Congrats to @KCITP and @RedNovaLabs: Winners of Think Big July Poll!

In July, we asked you who should be crowned as Kansas City's favorite startup Tweep.  And after 31 days of hardcore voting, the results are in!

Kansas City's favorite Tweeps (yes there was a tie!) are...

@KCITP   and   @RedNovaLabs 

Let's give these awesome KC organizations a big round of applause (or why not a retweet or two?).  Thanks to @KCITP and @RedNovaLabs for the ongoing social media support of Kansas City entrepreneurship!  

On Twitter? Follow me while you're at it!  @AllisonThinkBig

Moonlighting His Way to the Top: How this KC Entrepreneur Does It All

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR

Kansas City-bred entrepreneur Chris Morris is what we like to call a “moonlighter”.  Moonlighting, as defined by Wikipedia, is the practice of holding a secondary job in addition to one’s main job.  But Chris Morris is doing more than just moonlighting—he’s moonlighting a few times over.

Morris is a service catalog administrator at HNTB by day, but a serial entrepreneur by night.  In the little free time that he has, he enjoys working on his newest entrepreneurial venture, Instantly.in.

Instantly.in is a Twitter loyalty program that allows users to check-in on Twitter without the hassle of downloading apps like Foursquare.  Instantly.in can also be utilized by people without smartphones.

As co-founder and developer for Instantly.in, Chris has been interested in developing new businesses since he can remember.  But it wasn’t until one special Thaisday (Chris always gets Thai on Tuesdays with his coworkers and partners) where he met Michael Gelphman of KCITP.  After that meeting, Chris decided to partake in Startup Weekend and had the opportunity to spend 54 straight hours working intensely on Instantly.in.

“I got great feedback at Startup Weekend,” said Chris.  “It was a blast.  I met cool people and the experience kick-started going back to working on Instantly.in.  I would love to do it again.”

Chris enjoys moonlighting and keeps himself busy with Instantly.in, HNTB, other entrepreneurial ventures, classes at JCCC and judo.  But according to Chris, finding the time for all of these interests isn’t all fun and games.  Moonlighting fills up an entire day, which can be extremely exhausting.  But what’s the hardest part for Chris?

“I’m doing so much!  I don’t have to be busy, I just want to get a lot done,” he says.  “The hardest part is the start and the finish.  Not having dedicated time for the business is challenging, but this is my year to get things up and going and eventually finished.” 

Get great tips on how to moonlight effectively from Think Big Partners! Dancing in the Moonlight: Happiness While Holding Two Jobs at Once

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

The Gigabit Challenge Explodes in Kansas City

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

Get Social During The Gigabit Challenge Finale!

@GBChallengeKC       #GBFinale

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR

We’re counting down the days until Think Big Partners hosts The Gigabit Challenge Finale on January 18 at the Kansas City Public Library (Plaza Branch).  Are you fully prepared to witness some of the coolest and most innovative startups out there?  We want you to have a dynamite experience—and share your thoughts with others online!

During The Gigabit Challenge Finale, we are encouraging attendees, contestants, judges and advisory board members to share their thoughts about the Finale on Twitter, Facebook and blogs.  Get social by using the hashtags, handles and pages below!

TWITTER

@GBChallengeKC

@ThinkBigKC

#GBFinale

#GoogleFiber

FACEBOOK

The Gigabit Challenge

Think Big Partners

BLOGS

Thank you to our bloggers and supporters! Want your blog to be added to the list?  Become a live blogger for The Gigabit Challenge Finale on January 18^th!  Email away@thinkbigpartners.com for more information.

Think Big Partners blog

Entrepreneurship Examiner

Kansas City Business Events Examiner

Kansas City Business News Examiner

Blog Brothers KC

Just in the Middle

Silicon Prairie News

WEBCAST

Can’t make it to the Finale? Tune into our live webcast on January 18^th and see the competition live online!  On the webcast, you will also have the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice Award.

The Gigabit Challenge Finale webcast

PODCAST

Tune into our live podcast conducted by Beatnik Radio.  From 2:45 until 4:45 on January 18, six Finalists will be interviewed on Beatnik Radio immediately after they conclude their live pitches.  Get the reaction from contestants after the event at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/beatnik-radio/id469601402.  

 

The Gigabit Challenge Podcast by Beatnik Radio

Register to attend The Gigabit Challenge Finale here: http://gigabitchallenge.eventbrite.com/.  

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Become a Social Media Master. A Wizard. A Guru!

Imagine life without Facebook.  How would we keep in touch with friends?
Or going throughout the day without Twitter.  Would we still be able to find breaking news in mere seconds?

Or looking for a new job without LinkedIn.  How would we connect with professionals to amp up our own careers?

Life without social media is scary.  This disruptive idea has turned our world upside-down...and for the better.  We cannot help but love it.

Since social media literally surrounds us every single day (did you check-in to that restaurant on Foursquare during your lunch hour?  We probably did.), it is obviously an important tool to integrate into business.  But what's the best way of going about that?

Get all of the tips, tricks and advice you need about becoming a social media guru at Social Media Masters: Kansas City.  This week, the Social Media Club of Kansas City and Sensei Marketing are teaming up to bring you insights into taking your social media skills to the next level.  Whether you're a social media professional or an online marketer, this program is your chance to go beyond a typical introductory course and get advanced training from true Social Media Masters. 

Ready to become a social media master?  A wizard?  An all-out guru?  Register for the Social Media Masters event.  The event kicks off on Friday, October 21 bright and early at 8:00 AM.  Learn more here. 

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Snow & Company: Bringing the Beach to Kansas City

Imagine it: You’re lounging on the beach, eyes closed, skin tingling from the blazing sun.  The crashing of the waves and breeze in your hair lulls you into an afternoon doze.  Then you wake and look to your left to find a strawberry margarita, complete with a little pink umbrella just waiting to be slurped down.  You grab it; the glass’s condensation stinging your fingers.  You take a big gulp.  That’s when you realize: this is paradise.

But then you wake up.  You find yourself sitting at your desk, in front of your computer, surrounded by your coworkers.  Your swim suit is now a business suit.  Your lounge chair is now a rolling one.  The fantasy is over.  And more than anything, you want to be on that beach slurping down that strawberry margarita.

The truth of the matter is, we can’t bring everybody in Kansas City to the beach.  But we can bring a little of the beach to Kansas City.  And it all starts with one of Kansas City’s newest downtown establishments, Snow & Company.

In September of 2011, Andy Talbert and his team of ultra-entrepreneurs are launching Snow & Company, an artful frozen cocktail bar in the Crossroads District of downtown Kansas City.  With a snowy theme, yet a “warm and comfortable” atmosphere, Andy hopes that Snow & Company will become the place for friends to hang out and enjoy specialty frozen cocktails both in the heat of the summer and in the frigid winter.

“Kansas City is growing and evolving into a cocktail town,” says Andy. “The cocktail space is a huge opportunity.  We want to continue the growth of the clever, creative cocktail experience in Kansas City.”

Andy and his business partner, Jerry Nevins, recently graduated from the UMKC Bloch Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.  Once they found the “time” to follow their true passion, they collaborated with two other entrepreneurs and wrote the Snow & Company business plan.  And from then on, the company...well...snowballed.  With interest from many different media outlets such as the Kansas City Star, Snow and Company is truly taking off.

“Kansas City is a great place to take this risk,” says Andy.  “This probably wouldn’t be possible in other cities.  Kansas City provides great resources like the Kauffman Foundation, Think Big Partners and the Bloch School to help entrepreneurs like us.”

Snow & Company is opening at 1815 Wyandotte Street in the Crossroads District of Kansas City.  Complete with lounge furniture, a frozen cocktail counter, and merchandise displays, Snow & Company will be accented with wintery colors and bright hues of purple, maroon and orange.  The overall ambiance of the frozen cocktail lounge will be high-end and modern, yet relaxed.

But it isn’t the location that makes Snow & Company what it is.  Obviously, it’s the cocktails.

“We want to introduce people to things that they would never try otherwise,” says Andy.

So what will it be?  The classic margarita?  A refreshing mohito?  A surprising frozen PB&J? Or perhaps the unique Jalapeño Lemonade?  Snow & Company plans on serving it all—it’s all part of bringing a bit of the beach to downtown Kansas City.   

Be sure to check out Snow & Company on Facebook and follow the company on Twitter for more updates about the company and its grand opening! 

Written by Allison Way

@AllisonThinkBig

Countdown to Think Big Baltimore

6 Days

In May, Kansas City was Thinking Big.  And now, it's Baltimore's turn.

The 1st annual Think Big Conference is making its way to Baltimore this month with knockout guest speakers, a dynamite keynote speech, and educational breakout sessions for entrepreneurs, investors, startup companies, small business owners and students.

Think Big Baltimore will feature keynote speaker and CEO of Maverick Business Adventures, Yanik Silver and a lineup of other guest speakers such as Ronald Schmelzer (TechStars), Mike Subelsky (Startup City), Brian Le Gette (Big City Farms) and many more.

Think Big Baltimore will take place on Wednesday, July 13th at Townson University.  The event begins at 8:00 AM.

To purchase your tickets to Think Big Baltimore ($247) and read more about the event: click here or follow the event on Twitter @ThinkBigBMore.

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig