Kansas City... Of All Places!
founder and chief scientific officer of Proteon Therapeutics, told an amusing but very revealing story.
Franano was talking about the bias against Kansas City in the national venture capital market. To illustrate his point, he recounted a trip Cambridge, Mass., where he met with managers of a biotech fund.
He walked into the facility and introduced himself. “I am from Proteon Therapeutics,” he told the administrative assistant and explained he was meeting with one of the partners.
“Oh, where are you from?” she asked.
“Kansas City,” said Franano.
The assistant went in the back to inform the partner and, without meaning to, Franano overheard the conversation.
“Who is here?” said the partner.
“Some biotech company,” the AA answered, “from Kansas City, of all places.”
Needless to say, it must have been awkward for all who heard this response, but it identifies a perception problem that really needs to be addressed.
The moment I heard this story, I envisioned the creation of a new tagline for the city or at the very least for certain industries herein.
“Kansas City—Of All Places!”
The phrase works on any number of levels and not just for bioscience. It concedes a certain humility, while at the same time, acknowledging a certain uniqueness.
What it says to the outside world is that we are used to being underestimated, but we don’t mind. We know that once you get here and experience what we have to offer, you will understand why we feel the way we do.
The slogan also acknowledges that we don’t take ourselves overly seriously. On the bioscience front, we don’t pretend to be the Research Triangle or San Diego, at least not yet. But we have got our strengths, especially in animal health. We have Stowers Institute, and no one else does. We possess a strong entrepreneurial environment, and two states and many communities on both sides of State Line willing to compete with each other for business.
“Of all places” speaks to the
distinctiveness of the Kansas City
experience. It speaks to our utter
centrality. On the down side, the
superficial side, we may be further
from a major body of water than any
city in America, but on the up side,
we are at the nexus
of North American
trade, no more than
three hours by air
or two time zones
from any other city.
We don’t pretend
that we are
the next big thing.
Our very distance
from mountains and
oceans keeps us humble. Our world’sbest
highway infrastructure keeps
us relaxed and sane. We are comfortable
in our own skin: a steadily growing,
hard working, well-diversified,
entirely friendly Midwestern city.
This has its advantages. If you are an executive with a serious income, you can live like a king in the Kansas City area. Literally. $800,000 doesn’t buy you a fixer-upper here. It buys you a palace.
And if you are an administrative assistant, try buying a house in Cambridge on 35K a year. Try renting a room.
But if companies come to, invest and expand in the Kansas City area, we can help them grow their nest egg and shrink their ego. We can’t promise that you will live like a king, but we can help you live like a human being.
Ah, yes, Kansas City—Of All Places. 
Joe Sweeney
Editor-In-Chief & Publisher
Sweeney@IngramsOnLine.com