Silicon Prairie News Awards 3 KC Startups with Golden Analog

Throw together 400+ entrepreneurial enthusiasts, 48 incredible startup nominees and one giant golden prairie dog and what do you get?  The Silicon Prairie Awards.

Last night, the first annual Silicon Prairie Awards honored those startups and Silicon Prairie members who have greatly impacted our Midwest community in a positive way.  With awards ranging from Mobile App of the Year, Startup Service Provider of the Year and the greatly-anticipated Startup of the Year, 12 lucky and talented nominees from Omaha, Kansas City and Des Moines walked away with a golden analog, appropriately shaped as SPN's mascot, a prairie dog.

I was lucky enough to trek across the heartland with two partners from Think Big to partake in the Silicon Prairie Awards.  And after we climbed the stairs of the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, glided across the orange carpet, got "paparazzied" by a SPN photographer and interviewed with the "Joan Rivers" of the event (Michael Stacy), we finally arrived at the Silicon Prairie Awards.

One thing is for sure--there was a lot of entrepreneurial energy in the room.  Lawyers were chatting with startups, sponsors were clinking glasses with executives and even David Cohen, CEO of TechStars, was making his way through the crowd.  It took everything in SPN's power to actually stop people from networking to sit down for the awards ceremony--obviously, we have a lot to talk about!

The awards ceremony was equally as impressive.  It was all smooth sailing for the SPN team as awards were given to startups, entrepreneurs and service providers from across the Silicon Prairie (namely Kansas City, Omaha and Des Moines).  Kansas City alone had 17 nominees, three of which went home with a golden analog.  Those teams and individuals awarded were Front Flip (Mobile App of the Year), Jake Johnson of Divshot (Startup Designer of the Year) and Greg Kratofil (Startup Service Provider of the Year).  The cities of Omaha and Lincoln seemed to walk away with the most analogs, five in total, and Des Moines claimed four (three of which were awarded to Dwolla!).  Don't worry Silicon Prairie, we love a little healthy competition!

After the awards ceremony, guests were invited to an after party in the Joslyn lobby which was sponsored by Lincoln startup Hudl.  Guests had the chance to walk down Startup Alley, a showcase of nine Silicon Prairie startups including eCreamery, MindMixer, Goodsmiths, Vestn, RAZ Mobile, Stackify, RareWire, Obsessive Software and Bulu Box.

Think Big would like to congratulate all winners and nominees at the 2012 Silicon Prairie Awards.  And another big congratulations to Silicon Prairie News for pulling off an event for anyone passionate about startups in the Midwest area!

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

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.

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Think Big Co-Founders Sit in on Panels at KC Chamber Innovation Conference

The 2011 Innovation Conference hosted by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is blowing it out of the water thanks to the hard work of the Chamber, the contribution of sponsors and partners, the dynamite list of guest speakers and panelists and the great turn-out. 

Think Big Partners' co-founders Herb Sih and Tyler Prochnow participated in two of the panel discussions at the 2011 Innovation Conference this morning. 

[above] Herb Sih as a panelist with Jeff Pfaff of MTB Mobile.  Moderated by Greg Kratofil of Polsinelli Shughart, Birth of an Idea & Seeking Seed Capital answered many entrepreneurs' burning questions.

[above] Tyler Prochnow joins Joel Wiggins (Mid-America Angels), Toby Rush (Rush Tracking Systems), Bruce Richardson (KC Biomedix) and moderator Carolyn Watley (CBIZ & Women's Capital Connection) on the Angel Investing in Kansas City panel.

And the day isn't over yet!  Innovation 20/20, The Future of Kansas City Innovation and a networing reception will round out this year's Innovation Conference.  Tweet the Innovation Conference using #GKCCCINNO and let us know what you think!

Written by Allison Way

@AllisonThinkBig

What Does Google Fiber Mean for Kansas City?

Greg Kratofil,
Polsinelli Shughart

Last week, I had the opportunity to talk with Greg Kratofil, legal counsel provider for Kansas City, Kansas’ Google Fiber.  After speaking with Mr. Kratofil, my eyes were opened to the ground-breaking technology that Kansas City can offer with the implementation of Google Fiber, proving to me that KC can become America’s next tech hub.  Check out my question and answer session with Greg Kratofil!

Allison:  What was your initial reaction to Google Fiber coming to Kansas City, Kansas?

Greg:  My initial reaction was extremely excited, obviously.  This is something that 1100 other communities were hoping for.  Once [Google] finally came back around and said that they were picking Kansas City for their location, we were able to work with them and negotiate an agreement with the city—and I cannot tell you how great Kansas City, Kansas has been.  I now understand the phrase, “Why not Kansas City?”  We fit into [Google’s] plans for the future. 

Allison: Did you think that KC would become Google Fiber’s launch pad in the beginning?

Greg: I’m a “glass half full” kind of guy.  I know we have a great technology community and I think that  Kansas City can do a lot with a gig like this.  I was always confident in telling my clients that I believe Kansas Citians will surprise people and will come up with some interesting and creative applications for the future.

Allison: Why is Kansas City, Kansas a good place for Google Fiber to launch?

Greg: The unified government, the public utilities, the open conduit, our demographics.  But most importantly, the willingness to throw out the old playbook and start with a new sheet of paper.  I believe that Google sees a robust technology community here and opportunities for people to be able to take advantage of it.  This is different.  Nobody has tried to do this before.  I think that Google wants a partner that is going to approach the deal with the same attitude.  Kansas City is willing to do that.

Allison: What does this mean for Kansas City?                                                     

Greg: I think it’s a game-changer for the entire region; not just KCK, but for the greater Kansas City area, if not the Midwest.  The opportunity and the tools that we are going to get out of this investment by Google will put us on the map.  We hope to be on the map with other tech-related hubs like Boston, Seattle and Silicon Valley.  That’s the goal: to get to that.  I think we can.  It’s also a game-changer for the company, the developers, and for people looking to do investments in technology companies.  I think we are going to be ground zero for that next generation of developers and users of technology.

Allison: So, this is an event that will go down in history.

Greg: Remember when we used to have dial-up?  Then all of a sudden, you were able to get 1 meg and 5 meg modems and you were able to surf the Internet at a faster speed.  At that time, nobody understood why you would need that much speed.  In fact, Bill Gates in 1981, is famously quoted for saying that 640kb should be enough for anybody, although there is dispute as to whether this was really said.  But look at what happened from there to where we are now.  I believe that we are going to see that same leap of innovation today.  That’s the hope and the challenge for us—to see if we can spur that same level of innovation and growth that we saw when we went from dial-up to a 5 meg, the same thing at 5 to 1 gig.

Think Big with a gig. 

Written by Allison Way.

@AllisonThinkBig