem.
Tier 2: Innovation Partner
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Participate in Quarterly Reverse Pitch events
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Keystone serves as "Innovation Scout" across national landscape
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Reserved seat on Innovation Advisory Council
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Curated startup matchups and engagement with The CoFoundry
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Access Corporate Mentorship Program across all Keystone programs
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Receive custom Innovation Briefs
Ideal for: Companies exploring opportunities to increase their innovation access with greater engagement and collaboration
Tier 3: Accelerator Partner
All Tier 1 & Tier 2 benefits, plus:
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Serve on Planning & Selection Committee for accelerator cohorts
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Shape annual cohort through problem framing and vertical input
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Full access to applicant database
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Direct engagement as Pilot Partner with cohort companies
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Active mentorship role during accelerator programming
Ideal for: Forward-looking companies ready to co-create solutions and actively pilot emerging technologies.
This is for leaders who see change as a Challenge worth owning
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— Keystone Innovation District
“You can wait for disruption or you can lead it.”
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Together, these programs drive a continuous cycle of growth — creating capital, talent, and technology that expand Kansas City’s innovation economy.
Corporate Connections Studio doesn’t exist alone. It’s part of Keystone’s broader innovation flywheel, where every program fuels the next:
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The CoFoundry empowers startups through mentorship and growth.
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Keystone Angels injects early capital to scale innovation.
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Corporate Connections turns those innovations into corporate partnerships, pilots, and economic momentum.
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Keynect provides the digital backbone, tracking engagement, measuring outcomes, and enabling scalable workflows across all programs.
The Ecosystem That Makes Innovation Inevitable
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Build What’s Next
We Don’t Just Talk About Innovation.
We Engineer It.