Iron Prairie Ventures Raises $15M For Industrial Startups

Posted April 7, 2025

Iron Prairie Ventures, a Kansas City-based venture capital firm, has raised a $15 million fund aimed at helping startups in the industrial sector.

Iron Prairie Ventures plans to invest in approximately 25 companies, with initial investments ranging from $250,000 to $650,000. The fund will back companies developing innovative solutions across the construction, manufacturing, infrastructure, logistics, and supply chain sectors, according to a release.

“The shift towards domestic production, coupled with advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, is creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity for investors,” founding partner of Iron Prairie Ventures, Maggie Kenefake, said in the release. “Iron Prairie is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this moment, thanks to our extensive network of industry relationships and a strong understanding of the sector’s challenges and the opportunities needed to revitalize American industry.”

Before founding Iron Prairie, Kenefake backed 33 startups focused on innovation at Portfolia and Royal Street Ventures. Kenefake was recently featured in Ingram’s WeKC — Women Executives Kansas City as part of the April 2025 edition.

American industry companies represent 10-20% of the U.S. economy with 70% of companies still in the early stages of their digital transformation, according to McKinsey & Company.

The fund has already invested in 14 promising startups, including companies in Chicago, IL; Fayetteville, AR; Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY.