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