KC Startup Crawl Returns as Part of 1Week KC

When you peel back the thick layer of barbecue and jazz that covers Kansas City, you’ll find a city bustling with entrepreneurs and their startup companies.  The entrepreneurship community in Kansas City is strong and quickly growing. So much so that it’s difficult to keep track with who is doing what and where.

Luckily, back in February, a solution to that issue was created: KC Startup Crawl--a one-night tour of Kansas City’s budding companies and entrepreneurial resources. Now Startup Crawl is back in version 2.0!  This time around, KC Startup Crawl will take place on Friday June 28, 2013 as a part of 1Week KC.

1Week KC is a six-day entrepreneurial celebration in which entrepreneurs can come together, get inspired, learn and connect, all the while fostering the goal of making Kansas City America’s most entrepreneurial city.  1Week KC will take place June 25-30, 2013.

Think Big is hosting two events during 1Week KC.  The first is our involvement in Startup Crawl 2.0!  We are joining Google Fiber, The Kauffman Foundation, Kansas City Startup Village and others to once again be a stop on the crawl.  Don’t be shy!  Stop by Think Big during Startup Crawl to learn about our amazing startups and network with some successful Kansas City entrepreneurs. 

KC Startup Crawl 2.0 organizers ask that all attendees sign up for the free event so that they are able to provide sufficient amount of beverages and transportation. And though it may be sad that the crawl ends at 9pm, there is an after party immediately after!   

Our second event during 1Week KC is through a partnership with the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and fellow entrepreneurs in Kansas City. It’s no secret that we love waffles, so just as in past years we will be hosting Startup Waffles on Friday, June 28 at our coworking loft! 

Cancel your appointments, call the baby sitter, take off work early and join us on Friday, June 28^th for KC Startup Crawl 2.0 and Startup Waffles!  See you then. 

The Technology Entrepreneur Speakers Program is Back in KC!

The Technology Entrepreneur Speakers Program (or Tech ESP for short) ­­presented by the Missouri Small Business and Technology Center is back! This program aims to provide helpful information and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, startups and businesses at all stages. So whether you are a brand new startup or a seasoned pro, this program has something for you.

The events speaker this time around is Ben Legg. According to the event website,

• Ben Legg is the CEO of Adknowledge and an unabashed Big Data evangelist.
• Ben came to Adknowledge in October of 2011 from European Directories, where he was COO. He previously held the same position at Google Europe.
• Prior to his leadership in the private sector, Ben spent ten years as an officer in the British Army’s Royal Engineers, leading missions in places like Northern Ireland and Bosnia. He subsequently worked for McKinsey & Co. and Coca-Cola as the VP of sales in India.
• Ben is passionate about the intersection of marketing and social media; his company’s AdParlor platform is a global leader in managing Facebook advertising campaigns. In fact, it’s one of only 12 companies Facebook has designated as a Strategic Preferred Marketing Developer (sPMD).

The event will be hosted at:

Polsinelli Shugart PC

700 West 47th Street Kansas City, MO

Tuesday, April 23 @ 5:30PM

Tickets are $15 online or $20 at the door. Free parking is available and beverages will be provided.  For more information, see the event website. As in the past, this is an excellent opportunity to grow your network, learn useful tools for your business, and have fun – we hope to see you there!

In Case You Missed It: Great Minds Think Big Photo Recap

On Wednesday, Think Big Partners hosted the first event in the Great Minds Think Big series. The fireside chat-style event series is an intimate, inside-look into some of the greatest entrepreneurial minds from the biggest companies both here in Kansas City and across the country. At Great Minds Think Big, two innovative thought leaders with completely different backgrounds will come together to challenge one another’s thought processes and provide insight, inspiration and encouragement to entrepreneurs and startups.

The first Great Minds Think Big event spotlighted Danny O'Neill of The Roasterie and Scott Tibbitts, aerospace entrepreneur.  The evening was filled with insight, inspiration and words of wisdom from both entrepreneurs including topics such as:

• The challenges and fears of starting a company
• Moments when they thought too big, too fast
• Why not everyone should be an entrepreneur
• The importance of unique ability
• Their entrepreneurial bucket lists  

After discussion with moderator Herb Sih, the floor opened for the audience to ask questions.  Following the Q&A, appetizers and beverages were served with an hour of power networking. 

Check out some of the highlights of the first Great Minds Think Big event in the photos below:

Moderator Herb Sih starts the GMTB discussion with Danny and Scott.

Over 50 entrepreneurs made it out to KC's most intimate startup event. 

Outpost Media captures the GMTB event. 

GMTB concluded with networking and appetizers. 

Power networking after the fireside discussion.

A big thanks to everyone who made GMTB a success--Blue Pot catering, The Roasterie, Scott Tibbitts, Danny O'Neill, our organizers and all of those who made it out to the event!

Miss out on KC's most intimate entrepreneur event?  Don't worry!  Details about another Great Minds Think Big event will be out soon.  Stay tuned.

Follow Great Minds Think Big by searching #GMTB.  

Great Minds Think Big Kicks Off Tomorrow at 4pm

It all goes down April 3, 2013 from 4-6:30pm.

Spotlighting Danny O'Neill and Scott Tibbitts.

WHAT YOU’RE IN FOR:

Get ready for Kansas City’s most intimate entrepreneur experience yet!  Great Minds Think Big will spotlight Danny O’Neill from The Roasterie and aerospace entrepreneur Scott Tibbitts in a fireside chat to discuss philosophies, secrets and inside tricks as entrepreneurs.

COME PREPARED:

• Bring plenty of business cards as well as questions for our spotlighted entrepreneurs
• Dress code is business casual (but we don’t mind a startup t-shirt now and then either!)
• Come thirsty—we will be serving beer, wine and a special coffee cocktail.  Appetizers will also be served.
• Parking:  The 1800 Baltimore building is located on the southwest corner of 18th St. and Baltimore Ave. Weinberger Fine Art is on the 1st floor but please enter from the SOUTH double doors. Free parking is available on the street (2 hour parking is fine) or at the Barkley garage (entrance on 18^th & Main) for $5/day.

GET SOCIAL:

Tweet.  Post.  Update. 

#GMTB  -- Great Minds Think Big                               

@BeanBaron --  Danny O'Neill                    

@ScottTibbitts  --  Scott Tibbitts

Win a Free Ticket to Great Minds Think Big!

For the next two weeks, Think Big Partners will be giving away 3 pairs of tickets to Great Minds Think Big--the most intimate entrepreneur event in Kansas City (a $50.00 value)!  

How can you win?  It's really simple.  Just "Like" Think Big Partners on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.  From there, you will see posts and tweets from us about how you can win a pair of tickets to Great Minds Think Big on April 3.  Our ticket giveaway will include answering trivia questions, being creative and thinking big.  

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to enter to win.  

Good luck and may the biggest thinker win!  

Register for Great Minds Think Big on April 3 here. 

Great Minds Think Big: Tickets Now Available!

Tickets for Kansas City’s most intimate entrepreneur event are now available!

Join us for Great Minds Think Big featuring Danny O’Neill, President & Owner of The Roasterie and Scott Tibbitts, successful aerospace entrepreneur on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 from 4:00-6:30pmat 1800 Baltimore Kansas City, MO 64108 (6th floor). 

BUY TICKETS NOW!

At Great Minds Think Big, two innovative thought leaders with completely different backgrounds will come together to challenge one another’s thought processes and provide insight, inspiration and encouragement to entrepreneurs and startups.   

Plus 20% of all proceeds will be donated to a Kiva project!  

Join us for:

• High-level networking
• An intimate fireside chat with successful entrepreneurs
• In-depth question & answer sessions
• Cocktails and appetizers 

We hope to see you there!