iKC Invites You to its Closing Session & Celebration!

PHOTO CREDIT: ExploreKansasCity.com

From what we’ve learned after planning multiple events for entrepreneurs and innovators, some of the best conversations happen after the event doors close. And that’s precisely why we are inviting all iKC attendees as well as the general public to join us to the iKC Closing Session immediately after the iKC: The Unconference at 4:15pm at the Alamo Drafthouse downtown (sponsored by Google Fiber!).

What can you expect at the Closing Session? More than the typical event closing...

Drinks, Apps and Networking
What’s a closing ceremony without drinks, appetizers and networking? You’ll work up a thirst and a hunger during iKC: The Unconference, so be sure to walk over to the Alamo Drafthouse immediately after iKC for refreshments and power networking.

Open Mic Awards (Brought to you by the City of Kansas City, Missouri)
Did someone stand out to you during iKC? Did someone contribute something to the unconference and you’d like to give them recognition for it? Did you notice that someone stepped out of their comfort zone and participated in the unconference? If so, we want you to recognize that person! The City of Kansas City, Missouri’s Open Mic Awards gives you the opportunity to reward someone for their iKC participation or contribution during the Closing Session. Simply select a gift, step up to the microphone and speak to the crowd about who made a big impact during the unconference. (Oh, and did we mention we have gifts from Boulevard, Indigo Wild, The Kansas City Chiefs, Z Strike and more?)

The Tech Trek Premiere
We are thrilled to announce that the iKC Closing Session will also feature the premiere showing of The Tech Trek, a Google Glass-enabled documentary shot by local Kansas City entrepreneurs. The premiere starts at 6:30pm. Tickets to The Tech Trek premiere are free to iKC attendees and $10.00 for the general public.

As busy entrepreneurs, we understand that sometimes you just don’t have the time to attend a full-day conference. But if you’re anything like us, you also hate missing out on the action. So even if you are unable to attend iKC: The Unconference on October 3, we want to invite you to our iKC Closing Session. And trust us when we say you won’t want to miss out.

A special thanks to Red Bull, our sponsor for Closing Session beverages and DJ. Also, thank you to Google Fiber, our sponsor for the Alamo Drafthouse arcade. To see a full list of event sponsors, click here.

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!

Interested in Think Big Partners? Join Us for a Tour

What does Think Big Partners do? Can I join your coworking space?  How I can I work with Think Big Partners?  What services do you provide?  This is just a taste of the questions we get on a day-to-day basis.  We want you to come by Think Big so we can answer these questions—and many others—and help you find the best way to work with us!

The best way to get in touch with the Think Big team is by joining us on one of our tours.  Tours take place about every other Friday from 12:45-1:30pm (get there right at 12:45 or we will start without you!).  Reservations are open now through the end of August:

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Join us if you’re interested in coworking, office space, meeting space, and learning how Think Big Partners can help you and your business. 

Reserve your spot today!