First Think Big Accelerator Class Accepted into Microsoft BizSpark Programs

With the announcement of its first accelerator on September 25, 2012, Think Big Partners and the Think Big Accelerator program have also been accepted into the BizSpark Plus Partner Program in addition to their role as a BizSpark Network Partner with Microsoft Corp.  

Think Big Accelerator is a 22-week program in the Midwest for tech-focused, early-stage startups interested in launching a business faster, smarter and stronger.  Think Big Accelerator focuses on technology-based businesses with consumer-facing services, software, web services, apps and supportive solutions. 

As a member of the BizSpark Plus program, Think Big Accelerator will now be able to grant its six inducted startups access to BizSpark Plus, which provides a higher level of Windows Azure cloud access, setting up each entrepreneur for success in the cloud.  Microsoft BizSpark will also provide the six startups in the Think Big Accelerator program with consulting, insight, mentorship and expertise.  With Windows Azure cloud and BizSpark available for Think Big Accelerator startups, the partnership will provide the entrepreneurs with the essential tools needed to build, store, and network when building a profitable startup. 

Headed by Think Big Partners co-founder, Herb Sih, the cooperation with Microsoft aims to foster the growth of Midwest entrepreneurship, create a strong portfolio of startup stories and companies, and to create more successful businesses and jobs in the central region of the United States. 

“We are excited to have Think Big Partners join our BizSpark Plus Partner Program,” said Mark Relph, Senior Director, Strategic and Emerging Business Team at Microsoft. “Think Big Accelerator startups have the potential to spur business growth in the Midwest. With Windows Azure, startups can save the cost of investing in IT infrastructure and only pay for technology resources as they use them.  We look forward providing member startups with access to technology, resources and business connections.”

"The partnership we have developed with Microsoft will not only benefit the startups involved with the Think Big Accelerator program, but will also help to strengthen the entire Kansas City startup community," said Herb Sih, co-founder of Think Big Partners. "We are excited to already provide Midwestern startups with the benefits of the Microsoft partnership, such as the Azure Cloud and Windows 8 App Kickstarts for developers.  This is a great partnership for our startups, the accelerator and Kansas City entrepreneurs." 

To learn more about Think Big Accelerator, please visit www.thinkbigpartners.com/accelerator.  

Be One of the First to Develop on Windows 8 and Microsoft Azure Cloud

Think Big Partners has teamed up with Microsoft to create and host Azure Cloud and Windows 8 App Kickstarts to educate startups and developers how to effectively utilize and build on Microsoft Azure and Windows 8 platforms.  The free event (tickets are limited) will take place at Think Big Partners’ coworking space, bizperc, on October 15-17, 2012.  And trust us when we say that is a developer's dream event come true.  

These App Kickstarts will be a key opportunity for developers, hackers, coders, entrepreneurs and startups to learn how to build apps on Windows 8 and deploy to the Microsoft Azure Cloud platform before the Windows 8 becomes generally available to the public on October 26, 2012.  With over 90% of the market share, the Windows operating system has remained one of the top platforms for development to date.  This limited event will provide attendees with a head start on building new, innovative applications on one of the most powerful operating systems and cloud platforms in the world, Windows 8 and Microsoft Azure.   

On October 16, 2012, the first official day App Kickstarts, participants are invited to learn how to build, deploy and manage applications across the Microsoft Azure platform.  Attendees will be educated on how emerging businesses can best leverage Azure through CMS systems, how to create and scale customer websites in PHP and Node.js, how to deploy code updates using GIT, how to run Azure Windows and Linux VM’s, how to store data in Azure, and how to use Azure’s many platform services including Queues, Service Bus, and Authentication.  Microsoft engineers will also be on hand to provide consulting, insight, and mentoring for participants.  Attendees must bring a laptop and sign up for Azure prior to the event.  Developers may sign up for the Azure 90 day free trial.  Startups and entrepreneurs who qualify for BizSpark should sign up for BizSpark and activate an Azure account prior to the event. 

Startups and entrepreneurs are also invited to learn about the Microsoft BizSpark Program and how to use its 2,000 partners in order to connect with incubators, investors, advisors, government agencies and hosters.  

On the second day of App Kickstarts, participants will be invited to learn how to build Windows 8 Metro style apps using HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript.  Attendees will be educated on Windows 8 navigation, user experience patterns, inherent async design and integration.  The day will be focused around building new applications on the Windows 8 platform.  Microsoft engineers will also be present at the event to provide insight, mentorship and expertise in order to help participants.  Attendees must bring a laptop and install the RTM version of Windows 8 prior to the event. 

Before the official event on October 16, attendees and the Kansas City tech community are invited to attend a cocktail hour on Monday, October 15, 2012 from 6:00-9:00pm.  At the cocktail hour, attendees will have access to technical evangelists and representatives from Microsoft who will answer Windows 8, Azure and BizSpark questions.  Event attendees are also encouraged to bring a laptop if assistance is needed loading the Azure or Windows 8 trial platforms.     

On October 18, 2012, attendees are also invited to participate in a one-on-one question-and-answer session with Taylor Cowan, Microsoft’s startup evangelist.  Taylor will be available to answer questions about Windows 8, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft BizSpark and how to engineer a product over the multiple Microsoft platforms. 

“Given Microsoft’s rich history and technological power, this event will truly give developers and hackers a leg up in the industry,” said Blake Miller, local Kansas City developer at Think Big Partners.  “In the startup world, things move pretty fast.  Having the opportunity to be one of the first to develop on Windows 8 and Azure while being able to ask questions and receive answers directly from the source will not only put the startups we work with on the map, but all of Kansas City on the fast track to success."

This free event offers the Midwest an opportunity to "get in front of" the technology curve, or at least keep pace with parts of the country like Silicon Valley, NY, Boston and Austin. According to Gartner & Morgan Stanley research, smart phone technology adoption moves very fast. "A few years ago, there was no real "smart phone" market - it was an iPhone market. Apple owned the space. Android changed all that. Today, there are legitimately 2 platforms for developers to roll out apps that get used by the world's consumers," said Herb Sih, Managing Partner of Think Big Partners. "We believe Microsoft will create the 3rd platform that will disrupt the app marketplace. There is room for another player, and I would not bet against them given their focus, talent and market presence in the world of today's consumer. Smart developers ultimately figure out that it matters what their customers think, what they do and where they go. That is what drives app revenue."

The Microsoft Azure Cloud and Windows 8 App Kickstarts will take place October 15-17, 2012 at bizperc, located at 1800 Baltimore in Kansas City, Missouri.  This event is free to register.  Space is limited and we expect to have high demand.  Entrepreneurs, startups, developers, and hackers are invited to register for the free limited event at www.microsoftkickstart.eventbrite.com.  

The Gigabit Challenge Announces Semi-Finalists

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR

The Gigabit Challenge announced the Semi-Finalists who will continue on in pursuit of the $100,000 Grand Prize, the $250,000 “Born Global”Prize and the opportunity to create disruptive innovation on the Google Fiber Network.  These Semi-Finalists were selected by a panel of judges including entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capitalists, public and private sector organizations, community leaders and other experts.  Executive summaries were judged based on market opportunity, growth potential, impact, brevity, clarity and how effectively the ideas utilized the Google Fiber Network.  The Semi-Finalist companies cover a wide range of applications including telemedicine, ecommerce, nonprofit fundraising, video delivery, digital city management and much more.

“The Gigabit Challenge is a great example of a community working together to capitalize on a fantastic opportunity for the region to connect with entrepreneurs, inventors and investors from around the globe to catalyze ideas that can change the world,” said Chris Bernard, Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Design Startup Director and Advisor for Microsoft, and a judge for The Gigabit Challenge.  “We congratulate all of those who entered the competition and we’re looking forward to the final round of judging.  We are proud to offer programs like MicrosoftBizSpark to the Semi-Finalists, which will help those startups and entrepreneurs focus on a great idea and get to market quickly.”

The Gigabit Challenge Semi-Finalists:

Abhi Ray, Heart To Heart Network Inc.

Adam Geller, Edthena

Andrea Tappy, ClassTap

Andrew Ying, Hong

Annie Hwang, Cloud Integration LLP
Bob Wray, CourthouseUSA LLC

Brendon Collier, SocialCloud

Brett Simpson, record life

Cecilia Bakker, Cecilia Bakker & Tim Brown

Corinna West, Wellness Wordworks

Dallas Kranker, Everything Computers LLC

David Windhausen, TiBi.tv

Don Peterson, BigIris.com

Eddie Tapper, GET-GIV-GOT System Technologies
Edgar Sarmiento, HuMuch?

Ellen Ervin, Connected-4-Learning

Ernie Johnston, iNet2

Fortunato Cardenas, Green Earth Aerogel Technologies

Jason Arnold, Paruzia Technologies

Jeff Stull, Risk Analytics LLC

Jeremy Kissell, Jeremy Kissell

Jim West, Somametric

Kristin Kenney, RE:Cite

Marc Canter, Digital City Mechanics

Mark Hellevang, Capital Infinity Research LLC

Mary Poehler, In Touch Beacon

Merlin Owens, East West TeleMedia International

Michael McKinzy Sr., Voter Integrity Party (V.I.P.)

Michael Shear, Strategic Office Networks LLC

S. Vaideeswaran, Damascus Fortune

Sally Smith, Esipro Technologies LLC

Samuel Belu-John, SEIN Analytics & Asset Management

Scott Hardiek, Virtual/Real World Wallet System

Seak Meng Lay, Photaic

Sonia Lin, Kauzu

Su Sanni, WeDidIt

Tim Sylvester, Integrated Roadways

Troy Norris, TalentHelix

Willow Lundgren, PlanetReuse LLC

Semi-finalists have until December 9, 2011 to submit eight to ten page business plans and Powerpoint presentations which will be reviewed by the judging panel.  Finalists will be announced on December 16, 2011.  At The Gigabit Challenge Finale on January 18, 2012, the winners will be awarded a Grand Prize valued at $100,000 and a “Born Global” Prize of a $250,000 investment from Gramercy Private Equity.

“It has been a pleasure reviewing submissions for The Gigabit Challenge,” said Greg Kratofil, Shareholder at Polsinelli Shughart and judge for The Gigabit Challenge.  “It feels like I’m looking through time and getting a glimpse at what the future will hold.  I have been extremely impressed with the quality of the ideas and have little doubt about the opportunities enabled by gigabit speed.”

For more information about The Gigabit Challenge or to express interest in becoming a partner, please visit http://www.gigabitchallenge.com or contact Ann DeAngelo at (816) 842-5244.   

About The Gigabit Challenge:

The Gigabit Challenge is a global business plan competition to find disruptive ideas that will turn the tech industry upside-down and change the world.  The Gigabit Challenge is focused on unique applications that are enabled by Google’s first-in-the-nation 1 Gigabit Fiber network.  It is a business plan competition looking for the brightest, hungriest and most passionate entrepreneur superstars who are looking to think big...with a gig.  In early October 2011, individuals, teams and early-stage businesses were invited to enter for the chance to win the Grand Prize valued at $100,000 and be the first to work on the Google Fiber Network.  For more information, please visit http://www.gigabitchallenge.com.

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