The Gigabit Challenge Explodes in Kansas City

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR

Although we are only half way through The Gigabit Challenge Finale at the Kansas City Public Library, a lot has happened.  So much has happened, in fact, that it calls for a quick post about recent announcement, Finalist presentations and Gigabit news!


Currently, #GBFinale is the number one trending topic on Twitter in Kansas City!  Thanks to all of our social media gurus out there for posting your thoughts about the big event.  Keep your 140 character posts coming...we love learning what you think!  




Currently, Paruzia Technologies is in first place for the People's Choice Award with 30.5% of votes.  TiBi.tv is in close second with 22.2% of votes.  Keep the votes coming!  Vote for your favorite Gigabit Challenge Finalist on our live webcast page: http://www.gigabitchallenge.com/live.


This morning, Senator Jerry Moran announced his position to help stop SOPA.  To read more about Senator Moran's speech, check out our most recent blog post here.  Sign the petition to stop SOPA here: http://www.moranforkansas.com/stop-sopa-and-pipa.


We have seen standout pitches from a number of great companies.  So far, we have seen presentations from Risk Analytics, Photaic, Virtual Real World Wallet Systems, Courthouse USA, GET-GIV-GOT System Technologies, Kauzu, Somametric and Hong.  Congratulations to those who have presented and good luck for those who are yet to take the stage!


Follow The Gigabit Challenge! @GBChallengeKC    #GBFinale

The Gigabit Challenge Goes Live with Digital Evolution Group

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR

In the Internet age that we live in today, it's impossible to run a business without getting it online.  In fact, online businesses make up most of the new startups and entrepreneurial ventures in today's world.  Because of this, we need to rely heavily on companies that have an expertise in the online and on-demand environments.  And that's where Digital Evolution Group comes into play.  

Digital Evolution Group is more than an application development firm.  It's a full service e-consultancy that uses the disciplines necessary for success in today's online environment.  Digital Evolution Group is known to get inside of a business in order to intensely understand its challenges and to provide a fresh perspective.  By taking the best ideas and practices of the online industry and warping it into an appropriate technology, Digital Evolution Group knows how to reach the unique objectives that entrepreneurs go after.

Which is why The Gigabit Challenge approached Digital Evolution Group for its webcasting needs. 

On Janaury 18th, The Gigabit Challenge is hosting its Finale event in which 19 Finalists will compete in an intense, all-day pitchfest in front of investors, other startups and the public at the Kansas City Public Library.  But because The Gigabit Challenge is a global competition, it was obvious that not everybody who wanted to attend the Finale would be able to.

In order to solve this challenge, Digital Evolution Group presented The Gigabit Challenge with its high-tech webcasting capabilities.  Now, the Gigabit Challenge Finale will be broadcast throughout the world live and online at www.gigabitchallenge.com/live.

If you are unable to attend The Gigabit Challenge Finale in Kansas City, be sure to tune in live on January 18, 2012 from 8:00AM until 6:00PM (CST) to watch Gigabit Challenge speakers, pitches and awards ceremony.  This is a webcast you won't want to miss--all thanks to Digital Evolution Group.

To attend The Gigabit Challenge Finale, visit gigabitchallenge.eventbrite.com.  

Follow The Gigabit Challenge!  @GBChallengeKC    #GBFinale

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The Gigabit Challenge Calls for Volunteers at Jan. 18 Finale

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR
This morning, The Gigabit Challenge posted a call for volunteers on its social media sites.  The business plan competition is looking for volunteers who want to get involved during The Gigabit Challenge Finale on January 18, 2012 at the Kansas City Public Library (Plaza Branch).  


The Gigabit Challenge is currently looking for volunteers to help with registration, the information table and auditorium monitoring during the pitch presentations.  Volunteers will have the chance to get up-close and personal with Gigabit Challenge contestants, judges and advisory board members and get a behind-the-scenes look at the Finale event.


If you're looking to get involved in The Gigabit Challenge Finale, become a volunteer!  Email Laura Goede at lgoede@thinkbigpartners.com for more information and to sign up for a shift.  


It's partners, organizers and volunteers like you that make events like The Gigabit Challenge Finale a success!  We couldn't do it without hard workers like you. 


Follow The Gigabit Challenge! @GBChallengeKC
Follow Laura! @LauraGThinkBig
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Experience Gigabit Speed: The Gigabit Challenge Finale Event

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR 


With over 113 submissions, we knew we had to make The Gigabit Challenge Finale big.  After all, we're dealing with lightning-fast Internet speed, some of the most lucrative startup business plans and a panel of standout judges and advisory board members.  So we're opening the Gigabit Challenge Finale to the public this January at the Kansas City Public Library (Plaza Branch).


At the event, attendees will have the chance to watch live pitches from The Gigabit Challenge finalists, network with other entrepreneurs, investors and startup enthusiasts and sit in on the Awards Presentation.  This all-day event will not only bring in The Gigabit Challenge finalists, but also many of TGC's advisory board members and judging panel.


Join the team at Think Big Partners for The Gigabit Challenge Finale on January 18, 2012 from 8:00AM until 5:00PM (time subject to change) at the Kansas City Public Library Plaza Branch (4801 Main Street). The Gigabit Challenge Finale is FREE. 

A huge thanks to the Kansas City Public Library for sponsoring The Gigabit Challenge Finale!

Register today and get your gig on!

Follow The Gigabit Challenge! @GBChallengeKC
Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

How to Celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011 in Kansas City

The much-anticipated Global Entrepreneurship Week is here.  That's right; from November 14 until the 20th, you will find entrepreneurs across the globe celebrating their startup ventures by attending entrepreneurial events, participating in business plan competitions and spreading the word of entrepreneurship.

But what will entrepreneurs be doing in Kansas City to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week?  There are a lot of events going on this week, but here are some of our favorites:

1. Entrepreneurs Unpluggd 

Entrepreneurs Unpluggd is bringing their popular Chicago event to Kansas City for the first time.  The event will feature three successful Kansas City entrepreneurs for an intimate evening of storytelling.  Ticket prices have dropped to only $10, so why not celebrate entrepreneurship with Entrepreneurs Unpluggd on Tuesday night from 6:00-9:00 PM?  Register here.

2. Congratulate Startup Weekend Kansas City Finalists

The past weekend, Kansas City's 4th Startup Weekend took place at the Cerner Innovations Campus.  This 54-hour event produced some amazing new businesses.  The top three included Horsebot3k, Bold Predictions and a tie between Dawg BnB and Merry Plate.  Want to read about these companies?  Check out this article.  Although Startup Weekend Kansas City did not occur during Global Entrepreneurship Week, it was the perfect way to kick it off the weekend before.  Congratulate those who participated in Startup Weekend Kansas City during GEW!

3.  GEW Kickoff Event

This event is today--so get out there!  Kansas City is kicking off Global Entrepreneurship Week at Union Station with Curbside Consulting sessions for emerging entrepreneurs.  Join civic leaders and experienced entrepreneurs and learn why entrepreneurship is so important to Kansas City.  Learn more here.

4.  Kansas City Cradle of Entrepreneurs Series: Danny O'Neill

The Kansas City Public Library has been hosting the Cradle of Entrepreneurs for a few weeks now.  During Global Entrepreneurship Week, the series will feature Danny O'Neill of The Roasterie.  The event takes place on Tuesday, November 15th at 7:30 AM.

5.  Kauffman FastTrac Global Women's Summit

In conjunction with Global Entrepreneurship Week, Kauffman FastTrac is hosting the FastTrac Global Women's Summit targeted to aspiring and existing women in business.  The event will drive support for women owned businesses and foster the growth of the number of women entrepreneurs.  This event takes place on Wednesday, November 16th.  

A huge thanks to KCSourceLink for posting all of the events during Global Entrepreneurship Week in Kansas City!  


Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

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

Social Media Club of Kansas City Presents Building the Gigabit City

The Google Fiber network is said to be up to 100 times faster than the current speed of the Internet.  That's a lot faster.  That's incredibly quick.  That's a time-saver. 

But the Social Media Club of Kansas City is one of the first organizations to ask: "What would you do with that extra time?"

The Social Media Club of Kansas City (with sponsorship and help from Brainzooming, KCNext, the Kansas City Public Library, and Polsinelli Shughart) is hosting Building the Gigabit City on October 3rd, 2011 in order to seek input about how Google Fiber high-speed internet access in the home can change peoples' lives for the better.

Leading up to Building the Gigabit City, SMCKC is hosting an online survey so that Kansas City residents and Google Fiber fans could share their ideas on an online platform.  Now, the survey is being taken to the next level through the development of the Building the Gigabit City event at the Kansas City Public Library on the first Monday of October.

At the event, attendees will be divided into groups--Living, Learning and Leading categories--so that ideas can be flushed out with like-minded individuals.  The goal of the event is to bring together home-owners and community residents so that everybody can share how the Google Fiber network could potentially change the lives of KC residents and the world.  This free event will start at 8:30AM and run until 8:00 at night. 

If you're interested in attending Building the Gigabit City and giving input about how you think Google Fiber could change the world, be sure to take the online survey from the Social Media Club.  The survey can be found here:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GigabitCity.  More information about the event will be announced soon.  Stay tuned!

Want a little more info?  Read the article from the Kansas City Business Journal: "Social Media Club of Kansas City works to build Google road map".

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig