What Happens in Vegas Won’t Stay in Vegas: Think Big’s SXSWV2V Experience

Admit it. We’ve all had a very similar experience to that of The Hangover when visiting Las Vegas. And although pictures and stories do arise from trips to Vegas, most of us tend to leave out the good parts and stick to the “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas” mentality. 

But not for Think Big Partners! We want to share with you exactly what we experienced while in Las Vegas for SXSWV2V. And we’ve got the pictures to show it, too.

Think Big Partners headed to SXSWV2V with a few different goals. But the main mission among all six team members was to connect with other entrepreneurs and startups and to spread the word about the Kansas City startup scene. SXSWV2V was the perfect opportunity to do so. The first SXSW event in Las Vegas brought together 1500+ entrepreneurs, innovators, investors and connectors from across the globe. We met people from Austin, Boston, Vegas, Denver, San Francisco, and even some that we didn’t know from Kansas City (just to name a few). We attended a variety of SXSWV2V events and even explored other areas of Vegas known for a thriving startup scene outside of the conference. And of course, we had a lot of fun along the way.

Think Big arrives in Vegas! 

Herb Sih and Blake Miller head to a SXSWV2V networking event.

Team bonding at Minus 5 in THEhotel.

Think Big co-founder Herb Sih hosted a SXSWV2V mentor session on Monday morning.

SXSWV2V’s second keynote, Steve Case.  

Partners of Think Big playing a game of "bags" at the SXSWV2V Tech Cocktail event. 

After attending the Tech Cocktail and Chic CEO events, Think Big explored downtown Vegas.

The next day, Think Big toured Tony Hseih’s apartment and learned about the Downtown Project.

Vegas’ “Wall o’ Ideas” provided great inspiration for the KC startup scene.

This isn’t our first rodeo...Tech Trek was in Vegas not too long ago!

Think Big left its mark at usr/lib coworking space in downtown Las Vegas.

Touring Work In Progress, Vegas’ most well-known coworking space.

Think Big stopped for lunch at one of Vegas’ local joints.  This one boasts “Time is precious, waste it wisely.”

Think Big then co-hosted KC @ V2V with LaunchKC.  It was a great opportunity for Vegas entrepreneurs to learn about the KC startup scene.

Vegas was a great place for the Think Big team to bond, make great business relationships and spread the word about Kansas City entrepreneurship!  Thanks for having us! 

What Happens in Vegas...Was Laundered Through Kansas City

To the average citizen, Las Vegas and Kansas City don’t have a whole lot in common.  Kansas City’s Power & Light District will never live up to the pulse and energy of the Vegas strip.  Vegas will never have the succulent, lip-smacking barbecue that Kansas City is famous for.  Kansas City will always have insane summer humidity while Vegas boasts a nice, dry heat.  And Vegas won’t ever have the same wholesome, Midwestern mentality that is always found in Kansas City.  To the naked eye, Vegas and KC can’t get more opposite. 

But believe it or not, Kansas City and Vegas have more in common than one may think.  The commonality that the two share lies within the power of entrepreneurship.  Both cities are booming with startup success stories, entrepreneurial initiatives and powerful leaders.  From Tony Hsieh’s Downtown Project to KC’s own LaunchKC initiative, both cities are on the verge of becoming the nation’s next startup hubs.

Which is why members of the Think Big Partners team are heading west to Vegas for the first SXSW V2V.  SXSW V2V offers entrepreneurs from across all creative industries a place to learn the skills, make the connections and find the inspiration to take their ideas and talents to the next level.  Over 1500 thought leaders will be in attendance at the first ever SXSW event in Las Vegas.

Think Big Partners’ involvement in SXSW V2V is more than just attendance.  Herb Sih, Managing Partner and Co-founder of Think Big Partners, is hosting a mentor session on creativity and inspiration from 10:15AM-11:15AM on Monday, August 11 at the Cosmopolitan.  At the session, Herb will be providing expertise and knowledge via a one-on-one career council to SXSW V2V attendees.  Sign up for a one-on-one session with Herb here.  And be sure to tweet #mentorsih on Monday! 

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Another great opportunity for Kansas City entrepreneurs is the private networking reception that will be hosted at THEhotel.  The event is KC@V2V, a penthouse party with plenty of tempting cocktails, exceptional talent and powerhouse networking on the evening on Tuesday, August 13.  To learn more about the event, click here.  For further information, please contact Rachel Scott at info@singlewingcreative.com. 

LaunchKC Makes Tech, Innovation and Startup Plans

Mayor Sly James addresses the press at the
LaunchKC event on September 10, 2012.

Yesterday, LaunchKC held a press conference on the iconic Barkley rooftop to announce its plans and new implementations for 2012.  The initiative has been designed to attract and develop information technology entrepreneurs and professionals in the emerging digital communities within the Crossroads Arts District and throughout Greater Downtown Kansas City.  LaunchKC stemmed from discussion within the Mayors' Bistate Innovations Team (MBIT) about the Google Fiber project in Kansas City.

Yesterday at the LaunchKC press conference, Mayor Sly James, Mike Burke, Pete Fullerton and other Kansas City leaders made announcements about LaunchKC's goals and new plans.  The group laid out five common goals for the Kansas City entrepreneurial community: computing, incentive, mobility, innovation and collaboration.

1.  Computing: LaunchKC will open a new Kansas City data center to improve capacity and computing power.

2. Incentive: LaunchKC will assist small technology businesses with equipment and computers to help them grow and develop.

3.  Mobility: LaunchKC will create a district-based WiFi network.

4. Innovation: LaunchKC will open a new research and development lab in Union Station in late September.  This R&D lab will be known as Site Deck KC.

5. Collaboration: LaunchKC is driven to make Kansas City an entrepreneurial hub.  In doing so, the initiative has partnered with seven local Kansas City companies known as Launch Pad Companies that will provide space for entrepreneurs to work.  A few of these spaces include Barkley, Crown Center, Union Station and DST.

To learn more about LaunchKC, visit www.launchkc.com.

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

LaunchKC Lifts Off This Afternoon in the Crossroads District

If you’re from KC, chances are, you’ve driven around downtown Kansas City and have noticed a bright orange and white building with a TWA rocket positioned for lift-off on its roof.  This is the Barkley building, and it is now the home of LaunchKC’s first-ever press conference.

LaunchKC is Kansas City, Missouri’s strategic initiative designed to attract and develop information technology entrepreneurs and professionals in the emerging digital communities within the Crossroads Arts District and throughout Greater Downtown Kansas City.  In other words, LaunchKC is to be the place where IT startups take off.

You can learn more about LaunchKC at a press conference this afternoon, September 10, at 3:00pm on the Barkley rooftop.  With appearances from Mayor Sly James, Peter Fullerton, Ron Coker, Mike Burke and Paul Vlahos, the press conference will provide more information about what LaunchKC is and what it aims to do.

For more updates, visit www.launchkc.com or follow the movement on Twitter at @LaunchKC!

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig