The City Synergy Continues! KC Public Library Hosts Gigabit Challenge Finale

Collaboration.  Synergy.  Innovation.  Partnership.  Sure, these words encircle the world of entrepreneurship.  But today, they’re beginning to define an entire city—Kansas City. 

The Kansas City Public Library jumped on the collaborative bandwagon this week when it partnered up with The Gigabit Challenge, a global business plan competition looking for new ideas to disrupt on the Google Fiber network (and the chance to win a prize valued at $100,000!).  As a partner, The Kansas City Public Library will become the home of The Gigabit Challenge Finale where the finalists of the challenge will take part in a final pitch and the winners will be announced.

But the Kansas City Public Library’s involvement with Google doesn’t start there.  In fact, the library also hosted Building the Gigabit City, a powerful brainstorming event hosted by the Social Media Club of Kansas City and Brainzooming.  At the event, industry leaders were brought together to come up with ideas for the implementation of Google Fiber in Kansas City.

In addition, the Kansas City Public Library has opened the H&R Block Business & Career Center; a space within the library dedicated to Kansas City residents who want to become successful entrepreneurs, invest money wisely, find jobs and develop careers, organize personal finances, establish and sustain non-profits and improve financial literacy.  Without a doubt, the Kansas City Public Library is embracing Kansas City entrepreneurship. 

The collaboration and ideation that the Kansas City Public Library is contributing to the Google initiative is exactly what The Gigabit Challenge is all about.  A huge thanks to the library for hosting the Gigabit Challenge Finale.  Looking forward to the event on January 17^th!


But wait...there's more!  On Wednesday, November 2, the Kansas City Public Library is hosting the Cradle of Entrepreneurs Series event with Carl Schramm of the Kauffman Foundation.  As a precursor to Global Entrepreneurship week, Library Director Crosby Kemper III will conduct a public conversation with Carl Schramm about his dedication to entrepreneurship in Kansas City.  Join the Kansas City Public Library on November 2n, 2011 at 6:30 PM for the Cradle of Entrepreneurs.  Read the full press release and RSVP here.

Written by Allison Way

@AllisonThinkBig

KCADC Asks, "Are You Learning as Fast as Kansas City is Changing?"

Last week, the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC) published a blog titled “Are You Learning as Fast as Kansas City is Changing?”  We would love to ask you the same question.

From the KCADC blog:

Bill Taylor, co-founder of Fast Company magazine and author of Practically Radical, is a firm believer in embracing the fast pace of the world. In his article, The 10 Questions Every Game Changer Must Answer, Taylor notes that the above question may be the most important to ask yourself. Are you keeping up?

“I first heard this question from strategy guru Gary Hamel, the world-renowned innovation expert, and it is the ultimate challenge for any executive determined to unleash big change in difficult circumstances. In a world that never stops changing, great leaders can never stop learning. How do you push yourself to keep growing and evolving—so your company can do the same? And remember: Among leaders and organizations, the most eager learners tend to be the most accomplished teachers as well. So look for ways to share what you’ve learned.”

— Bill Taylor, The 10 Questions Every Game Changer Must Answer

Kansas City, that’s the boat we’re in. We’re changing. We’re evolving. We’re learning. And with the addition of Google Fiber, we have the opportunity to do it faster than any other city in the nation.

Because of the Google Fiber initiative, our city will be forever changed. Many Kansas City organizations are joining forces with tech innovators to create new apps and businesses utilizing the lightning-speed network, and in turn, a number of big media names have put the spotlight on Kansas City; from the Wall Street Journal (Where the ActionIs – Kansas City) to Entrepreneurs Unpluggd (4Entrepreneurial Cities to Keep Your Eye On), from Forbes (America’s BestDowntowns – Kansas City #7) to Wired Magazine (Google ChoosesKansas City, Kansas as Broadband Mecca).

Is Kansas City learning as fast as the world is changing? Sometimes, it’s difficult to keep up with the speed (not only of the city…but of the Internet too!). So what can we do to slow down, embrace the change and fully understand what’s going on in our city?

It may all start at the Kansas City Area Development Council’s Annual Meeting on November 4^th.  Aptly named FastKC, KCADC’s Annual Meeting will feature keynote speaker Bill Taylor. At the event, Taylor and other Kansas City business and civic leaders will share how light-speed advancements in global commerce will affect business. The event will look at radical ideas and offer practical advice that will help anyone get a jump on the competition.

Join KCADC, Bill Taylor, Mayor Sly James, MayorJoe Reardon and hundreds of Kansas City thought- and industry-leaders at FastKC: KCADC’s 2011 Annual Meeting. Tickets are on sale now: Register today. And when people start asking if you’re learning as fast as the city is changing, you can confidently reply, “Yes.”

Written by Ashlie Hand

@ithinkkc @kc_next

The Scariest Part of Entrepreneurship: Your Top 3 Answers!

Halloween is almost here, which for many means a weekend filled with horror movies, haunted housed, and costume parties. The great thing about Halloween is that it allows everyone to make light of the things that they fear. Seeing a coworker dressed up as a zombie is more amusing than it is frightening.

This month’s blog poll aimed to expose what entrepreneurs fear most, so that we can help address these fears and ease some startup nightmares. Here are the top three entrepreneurial fears we uncovered:

1. I don’t know anything about running a startup company (32%)
2. My business will become my life and I won’t have time for other things I enjoy (27%)
3. I fear failure (27%)

All three fears are scary, but you don’t have to face them alone. There are great business resources here in Kansas City like Think Big Partners and bizperc that will help shed light on your darkest fears. Just like your coworker in a zombie costume, once you face your fears head on, you may find that they are not as frightening as you think!

Happy Halloween from Think Big!

Connect with me!  @LauraGThinkBig

Don't be a Winklevoss...be a Zuckerberg! The Must-Knows of Intellectual Property

"Does a guy who makes a really good chair owe money to anyone who ever made a chair?"  -- Mark Zuckerberg

The popular movie, The Social Network, isn't just about the founding of Facebook.   It's about entrepreneurship, competition, but perhaps most importantly; it's about intellectual property. 

In the movie (and I suppose in real life), the Winklevoss twins have a plan for an exclusive Harvard student network.  In the process, the twins are upstaged by Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of what is known today as Facebook.  In the film, Zuckerberg defends his online empire from lawsuits alleging that he stole the Winklevoss's idea; an intellectual property claim.  But when it boils down to it; who was right and who was wrong?  As we all know, Mark Zuckerberg won in the end...but should he have?

We're glad he did.  After all, we can't picture a day without checking our many Facebook accounts. 

Intellectual property is confusing.  But just as it's confusing, it's also extremely important to understand. So how can you, as an bright-eyed entrepreneur, guarantee that your incredible idea won't be stolen?  How can you prevent what the Winklevosses experienced?

Dianne Smith-Misemer and Jennifer Bailey of Hovey Williams LLP believe it all starts with awareness.

"We find that most businesses do have intellectual property assets," says Dianne.  "Many times, they just don't know it.  Early detection can save a lot of grief later."

Entrepreneurs need to be aware of their intellectual property rights -- which is the main reason why Dianne and Jennifer are holding the Entrepreneur Bootcamp session "The Top Ten IP Must Knows for Any Business: Identifying and Maximizing Your Patent, Trademarks and Copyright Assets" on Tuesday, November 1st at bizperc. 

"Intellectual property can be the largest asset of a company," says Jennifer. "But many people do not know how to protect it.  They do not recognize that they have innovation and technology involved in their business.  That's why we're holding this educational session."

"We are looking forward to the session!" adds Dianne.  "What I like about this area is seeing the excitement from entrepreneurs.  What people don't realize is that they are affected by trademark, patent and copyright decisions every day.  To bring everyday business experiences and see how they blend with intellectual property will be great for entrepreneurs at this session." 

This Entrepreneur Bootcamp session, the 4th of 6, has been designed for any entrepreneur.  Join the Hovey Williams team and Think Big Partners and bizperc on November 1st and 3:00 and learn how to become the next Zuckerberg -- not the next Winklevoss!  Register today!

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Reoccupy Your Main Street! Start by Entering Into The Gigabit Challenge

Last week, we released the blog Occupy Wall Street? Instead, Let's Reoccupy Main Street where we encouraged those with entrepreneurial spirits and minds to cowork, partner up, create buzz and collaborate with one another to produce more exciting jobs, fuel startup passion and make an improvement in the economy (without standing out in the 50 degree weather with signs). 

And although we asked you to follow your passion, launch your idea and create a business buzz throughout the city...we didn't really tell you how to go about doing it.  Shame on us.  Because after all, we are one of the Midwest's entrepreneurial resources and we believe that we should have the answer.

Today, we are here to tell you one of the best ways to Reoccupy Your Main Street.  We want you to bring life to the startup scene wherever you may be by bringing your best business idea to the table.  We want you to apply for The Gigabit Challenge.

The Gigabit Challenge is a worldwide business plan competition geared for the entrepreneur, startup company or high-growth business that wants to disrupt the tech industry on the Google Fiber network.  The Gigabit Challenge is asking for those with a business idea to submit an application and a 3-5 page executive summary to enter the Challenge. 

The emerging businesses that come from The Gigabit Challenge could take the first steps in reoccupying their very own Main Street.  The newly-established businesses will help to re-energize the city and bring steady growth to the economy. Not to mention, the winner of The Gigabit Challenge will win $100k in cash and startup services.  And if that isn't an incentive, then we don't know what is. 

But there's more to The Gigabit Challenge than meets the eye.  In a press release unleashed earlier today, The Gigabit Challenge announced that it was extending its submission deadline to November 18, 2011 (as opposed to October 31, 2011).  Although TGC did not explain why the extension was happening, the team behind the Challenge (Think Big Partners), did leak that there were some exciting upcoming announcements to be made in the next few weeks. 

Apply for The Gigabit Challenge and help reoccupy Main Street.  Get your business off the ground and turn the technology industry upside-down.  Apply now.

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Is Life Better in Kansas City for Everyone? What About Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses?

"LIFE'S BETTER IN KC."

KC Magazine's slogan, displayed above, is a bold one.  Is life truly better in Kansas City?  What makes Kansas City stand out in comparison to all the rest?

Although we can't take the time to compare every single city in the United States to Kansas City, we can vouch that Kansas City is an amazing place to be.  In fact, we have stated multiple times that we seem to be in the right place at the right time.  With new developments like Google Fiber, Zaarly and the Livestrong Sporting Park as well as old favorites like Garmin, Sprint, Helzberg and Hallmark, Kansas City is flourishing.  And quickly.

But is Kansas City great for everyone?  Sure, tech startups will soon benefit from Google Fiber.  Big businesses have a strong name in a vibrant city.  But what about small businesses?  And more specifically, minority- and women- owned businesses?  How are they faring in the Kansas City business climate?

It's no secret that minority- and women- owned businesses, like any other business, face challenges and opportunities every day.  But these challenges and opportunities are often very different compared to those faced by businesses owned by the majority. 

What are distinguished experts saying about these challenges and opportunities that women and minority business owners often face?  Find out at KC Business's Minority Business Forum on Thursday, November 10 from 7:00 to 9:00 AM at the American Jazz Museum. 

At the Minority Business Forum, panelists from the Kansas City community including Consuella McCain-Nunnally (Kansas City Chamber of Commerce), Sherri Nordgren (Bank of Kansas City), CiCi Rojas (Truman Medical Center) and Nancy Zurbuchen (Kansas City Council of Women Business Owners) will come together to discuss the challenges that these businesses face every day. 

If you're interested in attending this event, visit the event page and register ($25.00/ticket).

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Co-Founder of Think Big Partners Sits in on Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program Panel

Helzberg is one of those names that you hear quite often in Kansas City.  After all, the company was founded here in 1915...and it has clearly stuck around.  And because of Helzberg Diamond's stellar Midwest reputation, community involvement, and entrepreneurial spirit, Think Big Partners loves connecting with the Helzberg business.

The founding of the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program (HEMP) was inspired by Barnett Helzberg, Jr.'s mentoring relationship with Ewing Kauffman.  The program matches seasoned, successful entrepreneur mentors with less-experienced entrepreneur mentees. This week, with the help of other Kansas City entrepreneurial organizations, HEMP is featuring an educational series for those entrepreneurs looking to enhance their startup knowledge.

On Thursday, October 27, 2011, HEMP is featuring How to Present Your Business to Investors Workshop from 3:00-5:00 PM.  At the event, mentees are invited to network with other entrepreneurs and sit in on a presentation and panel with some of Kansas City's brightest and most experienced serial entrepreneurs. 

Panelists include Bill Love (BioStar Systems), Christine Walsh (InvestMidwest), Joel Wiggins (Enterprise Center of Johnson County) and our own Herb Sih of Think Big Partners. 

Giving the "perfect pitch" is one of the most important parts of an entrepreneurial venture.  Just getting in front of investors is a huge step, for that matter.  So when an entrepreneur presents to an investor, it's important that they get it right...the first time.  Which is the exact reason why HEMP has established this series--to help entrepreneurs succeed in Kansas City and beyond.  After all, the strength of our city could come from the development of new small businesses.  Let's start by mentoring some of the up-and-comers in the Kansas City area.

The Financing Growth Series Part 3 workshop (How to Present Your Business to Investors) starts at 3:00 on October 27 and will run until 5:00 PM.  Want to become a HEMP mentee or mentor and start getting involved in events just like this one?  Check out the HEMP website and apply for the mentoring program!

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

An Entrepreneur's Last Chance: Kansas City PIPELINE Application Deadline Today!

Have you ever heard the phrase "luck is preparation meeting opportunity"?

You've prepared your business idea; scrutinized the business plan, held countless meetings with your business partner, even developed a logo, website and business cards.  But have you found the right oopportunity to officially launch your business?

The opportunity is at your fingertips today, entrepreneurs.  Today is the last chance to appy for the PIPELINE immersion program--an initiative designed to identify the most talented, high-growth technology entrepreneurs in the Midwest and propel their dynamic growth. 

Applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree, must be currently running or launching a technology business in the Midwest and must have at least three years of business or scientific management experience. 

That's right; tonight at midnight is the final deadline to apply for PIPELINE's 2012 Class of Innovators.  Apply today and finally find that moment when preparation meets opportunity.  Best of luck and Think Big!

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

KCADC Embraces Kansas City Speed: FastKC Annual Meeting

Kansas City isn't just growing--it's growing fast. 

How fast?  For one, Kansas City's Internet speed is soon to be the fastest in the world.  With the implementation of the Google Fiber network on KCK and KCMO's fertile soil, businesses will begin to run at the speed of light.  Because of the Google Fiber initiative that has taken a hold of Kansas City, our city has been forever changed.  Many Kansas City organizations, such as the KCADC, have embraced the lightning-speed network, and in turn, KC has been recognized by a number of big media names; from the Wall Street Journal to Forbes.

But the KCADC is asking one important question: is Kansas City learning as fast as the world is changing?  And that question will be answered at an upcoming KCADC event.  It's appropriately named FastKC: The KCADC Annual Meeting 2011.

At the event, the KCADC is inviting movers-and-shakers from the Kansas City area to listen to how light-speed advancements in global commerce will affect business.  The event will look at radical ideas and offer practical advice that will help anyone get a jump on the competition.

So who's all making it out for the KCADC Annual Meeting?  Join keynote speaker Bill Taylor (co-founder of Fast Company and author of Practically Rad) along with the Honorable Sly James, the Honorable Joe Reardon and major Kansas City businesses (such as Sprint, Garmin, Hallmark, the Kauffman Foundation, Lockton and others) to see what the fast buzz is all about.  FastKC will take place on Friday, November 4th at the Kansas City Convention Center's Grand Ballroom.

Act fast (just like our future internet)!  Sponsorship availability will end on Wednesday.  If you or your company wants to get involved, be sure to check out the Sponsorship page.

Interested in attending? Entrepreneurs, investors, technology enthusiasts, business owners and the like can register at the KCADC site for an individual seat and the chance to get in front of Kansas City's most prominent and influential people.

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

"Entrepreneurs Create Jobs, Build Economies and Support Communities." - Ernst & Young

Create jobs.  Strengthen the economy.  Build startups.  Incentivize entrepreneurs. 

We get the point.  These are all things that we need to do.  But how do we do it?  

Ernst & Young turned to entrepreneurs to find the answer.  After all, sometimes it’s best to go right to the source.  As one of the largest professional service firms in the world, EY has announced the development of Entrepreneurs speak out: a call for actionto G20 governments.  The report has been released just before the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Summit (G20 YES) which is to take place in France later this month.

“The key to a global economic recovery is to support entrepreneurs,” said Maria Pinelli, Global Vice Chair for Ernst & Young’s Strategic Growth Markets.  “Entrepreneurs create jobs, build economies and support communities.  There is a clear opportunity to support youth, through entrepreneurship in both developed and developing nations.”

The report states that G20 governments need more robust tools to measure entrepreneurship and increase innovation that will in turn, tackle the slowdown of hiring, the decline of job creation and the general rise in unemployment.

The report also issues 5 key pillars to build a successful enterprise environment:

1.      Entrepreneurship culture: strength breeds success

2.     Education and training: a broader scope is needed

3.     Access to funding: it is vital to tap into diverse sources

4.     Regulation and taxation: good progress, but regulation can improve to encourage innovation

5.     Coordinated support: time to team

The Ernst & Young report is one of those initiatives that get us fired up.  Improve the entrepreneurship culture?  We love that.  Educate and train today’s students about entrepreneurship? We’re all for it.  Provide better access to funding?  We couldn’t agree more.  This report is a testament to what we are trying to do from inside the Kansas City community (and beyond)—change the face of entrepreneurship, create more jobs and energize the startup community. 

Enough with the talking.  Let’s start doing.

Read more about Entrepreneurs speak out:a call for action to G20 governments on Business Wire.

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

"I Hate Slogans. I Love Positioning Lines."

Kurt Bartolich of GUTS Branding brings more quotable gems like the one above to Entrepreneur Bootcamp on October 25th at bizperc.

It's not every day that you hear a branding expert vocalize how much they hate slogans.  But Kurt Bartolich of GUTS Branding was more than happy to broadcast this phrase.  "I hate slogans," he said.  "But I love positioning lines."

According to Bartolich, there is a difference between the two.  This may be something that many entrepreneurs may have not heard of.  What's the difference between a slogan and a positioning line anyway? 

That's exactly what Bartolich aims to teach at his upcoming Entrepreneur Bootcamp session on October 25th.  This session (#3 of the 6-part series) is to take place from 3:30 until 6:00 at the bizperc coworking space, powered by Think Big Partners.  This is a critical topic for entrepreneurs to learn about.  After all, a brand defines a business.  Think; Southwest.  Victoria's Secret.  Nike.  Their brands stick out...and yours can, too.

"Business owners are recognizing how critical branding is," says Bartolich.  "If you don't get off on the right foot with a brand, you will spend money down the road trying to fix it."

The session is called Brand Foundation for Your Startup That Uniquely Drives Your Business Strategy.  During the session, participants will learn:

1. The difference between "brand" and "branding"
2. How to find your business's brand and what it's really about
3. What to do once you have your brand specified
4. The ins-and-outs of brand naming

Need a little work on your business's brand?  Join Kurt Bartolich, the Think Big team and Kansas City entrepreneurs for this energetic session all about branding for entrepreneurs.  Lace up for the bootcamp at 3:30 and cool down with cocktails and networking from 5:00-6:00. 

Register today!

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Become a Social Media Master. A Wizard. A Guru!

Imagine life without Facebook.  How would we keep in touch with friends?
Or going throughout the day without Twitter.  Would we still be able to find breaking news in mere seconds?

Or looking for a new job without LinkedIn.  How would we connect with professionals to amp up our own careers?

Life without social media is scary.  This disruptive idea has turned our world upside-down...and for the better.  We cannot help but love it.

Since social media literally surrounds us every single day (did you check-in to that restaurant on Foursquare during your lunch hour?  We probably did.), it is obviously an important tool to integrate into business.  But what's the best way of going about that?

Get all of the tips, tricks and advice you need about becoming a social media guru at Social Media Masters: Kansas City.  This week, the Social Media Club of Kansas City and Sensei Marketing are teaming up to bring you insights into taking your social media skills to the next level.  Whether you're a social media professional or an online marketer, this program is your chance to go beyond a typical introductory course and get advanced training from true Social Media Masters. 

Ready to become a social media master?  A wizard?  An all-out guru?  Register for the Social Media Masters event.  The event kicks off on Friday, October 21 bright and early at 8:00 AM.  Learn more here. 

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

The Gigabit Challenge Announces Screampoint as First Platform Partner

The GigabitChallenge, a global business plan competition looking for entrepreneurial ideas to disrupt on the Google Fiber network, has welcomed Screampoint as its first Platform Partner. Screampoint is a global leader in providing 5D SMART™ technology solutions that allow government officials, master developers and corporate leaders to access multi-departmental real-time city and building data through the unique interface of a 3D visual model of a city.  As an important new tool in the real estate technology and Smart City sector, Screampoint’s 5D SMART™ technologies will change the way the built environment and the smart cities of the future will be designed, built, monitored and managed. 

As part of the Platform Partner package, Screampoint will allow third-party developers that are finalists in The Gigabit Challenge to utilize the Screampoint 5D SMART™ platform to build applications for free for a period of one year starting in Q1 2012.  This is the same quarter in which Google will begin to deploy the first-in-the-nation one-gigabit Google Fiber network in Kansas City. 

“We are very excited to have Screampoint on board as the founding Platform Partner,” said Tyler Prochnow, co-founder of Think Big Partners, host of The Gigabit Challenge.  “The company’s next-generation 5D SMART™ technology will spawn a whole new genre of applications, including those that will power smart cities, that are ideally suited to run on the Google Fiber network.”

Screampoint is active in countries around the globe and assembles technology companies, building systems management companies, and AEC firms to bring 5D SMART solutions to cities and building owners.

The Gigabit Challenge invites other major platform providers such as Apple, Google, Microsoft, Intel, Oracle and Salesforce to join startup Screampoint in working with The Gigabit Challenge as a Platform Partners.  The Challenge is calling on these innovators to let their developer communities know about this opportunity and encourage them to compete for the $100,000 Grand Prize. 

The first round of The Gigabit Challenge opened on October 3, 2011 and will close at midnight on October 31, 2011.  Finalists will be announced in November and a final pitch with an awards ceremony will be held in Kansas City on January 18, 2012.  View the complete schedule.  For questions concerning applications, partnerships, or judging opportunities, please visit www.gigabitchallenge.com or call (816) 842-5244.  

Take me to the press release.

Written by Allison Way

@AllisonThinkBig

Being Good in Business is the Most Fascinating Kind of Art

“Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art.” – Andy Warhol

One year ago, we opened our coworking doors in the Crossroads Art District. And in this past year, we have seen the Crossroads art and business communities grow into one powerful and energetic force. The truth of the matter is, an art and business blend could be the best combination that a community can experience. Take the Andy Warhol quote mentioned above: making money is art, working is art and doing good business is the best kind of art—therefore we are all artists, specializing in different artistic media.

We first noticed that we were located in an epicenter of business and art when we opened for our very first First Fridays event a little less than a year ago. As a neighbor to the recently-closed Arts Incubator, we saw the passion that Kansas City residents had for art and for business. With eclectic street artist, art enthusiast and local business owner involvement, we couldn’t help but be inspired to create our own First Friday event, Entrepreneur Corner, that attracts hundreds of visitors every month.

Some of the Think Big team at Entrepreneur Corner.

On September 16^th, 2011, we saw the grand opening of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City. For months and months, we watched the new performing arts center, a true architectural gem, rise up when we would step out on the bizperc rooftop garden. This was one of the first testaments of art and business mixing together and we were prepared to see even more in the coming weeks.

A view of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
from the bizperc rooftop.

And finally, our own building is currently experiencing an artistic take-over. Kim Weinberger is currently opening her new art gallery on the first floor of 1800 Baltimore (where bizperc and the Think Big Partners team is located). Kim wanted to make a greater influence in the local art community and found that the answer was to relocate her thriving business to a larger and more accessible space in the Crossroads Arts District. What better place than 1800 Baltimore? The Weinberger Art Gallery is to open later this month.

Kim Weinberger moves her art gallery to 1800 Baltimore.

With this healthy blend of art and business, we cannot help but believe that we are located in the right place at the right time. Kansas City (and more specifically, the Crossroads District) is experiencing a strong urban core movement, a vibrant art scene and a flourishing business atmosphere. What more could we ask for from a KC location? We are experiencing an evolution of business—which after all, is the most fascinating kind of art.

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Stop In! bizperc Open House Thursday

Interested in joining a coworking space?  Looking to network with Kansas City entrepreneurs?  Join the Think Big Partners team as they host the bizperc Open House this Thursday, Ocotber 20^th from 4:30-6:00pm.  

Attendees will have an opportunity to tour the bizperc coworking space, chat with some of the collaborative tenants and help yourself to some beverages.  All drop-in tours will have the chance to see bizperc's 4th, 5th and 6th floors as well as the breath-taking rooftop garden. 

Stop in, feel the synergy and see the collaboration at work.

RSVP here: http://tbpoct11openhouse.eventbrite.com/

Can’t make it Thursday? Don’t worry! Bizperc Open House events will take place every month.  Stay tuned for information on November’s Open House event.

Written by Laura Goede

@LauraGThinkBig

The Hilton President Partners Up with The Gigabit Challenge

Yesterday, we announced that the Kansas City Public Library has partnered up with the Gigabit Challenge and would be the host of the Finale event in mid-January of 2012.  But we have more announcements coming your way—the Hilton President, one of Kansas City’s iconic downtown landmarks, has also partnered with The Gigabit Challenge in order to provide contestants with a comfortable and beautiful place to stay while in Kansas City.

The President Hotel is offering a discounted rate to those judges, attendees and participants looking to stay in the downtown Kansas City area during The Gigabit Challenge Finale.  The President Hotel will also host the Gigabit Challenge kick-off event that occurs the night before the finale.  Not only is the President located in the heart of the thriving downtown Kansas City area, but it is an establishment that has been an entrepreneurial donor the past two years by sponsoring the Think Big Kansas City conference. 

These ongoing partnerships are helping Kansas City become the city of entrepreneurship.  A huge thanks to The Gigabit Challenge sponsors: The Kauffman Foundation, Entrepreneurs Unpluggd, the President Hotel, the Kansas City Public Library and Think Big Ventures.  If you’re interested in partnering for The Gigabit Challenge, please contact Allison Way (away@thinkbigpartners.com) or Ann DeAngelo (adeangelo@thinkbigpartners.com) or call 816.842.5244. 

Written by Allison Way

@AllisonThinkBig

Thinc Iowa Amplifies Midwestern Entrepreneurship

It's no secret that there are a lot of entrepreneurial initiatives going on in Kansas City: Google Fiber, the Kauffman Foundation, The Gigabit Challenge (just to name a few).  Sometimes, we can't seem to keep up with it all.  But even when things seem to get so hectic, so busy and so exciting, we still have to take the time to look beyond the Kansas City community to glance at the booming entrepreneurial movement that's happening throughout the Midwest.  From Chicago to Omaha, St. Louis to Indianapolis. 

But you didn't think we'd be talking about Des Moines, Iowa, did you? 

This month, Des Moines will be a city hard to ignore.  Not only is entrepreneurship making leaps and bounds in this growing Midwestern city, but Des Moines also has an upcoming event sure to blow the socks off of any Midwestern entrepreneur.  It's called Thinc Iowa.

Thinc Iowa (October 20-21) will gather individuals from startups and established corporations across the U.S. for a day and a half of inspiration, idea generation and collaboration.  It's a whole new perspective for the entrepreneurial community from the people behind other knock-out Midwestern events like Big Omaha.

For those of you who can't help but believe that Thinc Iowa may be just a podunk conference in the middle of nowhere...think again.  With powerhouse speakers like Ben Silbermann (Pinterest), Scott Case (Startup America Partnership), Ben Milne (Dwolla), Douglas Olson (Microsoft) and many others, Thinc Iowa is changing the face of Midwestern entrepreneurship.  According to the Des Moines Register, Thinc Iowa's goal is to unite startups and corporations--something that the Midwest needs.

Ready to start thinking big at Thinc Iowa?  Register today!  Tickets start at $199.00...and it will be well worth the investment.  Take one day out of your busy startup week and get connected with some of the coolest entrepreneurs in the Midwest.

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Gigabit Challenge Application Deadline Just Two Weeks Away

Attention entrepreneurs! The first deadline for The Gigabit Challenge is quickly approaching.  Time to buckle down and polish up those business plans.  Applications and executive summaries are due Monday, October 31^st (that’s a mere two weeks away!).

The Gigabit Challenge is open to all entrepreneurs, startups, early-stage businesses and existing high-growth companies who have an idea that will make use of Google’s first-in-the nation one-gigabit Fiber network.  Those interested in entering a business plan have just two weeks left to submit their applications accompanied by 3-5 page executive summaries.  Judges will then select the top 25 business ideas.  Those finalists will move on to pursue the $100,000 Grand Prize and the opportunity to build a business on the first one-gigabit Fiber network.   

Do you have an idea that can harness the power of a gigabit?  The Gigabit Challenge is looking for you.  Apply today!

Get ready to Think Big…with a gig. 

Written by Laura Goede

@LauraGThinkBig

New bizperc Tenant LightEdge Solutions Raises $16M for Des Moines and KC Expansion

LightEdge Solutions, a hosted service provider focused on the needs of small and medium-sized businesses, may have moved into the bizperc coworking space a few short weeks ago, but it seems as if the company was always meant to call Kansas City its second home. 

"We are an entrepreneurial company," said TJ Bangs, Regional Vice President of LightEdge.  "We are growing and cutting-edge.  That is the same feeling that we got when we toured bizperc."

I met with TJ and one of his LightEdge colleagues for coffee one summer morning.  The meeting was based around LightEdge's agenda to expand to Kansas City (in addition to its current Des Moines location) and find the right connections in the KC area in order to make an impact in the industry.  The short 30-minute coffee meeting quickly turned into a tour of bizperc, a collaborative discussion with Think Big Partners' co-founder Herb Sih, and the signing of some tenant papers: LightEdge Solutions was joining bizperc.

And in perfect timing.  Just a few months before LightEdge opened its Kansas City office within the walls of bizperc, the company announced that it had secured $16M of private equity from The Anshutz Investment Company and debt financing from US Bank to double the capacity of its data center operations and launch in Kansas City.  Read more from the LightEdge press release. 

"LightEdge's ability to provide best in class collocation and cage space in addition to our fullly managed cloud services business makes us unique in Iowa and the Midwest," said Jeff Springborn, president and COO of LightEdge in the July 27th release.  "This expansion will enable the businesses of Iowa and other Midwestern states to continue to transform their daily IT delivery models to reduce costs and ensure high-availability IT operations."

bizperc and the Kansas City IT industries in general are growing exponentially.  LightEdge's $16M capital raise is just one testament to that. 

"When you look at what we do, we are 1 of 10 in the nation that provides cloud service.  Kansas City is underserved in that area.  This is a technology need in Kansas City." 

Thanks for joining the bizperc (and Kansas City) community, LightEdge!  Happy to have you on board for further coworking, networking and collaborating. 

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Occupy Wall Street? Instead, Let's Reoccupy Main Street

Occupy Wall Street.  We are the 99%.  #OWS.  The phrases seem to be everywhere.

In fact, the Occupy Wall Street phenomenon reached the streets of Kansas City (right in front of the Federal Reserve Bank) last week.  The Occupy Wall Street movement is spreading throughout the nation--We Are the 99%-encrusted pins, handwritten signs, shouting protestors and all. 

But we're not here to ask you to occupy Wall Street.  We're asking you to do something much different.

We are asking you to Reoccupy Main Street.  Now that's something that we want to fight for.

It wasn't too long ago that Kansas City's Main Street was buzzing with energy; the progressive era brought life and vibrancy to the city with the implementation of the Country Club Plaza, Ward Parkway, numerous downtown taverns and even TWA.  In fact, in the 1940's Kansas City was becoming known as the Crossroads of the World.  Take a look at the picture below for proof.

Main Street, Kansas City, 1936.

But what if the buzz came back?  We think that now is our chance. We are ready to Reoccupy Main Street and bring in a plethora of entrepreneurs, startups, small business owners and even large corporations to live, work and play in the thriving and eclectic Kansas City community.  Big things are happening once again; Google Fiber is making its way to KC, new developments are being executed by the Kauffman Foundation and Think Big Partners, startup companies like Zaarly and LiveOn are igniting and the city is being nationally recognized by media superstars like The Wall Street Journal and entrepreneurial publications like Entrepreneurs Unpluggd and Under 30 CEO.

There's no doubt about it; entrepreneurship is booming in Kansas City.  It will only be a short matter of time that Main Street is reoccupied with new (and flourishing) small businesses, driven and hard-working entrepreneurs, and disruptive technology startups. But we're going to do much more than just wait for that to happen--we're going to make it happen.

Downtown Kansas City.

We encourage you to Reoccupy Main Street.  What does this mean exactly?  Bring your new and innovative ideas to Kansas City.  Provide support to those who are looking to create and innovate.  Work side-by-side with your competition to see how you can better the Kansas City community together (a little thing we like to call co-opetition).  Partner up.  Dive in.  Create some buzz.  We are making a difference in Kansas City just by energizing the city streets with those dreams, ideas and big thoughts that cause us to toss and turn at night  We aren't the 99%.  We are the 100% of Kansas City residents who want to see the city grow, succeed and prosper.  Maybe it all starts with an idea and an opportunity, and we think now is our chance. 

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Stop In! bizperc Opens its Doors to the Kansas City Public

bizperc

inspired entrepreneurs cowork here.

bizperc has had a lot of drop-in visits in the past few weeks.  Potential tenants, Kansas City entrepreneurs and even the KCMO and KCK mayors have stopped in to see what this Kansas City coworking space is all about. 

Because of the overwhelming interest that many Kansas Citians have had in bizperc, we have decided to open bizperc's coworking doors to the public.  Join the Think Big Partners team as they host the bizperc Open House on Thursday, October 20th from 4:30-6:00pm.  Come take a tour of bizperc, chat with some of the collaborative tenants and help yourself to some complimentary beverages.  All drop-in tours will have the chance to see bizperc's 4th, 5th and 6th floors as well as the breath-taking rooftop garden.

RSVP here:  http://tbpoct11openhouse.eventbrite.com

Can't make it next Thursday?  Don't worry!  bizperc Open House events will take place every month.  Stay tuned for the next Open House announcement. 

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig