The Opportunity to Build America's Most Entrepreneurial City

Kansas City is on its way to becoming America’s most entrepreneurial city—and the iKC conference is just one of the stepping stones to get us there.  We’ve seen initiatives from a handful of other organizations such as the Kauffman Foundation, the Social Media Club of Kansas City, Brainzooming and many others. 

And now, it’s your chance to become a part of the entrepreneurial movement.

With an iKC sponsorship, you have the opportunity to not only become a supporter of the KC entrepreneurial movement, but also to positively expose your organization and receive beneficial perks along the way.  An iKC sponsorship can intrinsically link you with an inspirational group of people and give you the opportunity to spend the day interacting with successful innovators, entrepreneurs, creative minds, local businesses and large corporations. 

There are two different types of sponsorships available:

1.  General iKC Sponsorship: The customizable sponsorship packet allows you to pick the level at which you wish to sponsor.  With a wide range of levels to choose from, organizations of any size can become a part of iKC.  iKC sponsorships also allow for interested startups and media organizations to get involved.  To learn more about these opportunities, contact iKC.

2.  Fire Up Sponsorship: The Fire Up sponsorship opportunity is completely unique to iKC.  Fire Up (short for Fearless Innovators’ and Ruthless Entrepreneurs’ Unconventional Pitch) is a lightning-fast pitch presentation from a number of local innovative entrepreneurs.  When sponsoring a Fire Up, iKC will pair you with an entrepreneur that will innovate on your company’s platform and then present it to a live audience.  That means that your company will walk away from iKC with a brand new, realistic innovation.  To learn more about sponsoring Fire Up, contact iKC. 

Get involved with iKC today and join Kansas City’s innovative and entrepreneurial efforts.  To learn more, visit iKC's Sponsorship page or call 816-842-5244.  

Follow iKC! @iKC_2012

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Why Did Google Choose Kansas City for Fiber Project?

WRITTEN BY CLAYTON P. BURNETT, GUEST BLOGGER & LIVE BLOGGER FOR THE GIGABIT CHALLENGE FINALE

The wait is nearly over….

Web pages loading, videos downloading, music buffering—it’s all coming to end. 

All coming to an end, thanks to the Google Fiber project implementation in Kansas City.  “Layman’s terms” here, what is the Google Fiber Project and what does it mean for me? Simply put, Google chose Kansas City (don’t ask why...just take it) to deploy the fastest internet speeds in the world.  These speeds will pretty much transform your entire web experience and quite possibly help transform new web technologies for the world! 

So why did this supposed tech titan called “Google” choose Kansas City over the 1,000+ communities that applied for this opportunity?  We’re known for cows and BBQ, and not anything tech related...right?  First off, let’s go with luck.  Google will officially state that Kansas City was chosen because “we could build efficiently, make an impact on the community, and develop working partnerships with the local government, utility and community organizations.”  All well and good, and I buy it to some degree…but I’m thinking that we were awarded this prize because it’s probably a little more cost effective here in the Midwest.

The internet speeds that Google will provide are fast...really fast.  Like, 100 times faster than you probably have in your home right now.  So what is this going to do for you, and how can it “transform” your web experience?  Ultimately, home users can download and watch “cute kitten” videos on YouTube much faster, or stream Netflix in full HD.  “Great…that really transforms my life…thanks Google (heavy sarcasm)!”   While Google does care about your media consumption, there is a bigger picture here.  First; profit.  Businesses are in business to make money, right?  Google will make a few bucks off of this deal in the long run, not based upon providing the actual internet service, but mainly based upon their business model of ad revenue (faster/better internet experience = longer time online = more ad revenues).  Second, Google is a very “forward thinking” enterprise with a number of philanthropic ventures aimed at the “greater good” of the world.  And this venture is partly about innovation.  Kansas City; this isn’t charity to us.  We are just lucky they chose us as the test bed.  Given this opportunity, Google also hopes to spur innovation for new web technologies. Who knows what ideas and/or technologies this network will generate. 

One might think that Google would take a more active role in the development of these ideas and technologies, but alas, it appears that they are simply supplying the network and leaving the rest up to us.  I dig this approach, as it lets us “little guys” in on the action.  I can help make what I want of this project without a big bureaucratic control leading a painstaking process.  So ultimately, the success of this project really depends on the creativity of the Kansas City residents.  Again, Google has given us a “tool”—its potential use and application are up to us.  Kansas City, it’s time to think broad…and BIG!  Sure, this tool may improve our current businesses and home web experience, but the rest of the world (myself included) is looking at this opportunity for us to potentially create entirely new industries and technologies!

“So, uh…if it’s up to me, where do I even begin?”  Thankfully, a few local groups have stepped up to lead Kansas City’s efforts, including the Brainzooming Group, the Social Media Club of Kansas City, Think Big Partners and the Kauffman Foundation.  Under their leadership, we have been given the opportunity to vet our ideas to the world, and even have the chance to win seed/prize money for these ventures.

Kansas City has a infinite number of ways to benefit from this opportunity, so let’s focus on how amazing this opportunity really is.  The Mayor of Kansas City, MO was recently quoted in saying, "As a result of this announcement, we have become the most attractive city on the planet to entrepreneurs."  Yep, that’s right.  Because of this opportunity, Kansas City should see a good influx of tech-savvy businesses enter into our market.  A little bit of a stretch here, but Kansas City has a golden opportunity to become the next Silicon Valley of the world.

Now that I’m done telling you about the who’s, how’s and what’s of this project, I’m going to give you my own personal commentary and plea for ideas.  Kansas City and fellow earthlings, we have the opportunity to truly revolutionize the world.  I know what you’re thinking: Revolutionize the world?  Are you kidding me!?  I am not.  Technology is behind everything we do today. Even your common “ditch digger’s” job is, in some way, impacted by technology.   With this gift from Google, we have the opportunity to develop new ideas and technologies that can truly change and influence the way we do business, interact with media content, exchange ideas, etc., etc., etc.  But it’s up to all of us to come up with these “game changing” ideas.

Many have already been hard at work, developing ideas for how to best utilize this amazing gift from Google.  I’ve read through a number of the early ideas and some have novel merits, but honestly, none have made me stop and say “that’s a game changer.”  I recently read that we are now down to 19 finalists in The Gigabit Challenge, down from the original 113 entrants.  “Wait…did you just say only 113 entrants….are you kidding me….that’s it?”  Yeah, I’m a little perplexed that given this significant opportunity that only 113 people submitted ideas.  We all use the internet every day, we all interact with various mediums of content on a daily basis….are you telling me that we only have 113 people in this world with a semblance of an idea about how we could potentially leverage this great gift?  Honestly, I’m a little vexed by this.  Where’s my idea, you ask?  Oh yeah…forgot to enter I guess.   Ok, I guess there are a few barriers to entry; legal documents, protecting your intellectual property, etc, etc….so I don’t blame everyone for not entering….it probably was a little daunting.

So I want to make it clear, I am NOT discounting or discrediting any of the ideas in the competition, but I’m honestly wondering if we’ll see some truly “wow” ideas after Google Fiber is up and running.  Personally, I’d be a little afraid of vetting my idea in front of the world only to have it potentially stolen by somebody with much deeper pockets than myself.  So maybe I shouldn’t be discouraged by the ideas given so far.  Maybe this is an amazing start…better than we could have hoped for.  Start small, think big…and let that little seed grow.

Follow The Gigabit Challenge! @GBChallengeKC     #GBFinale

Social Media Club Takes Google Fiber by Storm with Give Us a Gig! Campaign

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR 

If there has been one standout leader on the Google Fiber initiative in Kansas City, it may (a bit surprisingly) be The Social Media Club of Kansas City.  The organization has already thrown Building the Gigabit City brainstorming sessions with Brainzooming and has helped to create the 60 Business Concepts for Building the Gigabit City with Google Fiber Report.  But SMCKC's efforts don't stop there.

Yesterday, the Social Media Club launched the Google Fiber education campaign known as "Give Us a Gig!"  This campaign has been created in order to educate citizens about Google's plans in Kansas City and to generate ideas about how to best put the faster Internet to good use in neighborhoods.

In the recent Kansas City Star article, Social Media Club of Kansas City organizer Aaron Deacon said, "It was intended to be a recognition of the fact that there's a demand for more information on the project.  (Google officials) acknowledge that there are things that they can't or won't answer."

According to Deacon, the meetings that SMCKC will hold next month will give people a better understanding of the possibilities of far faster Internet connections.  He also said organizers hope to generate ideas about how poorer neighborhoods can find ways to pay for the service.  Now that's how you think big...with a gig!

The first meeting will be held on December 13, 2011 at 5:30pm at the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City Public Library.  Another meeting will be held at 5:30pm at the main branch of Kansas City, Kansas Public Library.

Read the full Kansas City Star article here.

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

SMCKC and Brainzooming Announce Give Us a Gig! and the Google Fiber Roadmap

A lot came out of yesterday's second session of Building the Gigabit City, hosted by the Kansas City Public Library and put on by the Social Media Club of Kansas City and Brainzooming.  And when I say a lot, I mean A LOT.  

How about a 119-page document that outlines ideas from the community about what to create with Google Fiber?

Or a brand new initiative spearheaded by the Social Media Club of Kansas City that will unite neighborhoods with their technological community?

Or breaking news from KCSourceLink, the Kauffman Foundation and Think Big Partners?

All three came out of the hour-long session that brought together influential thought leaders from the Kansas City community.  The meeting started off with an introduction from Joe Cox, the President of SMCKC, who asked a very important question: "Sure, Google Fiber has given us a voice, but what do we want to say?"

The Google Fiber Roadmap 

Mike Brown, Founder of Brainzooming, was next to take the mic, where he introduced the crowd to the 119-page document which has become known as Building the Gigabit City: Brainzooming a Google Fiber Roadmap.  The document, which can be downloaded here, is made up of hundreds of ideas, opportunities, challenges and concepts for Kansas City to use with Google Fiber.  Mike made note of some of the highlights:

• A culture cache time capsule so that we can see what our loved ones did and thought when they visited the same Kansas City landmarks and historical sites when we do
• Microloans for the urban core
• Libraries as a data and entertainment center
• A Kansas City Master School District that offers online and night learning options
• A program that offers "sample" courses for students who want to learn a little more about the classes they take before they sign up for them 
• A Facebook-like functionality to enable sharing (with privacy settings) for doctors and patients 

Give Us a Gig! Initiative

SMCKC has created the Give Us a Gig! initiative to help the Gigabit City ideas excite the imagination of communities and neighborhoods throughout the Kansas Cities.  The initiative will educate area residents about how emerging technologies like social media and Google Fiber can help transform their communities.  According to Silicon Prairie News, Give Us a Gig! will also provide resources, including a "virtual toolkit," to empower neighborhoods throughout the metro to tell the story about how gigabit speed can benefit them.

Other Announcements

Announcements from KCSourceLink, the Kauffman Foundation and Think Big Partners centered around the topic of entrepreneurship and job creation from Google Fiber. Many entrepreneur resources are collaborating in order to enhance startup companies on the Google Fiber network, from the development of GoogleConnectsKC.com to KCGigIdeas.com to The Gigabit Challenge.  All initiatives are hoping to generate more ideas and produce more companies on the Google Fiber network.

Google Fiber is coming, Kansas City.  So what's your "gig" idea?

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Tomorrow SMCKC and Brainzooming Announce the Results of Gigabit City

Last month, the Social Media Club of Kansas City and The Brainzooming Group brought together many brilliant minds for Building the Gigabit City. The event was a stage for a giant brainstorming session in which participants could discuss the implementation of Google Fiber and how it could positively impact the community. Together a group of local business and nonprofit thought leaders generated more than 1,000 possible ideas for how Google Fiber could be leveraged in areas such as schools, medicine, libraries, the urban core, suburban living, and culture.

Now the whole community is invited review the results fro the Gigabit City brainstorming session. Join the Brainzooming Group’s strategic innovations expert, Mike Brown and the Social Media Club of Kansas City tomorrow as they present 1,001 Uses for Google Fiber in KC. The event will take place at 10:00 AM at the Kansas City Central Library. Admission is free. RSVP online or call 816-701-3407.

Come to tomorrow’s event and take part in shaping how Google Fiber will impact Kansas City!

Follow Me @LauraGThinkBig!

The City Synergy Continues! KC Public Library Hosts Gigabit Challenge Finale

Collaboration.  Synergy.  Innovation.  Partnership.  Sure, these words encircle the world of entrepreneurship.  But today, they’re beginning to define an entire city—Kansas City. 

The Kansas City Public Library jumped on the collaborative bandwagon this week when it partnered up with The Gigabit Challenge, a global business plan competition looking for new ideas to disrupt on the Google Fiber network (and the chance to win a prize valued at $100,000!).  As a partner, The Kansas City Public Library will become the home of The Gigabit Challenge Finale where the finalists of the challenge will take part in a final pitch and the winners will be announced.

But the Kansas City Public Library’s involvement with Google doesn’t start there.  In fact, the library also hosted Building the Gigabit City, a powerful brainstorming event hosted by the Social Media Club of Kansas City and Brainzooming.  At the event, industry leaders were brought together to come up with ideas for the implementation of Google Fiber in Kansas City.

In addition, the Kansas City Public Library has opened the H&R Block Business & Career Center; a space within the library dedicated to Kansas City residents who want to become successful entrepreneurs, invest money wisely, find jobs and develop careers, organize personal finances, establish and sustain non-profits and improve financial literacy.  Without a doubt, the Kansas City Public Library is embracing Kansas City entrepreneurship. 

The collaboration and ideation that the Kansas City Public Library is contributing to the Google initiative is exactly what The Gigabit Challenge is all about.  A huge thanks to the library for hosting the Gigabit Challenge Finale.  Looking forward to the event on January 17^th!


But wait...there's more!  On Wednesday, November 2, the Kansas City Public Library is hosting the Cradle of Entrepreneurs Series event with Carl Schramm of the Kauffman Foundation.  As a precursor to Global Entrepreneurship week, Library Director Crosby Kemper III will conduct a public conversation with Carl Schramm about his dedication to entrepreneurship in Kansas City.  Join the Kansas City Public Library on November 2n, 2011 at 6:30 PM for the Cradle of Entrepreneurs.  Read the full press release and RSVP here.

Written by Allison Way

@AllisonThinkBig

Kansas City: The Creative Crossroads of the U.S. through Building the Gigabit City

Yesterday, the Social Media Club of Kansas City and The Brainzooming Group brought together many brilliant minds for a giant brainstorming session in which participants could discuss Kansas City's implementation of Google Fiber and how it could positively impact the community.  The event became known as Building the Gigabit City. After the first few hours of the event, I was blown away.

Not only were participants full of amazing ideas, but they were full of unique ones.  My small group, a group that was to discuss Google Fiber's potential for higher education, consisted of a variety of different people with unique backgrounds and experiences--a social media strategist, a small business owner, an SEO expert, a freelancer, a graphic designer and many others.

The event kicked off with the notion that Kansas City "can be the Creative Crossroads of the United States."  And after sitting in with my group and brainstorming amazing (and some outrageous) ideas, I couldn't help but agree.

Check out some of my pictures from Building the Gigabit City.  Hosted by the Kansas City Public Library, the event was also open to the public at 6:30PM for a reveal of the Gigabit City ideas.

"We can be the Creative Crossroads of the United States."

Mike Brown of Brainzooming.

Outside of the Kansas City Public Library.

My group collaborating about Google Fiber and higher education. 

Bob King of Thought Spray Solutions discusses Google Fiber opportunities.

And don't forget to submit your big ideas to the Gigabit Challenge business plan competition that launched earlier yesterday morning.  Want to disrupt on the Google Fiber network?  Submit a 3-5 page executive summary of your idea and an application and you could win up to $100,000 in cash and services!

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Make the Most Out of Building the Gigabit City

Building the Gigabit City, a brainstorming event hosted by the Social Media Club of Kansas City and the Brainzooming Group, is inviting members of the local business, arts, technology and education communities to come together under one roof and determine how to effectively use the Google fiber network.  The event aims to present new ideas for how Google Fiber can benefit all corners of the city - from schools and libraries to hospitals, transit systems, entertainment options and beyond.  The evening event, where the public can see what ideas the brainstorming sessions unveiled, will take place on Monday, October 3rd at 6:30pm (just in time for the rollout of the Gigabit Challenge applications!).

But how can those who are attending the brainstorming portion of Building the Gigabit City make the most of their creative experience?  The Brainzooming Group has provided the Top 10 ways to "brainzoom" your way to a good idea, no matter what you may be brainstorming about.  Use these quick tips from Brainzooming to burst through your creative roadblock:

1.  Show up with an open mind and willingness to share your ideas - any and all of them!
2.  Imagine.  When it comes to generating ideas, it's all about imagining the possibilities.
3.  Be a cheerleader.  You make other people more creative just by cheering them on.
4.  Look for the potential of an idea.  If you have a "why something won't work" statement, you also need a "how it CAN work" statement.
5.  Build off of other's ideas.  Brainzooming is a team sport.
6.  Combine ideas or elements of ideas.  Real innovation typically stems from multiple ideas.
7.  Consider the idea from different angles. 
8.  Recognize that some ideas will take root faster. 
9.  Use those sticky notes!  It will be our most useful tool for capturing and organizing all of our ideas throughout the day.
10.  What else?  It is the most important question of hte day.  Keep it in the back of your mind to expand your thinking and the thinking of others in your group.

Looking forward to a dynamite event at the Kansas City Public Library on Monday! RSVP now!

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Social Media Club of Kansas City Presents Building the Gigabit City

The Google Fiber network is said to be up to 100 times faster than the current speed of the Internet.  That's a lot faster.  That's incredibly quick.  That's a time-saver. 

But the Social Media Club of Kansas City is one of the first organizations to ask: "What would you do with that extra time?"

The Social Media Club of Kansas City (with sponsorship and help from Brainzooming, KCNext, the Kansas City Public Library, and Polsinelli Shughart) is hosting Building the Gigabit City on October 3rd, 2011 in order to seek input about how Google Fiber high-speed internet access in the home can change peoples' lives for the better.

Leading up to Building the Gigabit City, SMCKC is hosting an online survey so that Kansas City residents and Google Fiber fans could share their ideas on an online platform.  Now, the survey is being taken to the next level through the development of the Building the Gigabit City event at the Kansas City Public Library on the first Monday of October.

At the event, attendees will be divided into groups--Living, Learning and Leading categories--so that ideas can be flushed out with like-minded individuals.  The goal of the event is to bring together home-owners and community residents so that everybody can share how the Google Fiber network could potentially change the lives of KC residents and the world.  This free event will start at 8:30AM and run until 8:00 at night. 

If you're interested in attending Building the Gigabit City and giving input about how you think Google Fiber could change the world, be sure to take the online survey from the Social Media Club.  The survey can be found here:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GigabitCity.  More information about the event will be announced soon.  Stay tuned!

Want a little more info?  Read the article from the Kansas City Business Journal: "Social Media Club of Kansas City works to build Google road map".

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig