3 KC Entrepreneur Competitions You Don't Want to Miss Out On

Fall may be the best time for Kansas City entrepreneurs to get a jump-start on their dream businesses.  Three incredible entrepreneurial competitions and honors have been announced in Kansas City in August alone.  Check out these three opportunities and get registered or nominated today!

The Alliance Project
Presented by Alterra Bank, the Alliance Project asks Kansas City entrepreneurs to "get down to business".  One lucky early-stage company will be awarded $10,000 for being voted an outstanding small business in Kansas City.  But the $10,000 grand prize is not the only benefit that the Alliance Project winner will receive.  The winner will also be awarded complimentary office space from bizperc, scholarship to the FastTrac GrowthVentures program at the Kauffman, logo design from Whiskey Design, 10 hours of legal services from Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP, a year of PR services from Will Gregory, HR support from CBiz, messaging strategy from Kazoo Marketing and a one year supply of coffee from the Roasterie.  Now that's an award worth looking into!

The Gigabit Challenge
The Gigabit Challenge, a business plan competition launched by Think Big Partners, will award one new early-stage business with the opportunity to utilize the new Google Fiber network in order to benefit their company.  As a worldwide business plan competition, the Gigabit Challenge offers not only the chance for competitors to develop next-generation businesses, but will also foster a surge in innovation and disruptive technology linking Kansas City to the world.  More information about the Gigabit Challenge will be released in the following weeks.  But mark your calendars!  The Gigabit Challenge will blast off on October 1st.

Startup Open
Startup Open is a featured event of Global Entrepreneurship Week.  It is a global competition that will identify and recognize startup companies founded between GEW 2010 and GEW 2011.  Startup Open will recognize the GEW 50 (a group of the 50 most promising ventures from around the world) who will be awarded a handful of prizes.  One grand prize winnder with be announced during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011. 

Don't miss out on these three giant opportunities.  Any three of them could set the precedent for your business and your dream.  Good luck and Think Big!

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

The Kauffman Foundation Announces Startup Open Competition

The Kauffman Foundation is asking it: Who are the next generation of entrepreneurs that will grow to become tomorrow's Google, Apple or Facebook? 

And entrepreneurs? They're responding.  It's all part of Startup Open.

Startup Open, put on by the Kauffman Foundation, is a competition that recognizes the "GEW 50," a group of 50 companies deemed to have the greatest chance of growing in to game-changing firms that will move markets and create jobs.  Prizes and honors will be awarded during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011.  One winner will receive an all-expenses paid trip and VIP delegate credentials to participate in Liverpool's Global Entrepreneurship Congress in March of 2012. 

Second prize will receive a year of mentoring from Redbox's founding members Michael DeLazzer and Biju Kulathaka.  The startups that make it into the "GEW 50" will be invited to participate in Start-Up Chile. 

With Startup Open happening in Kansas City and throughout the nation, as well as the Gigabit Challenge recently launched in the Kansas City area, many more entrepreneur opportunities have been born in the Midwest.  Be sure to check out both of these competitions by clicking on the links below and start living your dream today!

Startup Open

The Gigabit Challenge

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Global Entrepreneurship Week Kicks Off in Kansas City

Although Global Entrepreneurship Week doesn't officially start until November 14th, buzz about the week-long celebration is in the air...especially in Kansas City.  I was able to experience GEW's first step in 2011 by attending the Global Entrepreneurship Week National Forum, held at the Kauffman Foundation last week. 

At the GEW National Forum networking event and reception that took place on Thursday night, I had the opportunity to meet dozens of entrepreneurs, startups, and GEW organizers from Silicon Valley to Cincinnati and all places in between.  Being able to meet all of the people who make GEW possible was an eye-opening experience. 

On Friday, the National Forum started with a breakfast at 8:00AM and finished with two breakout sessions (Kansas City's Plans for GEW/USA 2011 and Fresh Ideas for Our Growing Movement).  In between, there were updates on national events and activities, a speech about tools, tactics and resources for GEW, an overview of the Kauffman Foundation, and a Q&A session with Jonathon Ortmans (President of Global Entrepreneurship Week). 

The most interesting part of the GEW National Forum was the informative session about the national events and activities that GEW supported.  Below is a short list of some of the activities and events that will take place this year:

• Startup Open - a competition for anybody who has had a "startup moment".  The winner will walk away with startup prizes to help grow their dream.
• Startup Weekend - a 54-hour event in which competitors develop a launch a new business.  The winners from each Startup Weekend then have the chance to compete in Startup Battle.
• Your Big Year - winners of Your Big Year get to travel around the world for one year.
• Clean Tech Open - an open that seeks the new clean tech companies out there.
• World Series of Innovation - the opportunity for high school and middle school students to develop new products in a classroom setting.
• Future Entrepreneurship Education Summit

Last year, 18,277 organizations planned events during GEW.  Want to get involved in GEW this year?  Visit the GEW site and see how you can contribute!  Stay tuned to learn how Think Big Partners is going to get involved in GEW...

Written by Allison Way.
@AllisonThinkBig