Divvy HQ Hosts Startup Launch Party at First Friday’s Entrepreneur Corner

For this month’s Entrepreneur Corner, Think Big Partners hosted the launch party for spreadsheet innovation group Divvy HQ on the swanky bizperc rooftop garden.

Best view of KC – bizperc’s green rooftop garden, hands down!

Complimentary cold beverages are not unfamiliar to the Think Big Partners’ Entrepreneur Corner events, but this First Friday, the crew was serving up Divvy-tini’s (made by Divvy HQ with blackberries, wine and other secret ingredients!) and classic KC barbeque. Plus, if you dropped by, you scored some sweet Divvy swag – a “plan, Divvy, conquer” t-shirt made of oh-so-soft material.

Divvy-tinis for all! Or at least until the sweet nectar lasted…

 Divvy HQ team members ready to kick off the party!

Minglin’ – it’s getting packed!

The Think Big team admiring their new Divvy swag

First-timers soaking in the incredible bizperc view 

A big congrats to Divvy HQ and its first official launch party!  We are excited to see even bigger things from this startup in the next coming months. 

We hope to see you at bizperc for our next Entrepreneur Corner on September 7. Who knows what kind of crazy stuff we’ll have going on…you’ll just have to stop by and see!

Check Out How We Cowork! It’s Time for the May bizperc Showcase

Do you love where you work? We do! We collaborate with a wide array of like-minded entrepreneurs every day.  We get to relax and check out the best views of the city from our rooftop (with WiFi!).  We have Roasterie Coffee and delicious lattes.  We think we’re pretty lucky and we want you to see it for yourself.


It’s time for the monthly bizperc Showcase.  Clear your calendars for Thursday, May 17^th from 2:00 to 3:00pm and come on down to 1800 Baltimore in KC and join us on the 4^th floor. Experience the modern and innovative workplace we call home.


The Showcase will start off with an expertly guided tour of our coworking space and business accelerator. Experience the atmosphere our entrepreneurs thrive in. From coffee bar to rooftop, you’ll get an inside-look at our coworking space, bizperc, and learn what Think Big Partners is up to. We want to show you how Think Big Partners is innovating the startup world.  But this showcase isn’t just about us—we want you to tell us about your own entrepreneurial ventures too.


Showcase Agenda:

2:00 Meet Think Big Partners: the company that’s building companies

2:15 Tour the bizperc coworking space and see where the magic happens

3:00 Showcase your own entrepreneurial venture on bizperc’s 6^th floor with a gorgeous view of downtown KC


Come experience the benefits of coworking and see how we’re changing the way entrepreneurs

interact daily. Register today for the bizperc Showcase powered by Think Big Partners on Thursday, May 17^th from 2:00 to 3:00pm.


If you can’t make it this month...don’t worry!  We’ll be showing off our coworking space each month. Stay tuned for upcoming Showcase information!


Questions? Call 816-842-5244 or email Sarah Snyder (ssnyder@thinkbigpartners.com).


Don’t forget to follow bizperc on Twitter! @bizperc

The 3 Ways to Foster Startup Growth in Your Community

They say Rome wasn’t built in a day. The same is true for Silicon Valley. There is no tried and true blueprint for creating a startup community. It’s a trial and error process that takes both commitment and patience. To have a community as strong as Silicon Valley is the ultimate goal for dreamers and doers all over the world. It is not an unattainable goal. It takes the perfect mix of inspiration, initiative, and tenacity to get the ball. In the famous words of Walt Disney, “the way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

Encourage and Inspire

Maybe your city already has a foundation built upon which entrepreneurial growth can prosper. But what’s the next step? Now you need to raise awareness in the community and attract the attention of your fellow entrepreneurs. Make a serious effort to encourage and inspire. Lead by example. Put yourself out there and let others know what you’re doing and what your goal is...the support will follow.

Hosting an event is the perfect way to gather these like-minded individuals. Whether it be a conference, a meet-up, or a happy hour, the result will be the same. It will get people talking. Create a buzz about what your city is doing to foster startup growth. Let it be known that you are making moves and achieving progress. These gatherings will undoubtedly aid in inspiring others to follow your example. They will help to create a true community environment amongst those brave enough to take the entrepreneurial road.

Come Together

While hosting events successfully brings together entrepreneurs and gets them talking, it is essential to take the next step and start the collaboration process. One way to do this is to form a startup hub. Bring people together on a more consistent basis. Coworking spaces are the most effective way to embrace the community aspect of startups. They allow for like-minded individuals to come together each and every day. Sharing experiences, successes, and failures with your fellow coworkers is a surefire way to gain invaluable knowledge. These spaces are especially important in newer entrepreneurial communities. It’s a community within a community and will, without a doubt, help to attract more entrepreneurs. Before you know it, your city will have a stronger startup presence.

Get Digital

In order to put your startup community on the map, it is crucial that you establish an online presence. You need to reach outside of your community to raise awareness of your efforts. Let the entire world know what is unique about your community, promote what you’re building and gain the attention of other startup communities. Make it impossible to ignore the activity and buzz surrounding your city.

Start a blog, make posts often and make them enticing. Attract readers from across the nation and keep them coming back to see what you are up to, what new events you have planned and what progress you are making. Don’t underestimate the value of Facebook and Twitter. Once you’ve established a presence on these sites, you will be connected to many influential individuals and companies. Keep tabs on what these movers-and-shakers are doing, learn from them, let yourself be inspired by what they’ve built. It’s an arena for knowledge and growth.

It is also important to follow what the key players in Silicon Valley and New York are doing. Maybe there is a particularly successful individual you admire. If so, follow his or her tweets. They might be willing to meet with you, attend a meet-up you have planned, or speak at an upcoming event. Entrepreneurs love sharing what they have learned on their startup adventure and if you establish your community as one on the rise, you can garner the attention of seasoned entrepreneurs who are willing to lend their knowledge. Go digital and get watch your community grow.

We’ve established that Silicon Valley was not an overnight accomplishment. It took years to build what they have. As you begin fostering startup growth in your own community, remember to be patient. It’s a golden quality, especially when trying to build something much bigger than yourself. Don’t compare your city to the mega hubs (i.e. San Francisco, Boston and Austin), be inspired by them and learn from what they’ve successfully built. Keep in mind your reasons for establishing your startup community, don’t forget the advantages it will bring to your city – the job creation it will provide, the economic growth it will inspire and the support and encouragement of others on the same journey. Start with small steps and before you know it you and your community will be making big strides.

 Follow Think Big! @thinkbigKC

Downtown Council Honors Young Entrepreneurs at Annual Meeting

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR


This year, the Downtown Council is embracing KC entrepreneurship alongside the entire city.  In order to honor the young entrepreneurial energy that has exploded within the Kansas City region, the Downtown Council is hosting its Annual Luncheon with an entrepreneurial twist.


On Friday, December 9, the Downtown Council Annual Luncheon will take place at the Kansas City Convention Center from 11:00AM until 1:30PM.  This year, the DTC will look into the future, focusing on their plans and strategies for attracting new businesses and residents to Downtown KC while retaining the unique and creative businesses and cultural attractions.


The DTC is positioning Downtown Kansas City as a center for entrepreneurs, with a focus on attracting growth companies and growing businesses that are already here.  At the luncheon, the Downtown Council will encourage the young people of the "Millennial Generation" to center their lives in Downtown Kansas City.


Join Keynote speaker Jason Ryan Dorsey and the entire Downtown Council for this once-a-year event.  You will be sure to meet knockout entrepreneurs, high-growth Kansas City businesses, and established movers-and-shakers of the city.  


Click here and learn more! 


Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig