On the 3rd Day of Coworking bizperc Gave To Me...

This holiday, bizperc is hosting the 12 Days of Coworking.  For the next 12 business days, bizperc will be giving away awesome prizes in order to encourage entrepreneurs to celebrate the holiday season.  Watch the video above to learn about the 3rd day of coworking...and win a free Entrepreneur Bootcamp session! 

"Like" bizperc on Facebook and share this video with your friends.  Three lucky people will be randomly selected to each win a free Bootcamp session (a $75 value!).  The Entrepreneur Bootcamp sessions at bizperc feature experts from different areas in order to help you launch and grow a successful startup company.  Bootcamp sessions have covered all types of startup topics such as legal advice, branding, social media, building ideas and much, much more.


Want to amp up your new business this year?  Enter into the bizperc Facebook contest and win a free Entrepreneur Bootcamp from bizperc and Think Big Partners! 
Good luck and Think Big!

Follow bizperc! @bizperc

Unlock the Social Media Rockstar Within!

Are you ready to unlock the social media rock star within you? Next Tuesday's Entrepreneur Bootcamp will focus on creating an effective inbound marketing platform to launch your business for less. This interactive session will be presented by Think Big Partners' cofounder, Herb Sih; web designer, Blake Miller and senior copy editor, Allison Way.

"I am looking forward to teaching other Kansas City entrepreneurs about the importance of social media for small business and startups. It has become an extremely important part of marketing strategies," says Allison.

The traditional marketing landscape is changing, and it is important that businesses and marketers adjust with it.

"We have been conducting social media consulting and inbound marketing services through Think Big Partners and inboun for quite some time. We have so many companies that want to learn more about how to effectively execute social media efforts that we knew that this bootcamp was a must," says Allison.

Inbound marketing combines the tactics of social media marketing and content marketing all into one platform to achieve important business marketing goals. Stop interrupting and start getting your customers to reach out to you when they are ready to do business. Those attended next weeks bootcamp will learn:

• An overview of major social networking platforms and how to use each one
• How to evaluate your market (audience) and create a content strategy that will get people to engage with you and your brand
• How to understand the "recipe" to integrate your social media and content marketing efforts to maximize results
• How to create the right image and profiles that demand attention on the 3 top social networking platforms
• How to create an actionable social media marketing playbook that you can execute on your own
• An understanding of the difference between earned media, paid media, and placed media and the benefits of each
• How to create compelling content that will reinforce your brand, optimize your website and support your business goals
• Real case studies that showcase tactics you can use to achieve your marketing goals

Join Think Big Partners and bizperc on November 8th at 3:oo and learn how to master the art and science that is inbound marketing. This will be an interactive session, so be sure to bring your laptop! Register today!

Follow me! @LauraGThinkBig

Don't be a Winklevoss...be a Zuckerberg! The Must-Knows of Intellectual Property

"Does a guy who makes a really good chair owe money to anyone who ever made a chair?"  -- Mark Zuckerberg

The popular movie, The Social Network, isn't just about the founding of Facebook.   It's about entrepreneurship, competition, but perhaps most importantly; it's about intellectual property. 

In the movie (and I suppose in real life), the Winklevoss twins have a plan for an exclusive Harvard student network.  In the process, the twins are upstaged by Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of what is known today as Facebook.  In the film, Zuckerberg defends his online empire from lawsuits alleging that he stole the Winklevoss's idea; an intellectual property claim.  But when it boils down to it; who was right and who was wrong?  As we all know, Mark Zuckerberg won in the end...but should he have?

We're glad he did.  After all, we can't picture a day without checking our many Facebook accounts. 

Intellectual property is confusing.  But just as it's confusing, it's also extremely important to understand. So how can you, as an bright-eyed entrepreneur, guarantee that your incredible idea won't be stolen?  How can you prevent what the Winklevosses experienced?

Dianne Smith-Misemer and Jennifer Bailey of Hovey Williams LLP believe it all starts with awareness.

"We find that most businesses do have intellectual property assets," says Dianne.  "Many times, they just don't know it.  Early detection can save a lot of grief later."

Entrepreneurs need to be aware of their intellectual property rights -- which is the main reason why Dianne and Jennifer are holding the Entrepreneur Bootcamp session "The Top Ten IP Must Knows for Any Business: Identifying and Maximizing Your Patent, Trademarks and Copyright Assets" on Tuesday, November 1st at bizperc. 

"Intellectual property can be the largest asset of a company," says Jennifer. "But many people do not know how to protect it.  They do not recognize that they have innovation and technology involved in their business.  That's why we're holding this educational session."

"We are looking forward to the session!" adds Dianne.  "What I like about this area is seeing the excitement from entrepreneurs.  What people don't realize is that they are affected by trademark, patent and copyright decisions every day.  To bring everyday business experiences and see how they blend with intellectual property will be great for entrepreneurs at this session." 

This Entrepreneur Bootcamp session, the 4th of 6, has been designed for any entrepreneur.  Join the Hovey Williams team and Think Big Partners and bizperc on November 1st and 3:00 and learn how to become the next Zuckerberg -- not the next Winklevoss!  Register today!

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

"I Hate Slogans. I Love Positioning Lines."

Kurt Bartolich of GUTS Branding brings more quotable gems like the one above to Entrepreneur Bootcamp on October 25th at bizperc.

It's not every day that you hear a branding expert vocalize how much they hate slogans.  But Kurt Bartolich of GUTS Branding was more than happy to broadcast this phrase.  "I hate slogans," he said.  "But I love positioning lines."

According to Bartolich, there is a difference between the two.  This may be something that many entrepreneurs may have not heard of.  What's the difference between a slogan and a positioning line anyway? 

That's exactly what Bartolich aims to teach at his upcoming Entrepreneur Bootcamp session on October 25th.  This session (#3 of the 6-part series) is to take place from 3:30 until 6:00 at the bizperc coworking space, powered by Think Big Partners.  This is a critical topic for entrepreneurs to learn about.  After all, a brand defines a business.  Think; Southwest.  Victoria's Secret.  Nike.  Their brands stick out...and yours can, too.

"Business owners are recognizing how critical branding is," says Bartolich.  "If you don't get off on the right foot with a brand, you will spend money down the road trying to fix it."

The session is called Brand Foundation for Your Startup That Uniquely Drives Your Business Strategy.  During the session, participants will learn:

1. The difference between "brand" and "branding"
2. How to find your business's brand and what it's really about
3. What to do once you have your brand specified
4. The ins-and-outs of brand naming

Need a little work on your business's brand?  Join Kurt Bartolich, the Think Big team and Kansas City entrepreneurs for this energetic session all about branding for entrepreneurs.  Lace up for the bootcamp at 3:30 and cool down with cocktails and networking from 5:00-6:00. 

Register today!

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Entrepreneur Bootcamp Tackles Legal and Accounting

Every startup struggles with the following question: “When should I get a lawyer involved?”  The costs associated with quality legal assistance can sometime seem overwhelming to the bootstrapping entrepreneur.  Yet the courts are filled with lawsuits that could have been easily avoided had a lawyer been consulted during the initial launch of the company.

Next week’s Entrepreneur Bootcamp will tackle “tough stuff”; all of the legal and accounting issues critical to starting a new business.  In this session presenters Tyler Prochnow of Think Big Partners and Jene' Poper Hong of Business Transition Specialists will answer these much-needed questions and more:

• Am I being penny wise and pound foolish?
• Am I being over-lawyered?
• Are lawyers like everything else; you get what you pay for?

Bootcamp will take place at next Tuesday from 3:00-6:00pm at bizperc in the Kansas City Crossroads. Whip your startups legal and accounting into shape and register today!   

Written by Laura Goede

@LauraGThinkBig

Are All Ideas Worth Doing?

As entrepreneurs, this is an emotionally-charged, age old question that startups must face every day. Good ideas often come from the observation of an opportunity, sometimes out of frustration to solve a problem, but always require perspiration to make them work. The hallmark of a good idea is one that can be turned into a profitable business in a reasonable amount of time. But the harsh reality is that unless your solution (idea) is solving a problem that consumers are willing to pay for at a reasonable price for a reasonable amount of time, then your good idea may be destined to be not worth doing.

Capital markets are also fairly straightforward. Businesses that are profitable, sustainable and replicable will usually attract investment. But one factor that many people fail to identify in the normal business planning process is the cost of capital and projected return on investment and the risk associated with it. If an idea requires a million dollars to start and is projected to return only 100k, then does that make it a bad idea? It depends. Is the return in 30 days, or 3 years? If it is 30 days, then sign me up. If it means 3 years...the internal rate of return for most financial investors may be less than ideal. And by the way, what is the risk to achieving this return?

Here are a few other considerations. What about the financial barriers to entry for your idea’s marketplace? If the required capital is low enough, you may have many competitors entering your space once your idea gains traction, only to compete with you on pricing or some other front unrelated to idea quality. Especially if you are first to a new market, the bleeding edge ideas often require considerable money to educate the consumer regarding your product or service—even before they are willing to buy due to lack of understanding. If the barrier to entry is enormously high (as an example; life sciences or biotechnology plays), then the risk adjusted return may be higher than desired for some investors to stomach.

Business plans also often neglect to look at details beyond dimensions of the core solution related to the core problem. A great example of unbridled ideation meeting innovation is the Netflix innovation contest. If you are not familiar with this story, it is worth examining. The takeaway from this story is that solutions can come from a wide variety of areas for problems, which can then create a wider set of problems that can be fixed with the same solutions. The “addressable” market for a single idea becomes bigger when you think beyond the traditional scope of a single problem/solution relationship when designing your next big idea. And this means a better return on investment.  In the end, it is all about the discipline of identifying good ideas, determining if there is a financial market, the risk to achieving that return and then executing.

Turning idea risk into execution risk is never as easy as an entrepreneur would like, but if you can combine a typical business planning process with an appreciation for some of these considerations, it will help you spend more time on the good ideas that are actually worth doing.

There are a lot of good business ideas in today's world but not every idea is worth pursuing.  Those interested in learning exactly what it take to turn a good idea into a profitable business should attend Think Big Partners' Entrepreneur Bootcamp.  I will be presenting the first bootcamp session next Tuesday, October 11th.  In this session, I will identify how new businesses and startups can succeed in today's hyper-competitve global marketplace.  Enterpreneur Bootcamp will take place from 3:00-6:00pm at bizperc in the Kansas City Crossroads.  Register here today!  

Written by Herb Sih, managing partner of Think Big Parnters

@thinkbigKC

Think Big Partners Hosts Happy Hour in the Kansas City Crossroads

Last night's Happy Hour with Think Big Partners and Joe Athon brought together a mish-mash of Kansas City entrepreneurs, small business owners and startup companies looking to network, enjoy a few drinks and let loose after a jam-packed workday.  The event took place from 4:30 PM until 8:00 PM at the jazzy and intimate 1911 Main, a new restaurant located in the Crossroads District of Kansas City--just a hop, skip and a jump away from the bizperc coworking space.

As local entrepreneurs sipped on $5 martinis and enjoyed half-priced appetizers, Think Big Partners announced the rollout of the Gigabit Challenge as well as the company's upcoming Entrepreneur Bootcamp which is to launch this coming Tuesday, October 11th at bizperc.  The Bootcamp is a 6-week program aimed at whipping Kansas City entrepreneurs into startup shape.

Interested in meeting the Think Big team but didn't make it to the Happy Hour?  The next TBP team event will take place this Friday at Entrepreneur Corner during First Fridays.  Join the Think Biggers as well as 8 other Kansas City startup companies for free beer, networking and a perfect start to the weekend at 1800 Baltimore from 6:00-9:00 PM.  In addition, the Think Big team will be hosting a bizperc open house on October 20th.  More information about the Open House will be released in the coming weeks.

To all of those who attended the TBP Happy Hour, thanks for attending, but most importantly, thanks for Thinking Big!

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Think Big Partners Announces Entrepreneur Bootcamp This Fall

Fitness bootcamps.  Bridal bootcamps.  Teen bootcamps.  Military bootcamps. They are all designed with one goal in mind: to improve a participant's life in some way.  Whether it be losing weight, getting back on track, staying fit, or reaching an important goal, bootcamps are some of the most effective ways to achieve dreams. 

But what about a bootcamp for business people?  After all, work is a big part of life, right?

Absolutely.  And this is exactly why Think Big Partners has introduced an Entrepreneur Bootcamp to take place this fall at bizperc.

The Entrepreneur Bootcamp is a 6-week program built to whip its participants into startup shape.  With knockout sessions from some of Kansas City's most successful and inspirational business leaders, Think Big Partners' Entrepreneur Bootcamp is sure to enhance your company, grow your startup, and inspire your work life.

Entrepreneur Bootcamp sessions include:

• You Need More Than Just a Business Plan to Turn a Good Idea Into a Profitable Business by Herb Sih of Think Big Partners
• Tough Stuff: Legal & Accounting in Small Business by Jene' Popper Hong of Business Transition Specialists and Tyler Prochnow of Think Big Partners
• Brand Foundation for Your Startup that Uniquely Drives Your Business Strategy by Kurt Bartolich of GUTS Branding
• The Top 10 IP Must-Knows for Any Business by Dianne Smith-Misemer and Jennifer Bailey of Hovey Williams, LP
• Unlock the Social Media Rock Star Within You! by Herb Sih and Allison Way of Think Big Partners
• Raising Money for Your Startup: Luck is Preparation Meeting Opportunity by Herb Sih of Think Big Partners and Ryan Weber of Angel Capital Group

Lace up for the Entrepreneur Bootcamp at bizperc (1800 Baltimore Kansas City, Missouri) on the 6th floor once a week from October 11 until November 15.  The entire 6-week series costs $300 (this is an early-bird special!  The prices increase on October 5th to $360, so buy now!).  You can also purchase ad hoc for $75 per session. 

Get your startup business into tip-top shape this fall at Think Big Partners' Entrepreneur Bootcamp.  Sign up here now and take advantage of the early-bird special! 

Want to attend an Entrepreneur Bootcamp session...for free?  Participate in our Retweet contest!  Learn all about how to win a discounted ticket or a session on us here. 

Hesitant about attending an entrepreneur bootcamp?  Learn the top 5 reasons why an entrepreneur bootcamp will benefit you and your business!

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Tweet to Win! Entrepreneur Bootcamp Twitter Contest #ENTBC

bizperc and Think Big Partners are gearing up for the kick off of EntrepreneurBootcamp October 11th.  This six session series is bound to whip your startup into shape.  In anticipation of our first Entrepreneur Bootcamp, bizperc is hosting a twitter contest.  Prizes include one free bootcamp session and 20% off a bootcamp series package.  

Entering is easy.  Just tweet us your best entrepreneurial advice in 140 characters or less.  All contest entries must include the bizperc twitter handle (@bizperc) and the contest hash tag (#ENTBC) in their tweet.  The contest begins Monday September 26^th and will close by midnight Friday October 7^th.  Winners will be notified via twitter by Sunday October 9^th.  Good luck and get tweeting!

Here is a look at this fall's Entrepreneur Bootcamp lineup: 

Oct 11

You Need More Than Just A Business Plan to Turn A Good Idea Into A Profitable Business

Instructor: Herb Sih, Think Big Partners

Oct 18

Tough Stuff: Legal and Accounting in Small Business

Instructors: Jene’ Popper Hong, Business Transition Specialists & Tyler Prochnow, Think Big Partners

Oct 25

Brand Foundation for Your Startup That Uniquely Drives Your Business Strategy

Instructor: Kurt Bartolich, Guts Branding

Nov 1

The Top Ten IP Must Know for Any Business: Identifying and Maximizing Your Parent, Trademarks and Copyright Assets

Instructors: Dianne Smith-Misemer & Jennifer Bailey, Hovey Williams, LLP

Nov 8

Unlock the Social Media Rock Star Within You! Creating An Effective Inbound Marketing Platform to Launch Your Business for Less

Instructors: Allison Way & Herb Sih, Think Big Partners

Nov 15

Raising Money For Your Startup – Luck is Preparation Meeting Opportunity…And a Good Story You Must Be Prepared To Tell Flawlessly

Instructors: Ryan Weber, Angel Capital Group & Herb Sih, Think Big Partners

Written By Laura Goede

@LauraGThinkBIG

What’s the Difference Between a Business Incubator and a Business Accelerator?

The terms “business incubator” and “business accelerator” are often used synonymously, but the two entrepreneur initiatives are extremely different.  So what distinguishes one from the other?  How do you choose which option is right for you and your business venture?  And where can you find the right incubator or accelerator for you? 

As their names suggest, the key difference between an incubator and an accelerator is the timeline and discipline on which they operate.  Business incubators provide new companies with a nurturing environment where they can grow at their own pace.  Companies are allowed to stay within the incubator for an extended period of time until they get too big or eventually fail.  According to the National Business Incubation Association, the average incubated company spends 33 months inside an incubator.  By incorporating entrepreneurial insight and guidance, incubators save entrepreneurs a lot of valuable time and money.

On the other hand, accelerators operate more like an entrepreneurial bootcamp.  Business accelerator programs are short and intense.  The goal of an accelerator is to take a business idea and launch a company at an accelerated speed.  Business accelerator programs have become very popular among emerging technology companies.  Accelerator speed is especially attractive to companies creating mobile apps, cloud based software, and tech-based applications because a business accelerator’s speed is complimentary to the pace of web.   

Think Big Partners has taken the best parts of each and combined them by providing business incubator services at a business accelerator speed.  Specializing in tech-oriented companies, TBP combines incubation and acceleration initiatives in order to offer “fast test” validation of ideas and stellar support services to small businesses including marketing, consulting, legal, web, copywriting, and PR.  Through their Launch and Learn events the business aims to help tech startups and entrepreneurs launch stronger, faster.  Think Big Partners will also hosts Entrepreneur Bootcamps for Kansas City startup businesses, which attributes to the fast pace of business and startup accelerators around the globe. 

Think Big Partners operates within bizperc, a flexible coworking space dedicated to entrepreneurs.  The space is set up to provide both an open and collaborative environment conducive for companies preparing to launch and an executive office space for those companies who are already launched and running.  Whether tenants want to utilize the incubator services from Think Big Partners within the coworking space or simply use bizperc as a collaborative environment is entirely up to them. 

If you are debating between a business incubator, an accelerator or a combination of the two, there are a few important things to look out for when choosing the proper work environment for you, your idea and your business. 

Do you need mentoring and support services?

You may be an expert in your industry market or niche, but very few entrepreneurs can claim expertise in everything involved with starting a business.  Look for expert mentors with a proven track record and an environment with readily available legal, financial and technical services.  Know your strengths and weaknesses and choose a place that can supplement areas that you may be uncomfortable with such as social media or marketing.  Business incubators provide more long-term services in comparison to business accelerators.  If your business is looking for services that they can stick to for a longer period of time, an incubator may be the right choice.   

Will the space be compatible with your startup?

Look for a place that can meet the growing needs of your company.  The space should enhance your company’s professional image and contribute to its productivity.  Unlimited free coffee is always a plus!  But most importantly ask yourself, “Does the synergy of the space mesh with your company culture?”

What speed are you looking for?

Do you want to launch right away or do you have more time to invest when starting up your business?  This is the main factor when it comes to deciding between an incubator and an accelerator: how fast do you want and need to move?  If you are a tech company, your answer is most likely fast!  An accelerator is a good choice for those companies and startups that are looking to launch in the tech industry. 

Rejoice, entrepreneurs.  The time for business incubator and startup accelerators is here!  Whatever path you chose to take in your entrepreneurial career, we encourage you to remember one thing: both accelerators and incubators have the potential to benefit you and your startup greatly.  Choose wisely and Think Big! 

Written by Laura Goede

@LauraGThinkBig

Top 5 Reasons to Take an Entrepreneur Bootcamp

Drop and give me 20!  That may be the last thing anybody wants to hear when they're pushing through a tough workout.  But those extra 20 pushups can distinguish a strong-willed athlete from a lazy couch potato.  And we like to think of entrepreneurship the same way.

Sometimes, becoming a successful entrepreneur requires a little nudge.  We're not asking you to drop and give us 20, but we are asking for you to put your heart and soul into your business idea.  One of the best ways to get people to push themselves beyond what they believed they could do through a bootcamp experience.  And we're not talking about the 3-week bootcamp at your local gym.  We're talking about an intensive entrepreneur bootcamp--the perfect tool to whip your butt into startup shape!

Why take an entrepreneur bootcamp?

1.  Entrepreneur bootcamps are motivating.  Signing up for an entrepreneur bootcamp is a lot like signing up for a gym membership; if you don't sign up, pay and speak with a trainer, you have a lesser chance of working out at all.  Entrepreneur bootcamps are created so that entrepreneurs are motivated to make the time to improve a business. 

2. You'll meet others who are looking to accomplish similar goals.  Working out (or working on your business) with others is inspirational and allows for the sharing of ideas, goals and advice.  Attend an entrepreneur bootcamp and you will have access to some of the best and brightest presenters as well as entrepreneurs and startups who may be in the same position that you are. 

3. Entrepreneur bootcamps are energizing.  Exercise is an extremely energizing activity.  In fact, people who exercise exude more energy than those who opt out of daily or weekly workouts.  Energize your brain at an entrepreneur bootcamp and you will see amazing results...for your business!  Energize your body and your brain at an entrepreneur bootcamp and see what it does for your personal life as well!

4.  Entrepreneur bootcamps leave you with awesome tools.  Although you may not be able to take the gym's yoga mat, dumb bells and treadmills with you, entrepreneur bootcamps allow you to take items that will help you enhance your business.  Leave an entrepreneur bootcamp with flyers, pamphlets, packets and sometimes even goodies to get your idea kick-started.

5.  Bang for your buck!  One-time classes, as we all know, are more expensive at a gym.  Purchasing an entire bootcamp package gives you more bang for your buck.  Entrepreneur bootcamps do the same thing.  When most one-time sessions cost a flat rate, entrepreneur bootcamps usually run at a discounted price for an entire package.

Stay tuned this week for even more information about entrepreneur bootcamps in Kansas City!  In fact, we will be rolling out a special announcement this week that you won't want to miss out on.

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig