Nathan Kurtz, senior program officer at Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, talks Global Entrepreneurship Week and more in The Pitch Questionnaire
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Twitter handle: @nathankurtz
Hometown: Yakima, Washington — apples, wine and hops!
Current neighborhood: Shawnee, Kansas
What I do: I help create favorable conditions in Kansas City for new firms to start, grow and thrive.
What’s your addiction? Playing ultimate frisbee, watching Ohio State football, raising my kids and helping entrepreneurs grow businesses. I love to see people create opportunities and jobs to better themselves and their community.
What’s your game? I geek out on helping entrepreneurs get connected to people and resources in the community to better grow their companies. Here in Kansas City, we have everything from craft brewers and distillers to enterprise B2B companies, and from IT solutions to Internet of things developers.
What’s your drink? The Roasterie, and pretty much any hoppy craft beer or big red wine.
Where’s dinner? Taco Republic, La Bodega, Gram and Dun, Happy Gillis, Café Provence, the Jacobson, Thai Place, Tannin, Joe’s Kansas City, Affäre and Julian, among others.
What’s on your KC postcard? “Kansas City —a great place to start and grow a business!” with a picture of Mr. Kauffman and events such as Global Entrepreneurship Week and 1 Week KC.
Finish this sentence: “Kansas City got it right when …” The community supported local entrepreneurs. As in years past, we have Buy Local and Taste Local events as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, and the community buys in!
“Kansas City screwed up when …” The Royals were the farm team for the rest of MLB. Problem solved!
“Kansas City needs …” To check out Global Entrepreneurship Week, November 16–22. The Kauffman Foundation co-founded this weeklong celebration of entrepreneurship in 2008, and we continue to be one of the premier host cities in the world. It’s truly a great way to meet others building businesses and to learn about entrepreneurship.
“As a kid, I wanted to be …” A roller-coaster engineer and test rider. Kicking butt on the latter!
“In five years, I’ll be …” Helping entrepreneurs start and grow businesses and celebrating the success of all those entrepreneurs!
“I always laugh at …” Puns and my own jokes. Can’t help it, and I also can’t deliver a punch line.
“I’ve been known to binge-watch …” Seinfeld, Tommy Boy and Ohio State football. Doesn’t everyone?
“I can’t stop listening to …” Business books on Audible.
“My dream concert lineup is …” Def Leppard, the Scorpions, Bon Jovi and U2.
“I just read …” Pitch Anything by Oren Klaff, again.
What’s your hidden talent? Singing and playing guitar at the same time.
What’s your guiltiest pleasure? Gummy bears
The best advice I ever got: “It’s never about you.”
Worst advice: “If you build it, they will come.” They won’t. First, talk to who you think will be your customers.
My sidekick: Ann, my dear wife of 10 years!
What is your spirit animal? Whatever takes down a wolverine.
Who is your hero? Peter Drucker, Abraham Lincoln, my dad.
Who is your nemesis? I have a twin brother, though between the two of us, I am probably more of the evil twin/nemesis.
What’s your greatest struggle right now? Getting more time in my day. Too many good things happening!
My favorite toy as a child: Legos, for sure.
My dating triumph/tragedy: There was a period of time when I was the last person my now-wife would have ever married. But I eventually moved up to first. I am nothing if not persistent.
My brush with fame: Infamously got a two-page photo spread in Runner’s World magazine (June 2000) for landing headfirst in the water pit during a steeplechase race in track. Instant pinup!
My soapbox: Entrepreneurship is learned — you have to be ready to work harder and smarter than anyone else, and want it.
What was the last thing you had to apologize for? Had to skip out on a meeting. I promise it was for a good reason.
Who’s sorry now? Whoever is going to hear me laugh through a poorly delivered punch line.
My recent triumph: Married 10 years!
