Think Big Partners & bizperc Open House Wrap Up

Thank you to all the entrepreneurs and small business owners who came out last Thursday for the first Think Big Partners and bizperc Open House.  The event was a tremendous success!  Attendees got a behind the scenes look at what bizperc’s coworking scene and executive office space has to offer. 

During the Open House, Think Big Partner’s cofounders Herb Sih and Tyler Prochnow shared a bit of their entrepreneurial backgrounds along with the mission and vision behind Think Big Partners.  However, the best part of the evening was arguably the cocktails and networking that took place on bizperc roof.  It is hard to beat the skyline view of downtown KC on a gorgeous night!  At the end of the evening, bizperc’s featured tenant, Planet Reuse, talked about their new business and how Think Big Partners and bizperc has contributed to its success.

Think Big Partners Founder, Herb Sih, gives a tour of bizperc's 5th floor video production and meeting space.  Did you know that YouTube is the 2nd largest search engine on the web?  

Herb explains how his career as a serial entrepreneur led him to found Think Big Partners here in the Kansas City Crossroads.

Partners Nathan Benjamin and Willow Lundgren showcase their company, PlanetReuse, during cocktails on the bizperc roof.

It was the perfect night to mix and mingle with fellow Kansas City entrepreneurs.  

Don't worry if you missed out on last week's event.  Think Big Parnters and bizperc will be hosting another Open House Thursday October 20th from 4:30 to 6:00pm.  Mark it in your calendars!  We look forward to meeting you in October. 

Written By Laura Goede

@LauraGThinkBIG

Think Big Partners and bizperc Mark Their One Year Anniversaries in Kansas City

When Herb Sih and Tyler Prochnow began to architect the blueprint for Think Big Partners, the business incubator and startup accelerator was a startup itself stationed in a one-room office in Prairie Village, Kansas. After launching one year ago, Think Big Partners has established a Kansas City coworking space known as bizperc and has helped to grow over forty emerging and established companies not only in Kansas City, but from across the nation.

In the past year, Think Big Partners has partnered with over forty startup and high-growth companies. A few of Think Big Partners clients include:

• Bunchd: Bunchd is a communications aggregation tool that streamlines various Internet experiences. By implementing social networking, news, RSS, email, calendars, mobile updates and more, Bunchd allows its members to view, update and manage any number of sources. Think Big Partners has provided Bunchd with business mentoring, startup advice, and organizational development and architecture.

• FINDitKC: Kansas City’s first online video business directory provides small businesses with an affordable way to implement video onto websites, Twitter accounts and Facebook pages. The business also dabbles in logo design, social media work, website development, business cards and video emails. Think Big Partners has assisted FINDitKC’s launch by providing mentoring services, extensive advisory services, and legal assistance. FINDitKC was also one of bizperc’s first official tenants.

• Inboun: Inboun is a multi-disciplined marketing company that engages consumers and elevates brands. The company combines inbound and integrated marketing strategies with a keen focus on engagement instead of purely interruption-based messaging. Think Big Partners has assisted with Inboun’s proof of concept, ongoing advisory and consulting needs, human resources, and outsourced startup execution to bring this company to launch in September of 2011.

• LiveOn: LiveOn has created a social media experience that focuses on sharing memories and key moments in life for users and for future generations. LiveOn’s adaptive technology enables its users to capture life’s precious moments and share it with other users. LiveOn has utilized Think Big Partners’ capital advisory, due diligence, and executive consulting services.

• Mellow Militia: Mellow Militia creates high-quality, eco-friendly products such as the Tiki Toss 3D game. Mellow Militia produces products that challenge the limits of technology and embrace exceptional design. Mellow Militia has utilized services from Think Big Partners including consultation and advisory services.

• PlanetReuse: PlanetReuse has created software that helps reuse centers make reclaimed and surplus building materials instantly accessible to homeowners nationwide. PlanetReuse not only houses in the bizperc coworking space, but the company has also turned to Think Big Partners for their capital advisory, legal, mentorship, and startup consulting needs.

• Zaarly: As an easy-to-use digital platform, Zaarly gets you “what you want, when you want it” at the click of a mouse. As a real-time, location-based marketplace, Zaarly allows its users to find their needs from the local community—goods, services, or even a way to earn extra cash. Think Big Partners has assisted Zaarly’s startup phase by hosting the company’s launch event and helping with marketing initiatives.

Think Big Partners is actively connecting with startup businesses and high-growth companies in and out of Kansas City. To coordinate directly with Think Big Partners or to become a tenant in the bizperc coworking space, please call 816-842-5244 or visit http://www.thinkbigpartners.com or http://www.bizperc.com.

A Typical Day at bizperc

bizperc has been filling up with creative entrepreneurs and innovative ideas fast these past few months. So what does bizperc look like on a typical coworking day?  Why don’t we take a look at Tuesday – just another normal day in this wonderful Kansas City coworking space! 

Interested prospective drop-ins took casual tours of bizperc’s many floors throughout the day, while the small conference room was rented out by Snow & Company, a new frozen cocktail bar that is opening in September in the Crossroads District.

While the Think Big Partners team was busy brewing all-you-can-drink coffee for bizperc tenants, Coty Beasley, a bizperc punch-card holder, was busy working on his Beasley Creative projects and interacting with fellow entrepreneurs. 

While Nathan Benjamin of PlanetReuse was busy joining the Board of Reuse Alliance (a huge congratulations to our first floor tenant!  Way to go, Nathan!), Josh Coleman of Zaarly stopped by to cowork and interact with the folks at Snow and Company and Branden Connolly of Evenergy Events and Sponsorships.

All the while, Sarah Snyder of Think Big Partners was busy cleaning up after the Women’s Capital Connection event that took place on the 6^th floor the night before.

Busy, busy, busy. Just another day at bizperc!   

In addition, bizperc has recently added a brand new sound booth on its 5^th floor space.  Entrepreneurs now have the opportunity to utilize this sound booth for voice-over capabilities and much, much more.  Just another bizperc perk that the coworking space brings to entrepreneurs, collaborators and visionaries!



bizperc's sound booth located on the 5th floor.

Written by Allison Way and Genevieve Alander.

@AllisonThinkBig    @GennaThinkBig

PlanetReuse Excels in Kansas City Coworking Space

Nathan Benjamin exudes collaboration, ingenuity and creativity...which are just three reasons why he and his new business, PlanetReuse, work so well in Kansas City’s new coworking space, bizperc.

PlanetReuse was launched in December of 2010 by Nathan and his partner, Willow Lundgren.  The company stemmed from PlanetReuse, a three-year-old company that brokers reclaimed building materials and consults with designers, builders and owners to save money on projects and increase LEED.

The new company, PlanetReuse, has been developed to provide an online platform to help reuse centers-including the 750+ Habitat for Humanity ReStores nationwide-make reclaimed and surplus materials instantly accessible to homeowners online.  According to Nathan, less than 5% of reuse centers in the U.S. have an online presence.  Therefore, homeowners, contractors, and rental property onwers can't shop reuse centers as easy as they can Home Depot or Lowe's.  Most give up and just buy new. 

“We want to make national connections,” says Nathan. “We want to divert more materials from landfills, raise awareness about material reuse and connect consumers with available product.  It's a great opportunity, but it's also challenging."

Some of PlanetReuse’s challenges have been solved.  After moving into the bizperc coworking space, PlanetReuse has seen growth and success.  The company was even announced as the winner of Pitch Big (which took place at Think Big Kansas City 2011).  When announced as the Pitch Big winner, PlanetReuse won a few months of free office space at bizperc and other services provided by Think Big Partners.

“Working in bizperc gives us access to a collaboration of ideas and insight into entrepreneurship,” says Nathan.  “The knowledge in this building is solid and easily accessible.”  Nathan then added that winning Pitch Big and partnering with Think Big Partners has given them three key ingredients: exposure, investment opportunities and networking. 

“There are so many opportunities for growth!” says Nathan. “Currently, we are in a $200 million industry.  But in 10 years, it will be a $1 billion industry.”

This summer, PlanetReuse will be beta testing its platform in two Kansas City area stores.  Currently, the company is actively seeking investors to scale nationally.  Good luck, PlanetReuse!

Interested in working in a collaborative, inspirational and modern startup environment? Contact Sarah Snyder to schedule a tour of bizperc.  816-842-5244 or ssnyder@thinkbigpartners.com.

Written by Allison Way.

@AllisonThinkBig.

Green Company Walks Away with $5,000 in Startup Prizes at Think Big Kansas City!

Congrats to the TBKC Pitch Big Winner PlanetReuse!

After numerous panel sessions, a fascinating keynote speech by Bill Rancic, and an informative talk from Michael Gale of Gramercy Private Equity, Think Big Kansas City seemed to be wrapping up.  But TBKC could not come to a close without the production of one of the most talked about activities of the day: Pitch Big.

In the competition, the three Pitch Big finalists were asked to present a 5-minute pitch to a VC panel of judges (Chris Geisert of Tradebot, Rachael Qualls of Angel Capital Group and Michael Gale of Gramercy Private Equity).  After their pitch, the judges would grill the contestant with a series of startup questions (and give great pitching advice!). 

Pitch Big started off with Kevin Curtin of Kinergi Systems.  During his pitch, Kevin touched on the importance of LED lighting in the commerical industry.  The judges (of course) drilled him with questions and then the audience voted and gave Kevin a number (1-10, 10 was the highest) for how he did during the pitch.

This process repeated for the other two candidates: Willow Lundgren and Nathan Benjamin of PlanetReuse and Scott Halvorson of SmartPharm. 

When the audience was asked to vote, things ended up getting a little heated.  People debated for their favorite contestant, fought for their favorite company, and took a stance as to what they thought was a fair ranking. 

In the end, Willow and Nathan of PlanetReuse walked away as the winners.  The business was awarded an "Entrepreneur in a Box" prize consisting of 6 months of free office space at bizperc, startup services and guidance, logo design, and much more (worth over $5,000!). 

A BIG congratulations to PlanetReuse for becoming the winner of Pitch Big 2011!  And a special thanks to all of the participants, the audience, and our fierce judges for taking part in the event.

Written by Allison Way.

@AllisonThinkBig