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
WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR
This morning at The Gigabit Challenge Finale, Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan) announced his efforts to stop the SOPA Act that is currently taking a toll on modern entrepreneurs, innovators and startup companies.
Stop Online Piracy Act (also known as SOPA) is a bill that would expand the ability of U.S. law enforcement and copyright holders to fight online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods. The bill, however, will prevent tech entrepreneurs from continuing to innovate with the speed and flexibility that we are currently used to.
Senator Moran announced this morning that he is going to fight to stop SOPA from passing.
"In our opinion, the damage that SOPA could cause is so great for entrepreneurs," said Senator Moran. "They will not be able to innovate like they do now. There has to be a better way to solve this online problem."
Senator Moran believes that the best way to solve the problem is by the creation of what he called the Open Act. "We want to make this a legislation as well...and do it the right way," he says.
Senator Moran's focus is for the SOPA bill to not exceed 60 votes. The Senator believes that this will be a difficult task due to the broad support that SOPA has received.
"We need to think about what SOPA means for entrepreneurs and small businesses," said Senator Moran this morning. "We need to make sure that entrepreneurs understand the threat and connect them with elected officials."
This announcement could not have occurred at a better time--on the same day that huge tech companies such as Wikipedia and Reddit are protesting SOPA with website "blackouts".
Click here to sign the petition to help Senator Jerry Moran stop SOPA: http://www.moranforkansas.com/stop-sopa-and-pipa.
Keep up to date with more announcements from The Gigabit Challenge on Twitter at @GBChallengeKC or online at www.gigabitchallenge.com.
WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR
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! 
