Top 5 Reasons You Need to Be at iKC 2013

iKC: The Unconference is all about taking great ideas and turning them into action.  So why do you need to be at the unconference on October 3?  

1. You decide the topics you want to talk about At an "unconference," attendees submit and vote on ideas ahead of time to decide what the day's agenda will look like.Therefore, what the conference looks like is entirely up to you. Submit your ideas here.   2. Increase collision density in Kansas City Collision density is the level of collisions made between entrepreneurs, innovators, connectors, and investors in a single area. The higher an area's collision density, the more quickly and efficiently innovative development can occur. 3. This isn't a lecture hall. iKC incorporates the "Law of Two Feet." Unconference Rule #4 says, "if you're not learning or contributing, it is your responsibility to use your own two feet to find someplace where you are." If the session you're in is not a good fit, we encourage you to go find a conversation that makes more sense for you. 4. Get 1-on-1 mentorship from some of KC's most respected entrepreneurs and business leaders We're lining up some of the city's most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders for the UnMentor Program. Apply for the UnMentor program and you may have an opportunity for a 20-minute session with one of our UnMentors during the conference.   5. The After Party. No, really.  At 4:15, we'll head to the Alamo Drafthouse for the iKC Closing Session (sponsored by Google Fiber) where you can enjoy free drinks and appetizers. There will also be Open Mic awards where attendees can grab the mic and personally award prizes to a person they think had the most impact on their day. Plus! At 6:30 p.m., you'll be one of the first to see The Tech Trek, a Google Glass-enabled documentary, and learn all about the capabilities of Google Glass from the eyes of KC entrepreneurs.  **This screening is free for iKC attendees. General public tickets will become available if space permits. Claim your iKC ticket today! We will see you October 3!

Next Think Big Accelerator Registration Window Opens Sept. 16

With the first Think Big Demo Day in the books, it’s now time to start looking for the next class of entrepreneurs ready build exceptional companies in the Think Big Accelerator. We’re looking for entrepreneurs who have the gusto to take a big idea and turn it into profitable company.   

If you think you have what it takes, we want to meet you. The application window for the next Think Big Accelerator opened on September 16, 2013. Interested parties can learn more about the Think Big Accelerator model by contacting us via email or visiting thinkbigpartners.com/accelerator. We’re excited to see what big ideas come out of our next class and what companies join the ranks of past successes.

Do you have what it takes? Apply for the Think Big Accelerator today!

Why Kansas City Needs High Collision Density (And How We Can Get It)

It’s no secret that certain cities across the United States are “the place to be,” especially for entrepreneurs. We all hear about the startup successes in Silicon Valley, Boulder, Austin and Silicon Alley. But have you ever wondered why these cities are experiencing a startup boom? According to recent research, it probably has something to do with a little thing called “collision density”. 

What is Collision Density?

Collision density can be defined as the level of collisions made between entrepreneurs, investors and connectors in a single area. The higher an area’s collision density is, the more quickly and efficiently innovative development can occur. Therefore, the more collision density a city has, the better.

Collision Density in Kansas City

While entrepreneurship hotbeds like Silicon Valley, Silicon Alley, Boulder, and Austin have high rates of collision density, Kansas City’s is rather low. One of America’s most famous entrepreneurs, Philip Rosedale, has even noted that “collision density is 20 times less likely to occur in Kansas City than it is in San Francisco”. In our opinion, that is 20 times too many.

Kansas City’s lack of collision density doesn’t just hurt our local entrepreneurs. It can also negatively affect the KC economy. Without collision density, innovation is stopped in its tracks. Without collision density, people can’t meet and ideas can’t be acted upon. Without collision density, communities–and society, for that matter–can’t progress.

We aren’t the only ones bothered by KC’s lack of collision density. Some of Kansas City’s entrepreneurial leaders are also concerned. In a recent Silicon Prairie News article, leaders like Jo Anne Gabbert, president of JAG Portfolio services and Maria Meyers, CEO of U.S. SourceLink and KCSourceLink, bring awareness to the collision density problem.

In the article, Gabbert said, “What we think the future looks like is making sure [Kansas City’s assets like funding and community support] are all connected and interconnected in that ecosystem so it's very easy for an entrepreneur to navigate the Kansas City ecosystem. Yet somehow they're a bit fragmented or dysfunctional at times."

Myers adds that “One of the things that Kansas City's looking at is not so much that dearth of funding, but better organizing what's here."

But the future isn’t hopeless. According to Rosedale “it seems likely that [Omaha, Kansas City, and Des Moines] actually could have a vibrant/growing startup community, if only it could establish this high level of communication and proximity between a good number of its tech people.”

Increasing Kansas City’s Collision Density

So what can we do about Kansas City’s low collision density? We can start getting the entrepreneurs, innovators and investors together under one roof. Think Big Partners and the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce hopes to bring these like-minded individuals together for iKC: the Unconference this October.

This unconference is like a regular conference, only better. It lacks a formalized structure so ideas and information can flow freely between innovators, entrepreneurs and investors. In this way, all of the great thinkers in Kansas City and the surrounding area are together, realizing they should be together more often. Thus, an increase in Kansas City’s collision density.

This year’s iKC will be held on October 3, 2013 at the H&R Block World Headquarters. Until then, you can submit ideas, apply for the 1-on-1 program and buy tickets to help us increase Kansas City’s collision density.


Want to improve Kansas City’s collision density before @iKC2013? Contact Think Big Partners to get started!

Think Big Asks “Why Entrepreneurship?”

We sat down with three young entrepreneurs--Blake Miller, Hunter Browning and Jeff Rohr--to find out why they chose entrepreneurship. 

Entrepreneurship is not for everyone.  But according to a recent Mashable article, almost half of Americans wish it was.

Despite recent economic troubles, 48% of Americans dream of opening a business of their very own. At the same time, 71% of small business owners say they would open their business all over again if they had the chance. So what is it about entrepreneurship that awakens the dreamer in us?

To answer this question, Think Big reached out to some of our favorite local entrepreneurs and coworking members to see why they took the plunge and started their own business.  Here’s what we found out. 

The Realization of Wanting to Become an Entrepreneur 

                

Hunter Browning, President and CEO of Fannect, never thought he would become an entrepreneur, but he “was never great at playing by other people’s rules”.

Fannect, a new app that determines which sports teams have the best fans, stems from Browning’s love of soccer. After he decided to stop playing, he wanted to stay connected to sports another way.

“I guess I was experiencing withdrawal from the competition. I had the idea and the next week I found a partner. We pulled the trigger pretty fast,” Browning said.

Think Big’s own Blake Miller, however, always saw himself as an entrepreneur.

“I grew up in an entrepreneurial household. I knew I wanted to become an entrepreneur when I started my own business at 6 years old,” Miller said. “Corporate life was never in the cards for me.”

Miller is now a partner at Think Big Partners and also acts as co-founder for PitchCastr, BodeeFit and WeeJay.fm among other things (it’s safe to say that Blake is a serial entrepreneur). 

Much like Miller, CEO and founder of SquareOffs, Jeff Rohr, was also destined to become an entrepreneur.

“My parents instilled in my brother and I at a very young age that we were meant for big things and gave us the courage to go after our dreams,” Rohr said. “You only live once as well, so you might as well do something big. I was never meant to follow the well-trodden path.”

How Entrepreneurs Think Big

At first, Browning and his team were working on their entrepreneurial venture on their own – but then they started to Think Big.

“I was leery about moving to a coworking space,” Browning said. “I thought it would be very distracting, but everyone at Think Big is very focused. It’s been great for finding connections and gaining insight. Moving to Think Big has jumpstarted us again.”

Rohr also finds himself appreciative of not only the many connections he has forged at Think Big, but of the many other resources he has been able to utilize for his business.

“The connections that I've made there have been priceless,” Rohr said. “Beyond that, [Think Big] has given me great advice, helped us attract talent, challenged me where I needed improvement, and lastly made me smile.  They are great people making a difference in people's lives every day and having fun while doing it.  Oh, and coffee. They give me a lot of coffee.”

As a partner with Think Big, Miller loves “being able to help other entrepreneurs build companies.”

“It’s a no-brainer to me. We can build our own companies and ideas and help other people achieve that,” Miller said.

Can’t Get Enough Entrepreneurship

While the state of the economy may deter others from pursuing entrepreneurship, that was never a problem for Miller.

“I’ve always known that entrepreneurs help move the economy along,” Miller said. “Small businesses employ more people. I know I can create a difference by creating new jobs.”

According to a recent study, 59% of business owners said running a business is harder today than in previous years. Despite this, Kansas City’s entrepreneurs are reveling in the day-to-day challenges of running a startup.

“[Entrepreneurial ventures] are all tougher than you think they’re going to be,” Miller said. “But being that hard, that challenging, keeps me going. If it were easy, I probably wouldn’t do it.”

“It can be death by a thousand cuts if you let it,” Rohr said. “There are so many different hats to wear when starting the business before you can get in any sort of groove. For me, it's been all about maintaining the right balance focus and feedback.”

Despite challenges, Browning enjoys the freedom that entrepreneurship gives him. He lives by his own rules at his own pace.

“It has been a really interesting and really unique experience,” Browning said. “We’re having a blast every day. Even when it’s hard, it’s our choices we are making.”

If I Could Do It All Over Again...

When asked if he would start this whole entrepreneurial ride over again, Browning was quick to say, “In a heartbeat.”

Miller is also just as passionate about entrepreneurship as the day he opened his first lemonade stand.

“I like the freedom and always having to be creative. I will likely be involved in hundreds of ventures,” Miller said.

Ready to pursue your dreams of entrepreneurship? Contact Think Big Partners.  We know exactly how to get you started.  

Kansas City-based CaddyX Ships Golf Clubs to Your Next Course

If you’re anything like us, we could not be happier that spring is finally here (although in Kansas City that may not mean much since it can be 70 degrees one day and 40 the next). Nonetheless, we cannot wait to be outside—from watching Royals games at the K to sipping beers on a Plaza patio to hitting balls at the local golf course. 

But sometimes, golfing in Kansas City is a challenge.  After booking your tee-time and finally getting to the course, it may be 35 degrees and snowing.  Or raining.  Or hailing.  One solution to this problem is to book a tee-time somewhere warm with consistent good weather like Arizona or Las Vegas.

But then that raises a different array of issues and nuisances. In addition to booking a flight there is packing. Then you have to lug your precious clubs to the airport and check them at baggage claim and hope that they don’t arrive as metal pretzels (if they even arrive at your destination at all).

But thanks to local Kansas City startup CaddyX, your precious golf clubs will arrive at your destination on time without a scratch. Co-founded by KC’s Chris Hanway and Jason Gregory , CaddyX provides the touch-free transport of golf bags for America's elite country clubs allowing your golf pro or fanatic to experience “The Ultimate Lug-Free Xperience”.

CaddyX’s goal is to give your golf bag a safe way to travel and arrive on time and in the same condition as when you checked them. The service is quite simple and efficient. It works by utilizing connections between country club golf pros. To use their service, simply go to your local pro shop, leave your bag with your pro, tell them you’d like to CaddyX your bag as well as when and where you’ll be playing. After that, CaddyX takes care of the rest. You can rest assured knowing that your bag will arrive safely with their $5,000 peace-of-mind guarantee.

If you haven’t heard about CaddyX yet, it’s about time you did. The KC startup launched in 2010 and has been growing ever since, expanding to elite courses at country clubs all across America. Like many other Kansas City-based startups, CaddyX fills a market that has been neglected for quite some time. We at Think Big Partners can’t wait to see what’s in store for CaddyX and can’t wait to CaddyX our golf bags soon (Vegas, anyone?).  

Kansas City Gears Up for the Second Annual Middle of the Map Fest

We could not be more thrilled that spring weather is making an appearance in Kansas City—the patios are open, the Royals are back in season and perhaps most importantly, the startup scene is gearing up for some major entrepreneurial events.  And that includes the second annual Middle of the Map Fest. 

Kansas City’s Middle of the Map Fest, presented by Ink Magazine and The Record Machine, is a rock festival to promote the city’s culture.  The festival is much more than just music, though.  For the second year, Middle of the Map Fest will incorporate a Forum meant just for KC business leaders and entrepreneurs as well as a Film portion for movie/film buffs. 

With more than 100 bands having played at four venues from April 4-6, the Middle of the Map Fest Music portion has already gotten off to a great start.  However, the event is far from over.  Middle of the Map culminates with its first Film Fest May 1-5, showing more than 15 films.

Sandwiched in between is the Forum from April 17-19.  Some of the most prominent figures in the Kansas City business community will be presenting as speakers and in panels.  The Middle of the Map Fest Forum is a great opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to hear stories and advice from other Kansas City businessmen who have found success in their industries. 

Thursday’s speakers include:

·       John McDonald, Founder and President of Boulevard Brewing Company

·       Adam Jones, historic preservation architectural designer and developer

·       Stephen F. Kingsmore, Director of the Children’s Mercy Center for Pediatric Genomic Medicine

Friday’s speakers include:

·       Sandy Kemper, Founder and Chairman of the Board of both Pollenware and The Collector’s Fund

·       Robb Heineman, Chief Executive Officer of Sporting Club

Also included in the Middle of the Map Fest Forum are the eleven panels over topics important to entrepreneurs.  Topics and times can be found here.

The Middle of the Map Fest Forum takes place April 17-19 at both OfficePort and StagePort.  At the end of each day, there will be after-parties hosted by Missouri Bank and Barkley.  Tickets for the Middle of the Map Fest Forum are $50 and can be purchased through The Record Machine’s website.  We hope to see you there!  

Boys Grow: Growing Entrepreneurs in Kansas City

It’s true—entrepreneurship is growing in Kansas City every day.  But one organization is taking that statement literally. Boys Grow, a two-year agricultural entrepreneurship program, empowers inner-city boys to learn entrepreneurship through hands-on experience.

The boys involved in Boys Grow spend time on a farm planting crops, tending the land, building chicken coops, harvesting honey from bee boxes and other daily farm tasks. When they’re not working on the farm, they’re out selling what they make with the produce they grow – salsa, agave ketchup, and (coming soon!) barbecue sauce.

John Gordon, creator of the program, recently spoke with The Pitch about Boys Grow. Of the program, he says,

"I wanted to create something that kids really do. It's not fluff. It's not for show. They have to make decisions, and anything they learn, they'll have to apply directly. There is always stuff to be done on a farm. Life slows down, and you have to take a deep breath. There's responsibility and discipline and dedication. That's where this idea for a functional, working type of youth farm started.”

The program has struck a chord with the community, with a slew of restaurants and grocery stores signing up to carry Boys Grow products, and was recently chosen to receive a proclamation by the Missouri House of Representatives.

The unique blend of agriculture, mentoring and entrepreneurship provides a potent mixture for inner-city boys in need of guidance. The ability to form relationships with other budding entrepreneurs while simultaneously learning how to grow a business is extremely empowering for participants in the program. Boys Grow isn’t about hand-holding because the boys genuinely direct the majority of the program and decide how far to take it.

Entrepreneurship in Kansas City takes many forms, and the Boys Grow program is investing in the future of the KC community. Of the future, Gordon says, "In reality, we're trying to farm entrepreneurs as much as plants. We're trying to unleash a whole new crop on the city."

Q&A with Dominic Scalise of Startup KC CO.

The Kansas City startup scene is growing every day. We often think of startups strictly as technological entities, but the true essence of any startup is entrepreneurship. Kansas City is unique for many reasons, but perhaps one of the most startling things about the city is that it has a vast spectrum of entrepreneurs, each deserving recognition for the work they do.

One such example is the brainchild of Dominic Scalise, age 25, and Austin Lyon, age 23. The Kansas City natives founded rapidly-growing handmade product company KC CO. KC CO. combines Midwestern work ethic with 21^st century market strategy to create stellar, relevant and quality products.

While their intentionally minimalistic product line of leather goods – choose from a belt, wallet, iPad case or keychain – KC CO. is able to manage the quality of each and every hand-cut and hand-stitched piece. With keen eyes for design, a deep understanding of marketing, a commitment to ethical business and the passion to thrive under pressure, the creators of KC CO. have created something phenomenal: a 21^st century business model with a dedication to relationships. I was fortunate enough to meet with KC CO. co-founder Dominic Scalise to hear more.

Dominic Scalise sat down with TBP to talk about KC CO.

TBP:  How did this all start?

DOMINIC:  Basically, Austin and I became friends during college. Turns out we were both big wristwatch guys, and it’s kind of hard to find other people into that at our age. Austin was making leather watch straps belts. The stuff he was making was really quality stuff. I’ve always been hands-on and I’ve always loved working with my hands, so he gave me a few tips on how to make this stuff. I gave it a shot and made a belt, and it was hideous and I loved it. I wore the hell out of it. I was so proud. And after that I was just hooked. The more I made the better I got and that excited me, because then it started looking like I had visualized it in my head.

At this time I was working at a software company doing sales, feeling really unfulfilled in a cubicle. Every night I came home I went straight to work on the leather, trying to get better and better. That was what excited me, and I was trying to figure out a way to make this work. Suddenly, people just started asking me about the products, wanting to buy it, and that sparked an idea. I thought, ‘Maybe we could make this work.’ So last march I took a day off of work, went to a café, set up an LLC and we were off to the races.

TBP:  Why did you decide to create leather products?

DOMINIC:  Quality is our biggest thing. We want to create something that can last a lifetime. Leather is also easy to work with, and it’s accessible. Logistically, it was easier for us to figure out how to make a wallet or a briefcase than a sweater or coat.

TBP:  What separates your product from other leather products?

DOMINIC:  All the leather we used is natural, vegetable-tanned leather, which is different than the chrome-tanned leather that most companies use. Because our product is more natural, it ages really beautifully and develops what’s called a patina that’s just stunning. The contrast between the worn and unworn parts is very drastic, and it starts out really light and turns a beautiful dark color over time. We’re making the product but the person is making it theirs.

Left: new iPad case and wallet; Right: iPad case and wallet after regular use

TBP:  How long does each product take you to make?

DOMINIC:  I don’t really keep track because I spend way too much time on it already. The iPad cases and wallets take the most time, with a belt taking me up to an hour. But this briefcase I brought with me today took over 24 hours to create over a period of days.

TBP:  You produce a completely hand-made product, which takes a lot of time. Has the speed of your growth been an issue?

DOMINIC:  Absolutely. That’s the main thing for us right now. We intentionally launched with four products. I had way more in mind and we could have done more, but I wanted just the essentials. Moving from the four products into the big stuff, like this briefcase, would be huge for us. Making it work time-wise will consist of hiring more people and buying leather sewing machines. I’d love to produce a hand-stitched briefcase but it’s a lot of work for anyone. The dilemma is going from the four products, which we have down pat, to teaching all new people how to do all that and add bigger products while maintaining the quality standard. We also want to branch off from leather into different materials in the future. It was never meant to be just a leather company. The leather products are so we can establish a reputation for quality, but we have plans for expansion.

TBP:  You’ve established KC CO. as a wholly Midwestern, local brand. How have people responded to that?

DOMINIC:  It’s very exciting. We’re both born and raised in the Midwest. Everything always happens on the coasts, so it’s exciting to come up with a twist on an idea, especially something as Midwestern as leather-working. We’re putting a minimalist spin on it, so pushing out new design from the heart of the country is exciting for us. It’s really exciting to see Kansas City getting behind it, and a lot of people are getting excited about it. People are representing us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and blogs, which is really flattering. It seems that if anyone in Kansas City goes out on a limb and tries something, people like it and get excited about it and that’s really cool. I’ve been going to 1 Million Cups, and that’s a place where people are really passionate about helping entrepreneurs.

TBP:  Who buys KC CO. products?

DOMINIC:  Most of our sales come from the coasts and overseas, not the Midwest. I was expecting it to be the opposite. We’ve had customers from France, Singapore, all over the board. In the United States, most of our sales come from California and New York. I think we’ll start to see more local sales once we start selling our products in local stores here.

TBP:  What has been one of the most memorable moments with your startup so far?

DOMINIC:  I was in St. Louis for Christmas visiting my grandfather, who we call Papa Pinecone. My dad’s side is smaller Italians, and my mom’s side is full of massive, burly men. Papa Pinecone is on my mom’s side, 6’ 4”, deep voice. He had a huge impact on me with learning how to work with my hands. This man taught me how to chop wood, how to challenge a deer to a fight, how to build a birdhouse, gave me sharpening stones for my knives. He is the epitome of a man, and he told me that he really wanted to buy a belt from me. I told him I’d send him one for free, and he said, ‘No, I want to fund your enterprise. Please allow me the pleasure of paying full price for your product.’ It was one of the best feelings ever.

TBP:  What would you say to anyone in the community thinking of taking an entrepreneurial leap?

DOMINIC:  If you have a passion, then do everything you can to make it happen. There are so many people I know who would rather be doing something else but aren’t pursuing it, and you can just tell that they’re drained. The second I put in my two-week notice at my sales job, I was so thrilled and rejuvenated. The first week after I left my job, I didn’t set my alarm. I was waking up on my own before seven AM, just so excited to get at it. If you have a passion, you’re doing yourself an injustice not to pursue it.

KC CO. is a company hand-built by passionate entrepreneurs, and is poised to become a premier Kansas City brand in time. We’re rooting for them, and we hope you are too. To find out more, visit KCCOUSA.com.

 

KC’s New Startup Crawl Unites Entrepreneurs, Innovators and Small Business Owners

On February 8, 2013, Startup Crawl will hit the streets of Kansas City for the first time ever and Think Big Partners is honored to be featured along the way!

First things first: What exactly is Startup Crawl?

Startup Crawl is an opportunity for entrepreneurs and organizations within Kansas City’s ever-growing startup-sphere to showcase what they are building via interactive demos and networking. Shuttles will be transporting crawl participants to locations in the Crossroads, Plaza and Westwood areas of Kansas City. 

The idea of Startup Crawl began as a joint venture between Venture Fridays, a product of Red Nova Labs, and the Kansas City Startup Village. The goal of the event is to increase the visibility of the Kansas City startup scene and show how accessible it is to locals who have hopes of breaking in as well as to those looking to benefit from the resources Kansas City has to offer.

In addition to Red Nova Labs and Kansas City Startup Village, more stops along the way include The Kauffman Foundation, OfficePort, BetaBlox and Think Big Partners. Shuttles will be running on a loop from these locations picking up and dropping off participants. The four shuttles will run from 4:30pm to 10:00pm on February 8, 2013. 

Highlights include a live prairie bluegrass jam provided by Leap2 at the Startup Village.  In addition, OfficePort will be hosting a reduced version of their Whiskey Friday Tradition, an event in its 3^rd year. A full list of over 30 participating startups is available here (located at the bottom of the page).

Startup Crawl is designed as pub crawl, but instead of hopping from bar to bar, attendees will hop from startup to startup. Startup Crawl is a platform for entrepreneurs to tell their stories and extend a branch of hospitality to the Kansas City community as a whole.

The event is free but participants have the option to donate to the event to cover transportation and beverage costs if they would like.  Register here: http://kcstartupcrawl.eventbrite.com/.  

We can’t wait to showcase what our hard working entrepreneurs have built so far and what the future holds for the Kansas City startup scene as a whole at Startup Crawl!  

City of Kansas City Answers Small Business Questions During Public bizperc Office Hours

What kind of marketing data and research can I obtain from Kansas City?  What kind of technologies will aid me and my small business this year?  Am I following all of the city requirements to run an efficient business in Kansas City?

Entrepreneurs, we know you have all of these questions.  And now, you can get answers during bizperc's FREE office hours!


On Wednedsay, January 16, bizperc will be hosting public office hours for small business owners and entrepreneurs in conjunction with KC BizCare and the city of Kansas City, Missouri.

Kansas City entrepreneurs, small business owners and members of the bizperc coworking space are invited to register for free office hours and ask questions about small business requirements in KC, Kansas City resources and how to obtain data about the city of Kansas City.

Office hours will be run by John Pajor of KC BizCare, who will answer questions that entrepreneurs and small business owners may have about city requirements as well as small business resources in the community.

Millie Crossland, technology project liaison for Kansas City, Missouri will inform entrepreneurs and small business owners on how to research and find local data, city statistics and censuses about KC small business.  In addition, Millie will provide information about the many innovative ways the the city of Kansas City uses breaking technology.

The free two-on-one bizperc office hours will take place on Wednesday, January 16 from 12:00-3:00pm.  In order to sign up for your 30 minute time slot, please email Sarah Snyder at sarah.snyder@thinkbigpartners.com.  Office hours will take place at bizperc (1800 Baltimore, Kansas City, MO) on the 4th floor.

Follow bizperc! @bizperc

Kansas City Mompreneur Changes The Way We Say "Thank You"

There just wasn't enough time to book a face-to-face interview with Amy Marin Carlson, founder of Kansas City startup Growing Gratitude.  However, I was lucky enough to snag 15 minutes or so on the phone with the passionate mompreneur during her kids' nap time.  But between the shouts and laughter from her kids in the background, the deadlines Amy was hoping to hit for her startup's new Indiegogo campaign and the need to get dinner on the table, it wasn't necessary for me to meet Amy in person.  I could tell just from chatting for a few minutes that she was a busy, successful mompreneur, proving that some entrepreneurs can really do it all--with a little patience, of course.

What is Growing Gratitude?  
Growing Gratitude is an iOS and Android app for sending personalized, authentic and creative thank-you videos in a fun digital format.  "I want to change the way we say thanks to one another," says Amy Marin Carlson, founder of Kansas City startup Growing Gratitude.  The startup, which launched its Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign just a few weeks ago, hopes to raise $42,000 by November 19, 2012.

Great Ideas Come From Strange Places
As many entrepreneurs know, great ideas come from strange places.  Who would have thought that the idea for a mobile app would come out of a 2 year old's birthday party?  While throwing her son's party, Amy realized how difficult it would be for her son to thank everyone for the gifts (without having her write the thank-you cards herself).  Now, children of all ages can thank party-goers and gift-givers with a simple recording on Growing Gratitude.

But Growing Gratitude isn't just for children. The app could be used professionally, for instance, thanking someone for a job interview.  It could be used by nonprofits, newlyweds, graduates.  The possibilities are truly endless.

Advice for Mompreneurs 
It's hard enough being an entrepreneur.  But it's even more challenging to be a mompreneur. So how does Amy do it?  How can someone juggle 2 kids, a husband, at-home responsibilities and a growing startup without getting stressed out?  According to Amy, the key is dividing up her time.

"I thought multitasking would be key," says Amy.  "But in reality, this is all crazymaking!  Now that I've been doing this full-time for 6 months, I have learned to divide my time wisely.  I work during naptime and I work late at night after the kids have gone to sleep."

Why Mompreneurship?
Why did Amy decide to become an entrepreneur?  As a previous public school teacher and vice principal, leaving a secure job was risky.  But Amy knew it had to be done.

"I saw my idea realized," says Amy.  "And I know I can do it better than anyone else.  As soon as the idea was under my skin, I had no choice but to move forward with it.  I know I'll do it the right way.  I love this project."

Mompreneurs in Kansas City
There's no doubt about it--Kansas City provides the perfect fusion for a mompreneur like Amy.  Not only is Kansas City a great place to raise a family, but its entrepreneurial and startup scene is growing faster than any other region of the country.

"I just started networking and the people are so great," says Amy.  "I am so grateful for Kansas City's low cost of living and the opportunity to try something new with a smaller risk. The local press in Kansas City wants to see entrepreneurs succeed--there's a lot of local pride here.  Not to mention, a lot of great startup resources."

Interested in contributing to Growing Gratitude's Indiegogo platform?  Visit Growing Gratitude's page and give as little as $5 or as much as $5,000--every little bit helps.   

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Zaarly Rolls Out New Storefront Platform for Kansas City Entrepreneurs

Where can you find the best pumpkin pie in Kansas City and get it delivered to your doorstep at any hour of the day?

Where can you buy custom furniture--from bed frames to nightstands--for under $500?

Where can you find a repair man who comes to YOUR driveway?

Believe it or not, you don't have to open the Yellow Pages, beg for a referral from a friend or research online for hours on end to find any of these Kansas City services.

All of them--and many, many more--can be found in one spot.  On Zaarly's new storefront platform.

Bo Fishback, CEO of Zaarly.

For the past few years, Zaarly has enabled users to ask for anything from people nearby.  And now, with its new storefront platform, the Kansas City startup allows entrepreneurs, store owners and talented individuals to market their services directly from the Zaarly site (in an extremely professional way!).  That means that you can find virtually anything on Zaarly--from bakers to repairmen, yogis to massage therapists, calligraphers to tutors--all at a reasonable price.  And all of them have been Zaarly-approved (many by CEO Bo Fishback himself!).

Simply log in on www.zaarly.com/in/kansas-city.  From there, you can discover all of the amazing products and services that your neighbors provide.  With over 1000 listings in the Kansas City market alone, you're bound to find something you need (or want) just by scrolling through the storefronts.  Don't have time to make dinner tonight?  Order a weekly meal plan of homemade soups from Jenn Stagner.  Frustrated when attempting to train your disobedient puppy?  Newman's Dog Training can help with that (even while you're at work!).  Looking for a creative gift for a friend?  Get some sneakers custom painted by Ken Deladurantaye.  You never know what you'll find on Zaarly.

This same Zaarly storefront platform has already launched in test markets including San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City.  But Kansas City is Zaarly's first real trial of the new platform.  According to Fishback, "there is real magic that we can capture in Kansas City."

Fishback wants you to discover Zaarly storefronts for yourself (don't be shy...give it a try!).  The CEO himself encourages you to give the new platform a shot by "favoriting" a particular storefront, buying a cool product and experiencing exactly how the new Zaarly works.  Not satisfied?  Bo will personally reimburse you for anything you buy and are not satisfied with.

"This is the place in the world to go when you want to find something awesome," states Bo Fishback, quite simply. "That is Zaarly.  That is the goal."

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