Just 1 Month Until iKC: The Unconference!

Kansas City’s newest unconference, iKC, is one month away! Have you purchased your tickets yet? Submitted your ideas? Gotten involved? Now’s the time to do it!

iKC: The Unconference takes place on October 3 at H&R Block World Headquarters. And if you’re anything like us, you simply cannot wait. In order to ease your anticipation, we encourage you to do a little preparation. This year, iKC 2013 will be powered by you, the attendees, through topics submitted through our IdeaScale platform. The ideas that are submitted will then be turned into unique breakout sessions like unpanels, Q&As, short format presentations and more.

Want to get involved with iKC: The Unconference? Partner with us! Join outstanding supporters like H&R Block, Garmin, CommunityAmerica, Google Fiber, Sprint, Inboun, Mazuma Credit Union and Park University.

And be sure to stay tuned to the @iKC2013 Twitter feed for more info about the unconference like new sponsors, speakers and ambassadors.

QUICK LINKS:

• Purchase tickets
• Become a sponsor
• Submit an idea

Listen Up! The Difference Between a Successful Product Launch & a Total Flop

As serial entrepreneurs, we’ve all had our fair share of successes and failures.  But have you been able to identify the differences between your biggest successes and your most tragic failures?  Where did you make mistakes?  Where did you make the right decision? 

Sometimes it’s difficult to identify the moment our endeavors go from success to failure.  But on August 20, 2013 from 4:30-7:00pm, you will learn exactly what makes the difference between a successful product launch and a total flop at Listen Up! with Flux Forward. 

At the event, Daniel Vickers, Founder and Director of UX at Flux Forward will let you in on the secret to product development success through user research.  Knowing how to best engage your users as well as the right points to do it will help your team run a lean, fine-tuned product life-cycle that will take your end-product from good to great.  We hope to see you there!

Listen Up! How engaging your customers can save you time and money

August 20, 2013

4:30-7:00pm

1800 Baltimore Ave.

4^th Floor Kansas City, MO 64108

Register here!

iKC: The Unconference Tickets Now Available!

We are thrilled to announce that tickets for iKC The Unconference, taking place at H&R Block World Headquarters this October, are now officially on sale! If you’re unfamiliar with an unconference, here’s the brief run-down: an unconference is an open-format conference in order to facilitate activity, conversations and collisions between individuals. Attendees actively create the unconference agenda with the assistance of a skilled facilitator where all the sessions become relevant and engaging.

Unlike like your run-of-the-mill conferences, unconferences adhere to four strict (un)written rules:

1. Whenever it starts is the right time. Whenever it is over, it is over.
2. The people who come are the right people.
3. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened.
4. If you are not learning or contributing, it is your responsibility to use your own two feet to find someplace where you are (The Law of Two Feet).

If you’re seeking great collisions with unexpected results, iKC The Unconference is the event for you. After you’ve purchased your tickets be sure to submit your ideas to the ideascale so you can contribute to an agenda worth your undivided attention.

If you would like to get involved with iKC: The Unconference, consider becoming a sponsor!  Join outstanding supporters like CommunityAmerica, H&R Block, Garmin, Google Fiber, Mazuma Credit Union, Sprint and Park University.  Learn more about sponsorship here. 

Purchase your tickets to iKC: The Unconference right here!

Fired up from 1Week KC? The Next Big Entrepreneur Event is On Its Way!

There’s no doubt about it--the second annual 1Week KC event was a huge success.  We saw more innovative collaborations, more networking, and more ideas than any other single week here in Kansas City.  But now we need to focus on what we should do with all of the great ideas we developed during 1Week KC.  That’s where iKC: The Unconference comes into play--it’s the opportunity to take all of the great ideas you’ve generated and turn them into action. 

What is iKC: The Unconference?  

First, allow us to define “unconference” for you.  An unconference is an open format conference that facilitates activity, conversations and collisions between individuals. Attendees actively create the unconference agenda with the assistance of a skilled facilitator where all the sessions become relevant and engaging. 

iKC: The Unconference is unlike any other Kansas City conference you’ve been to before.  iKC is a brand new way to  unite entrepreneurs and innovators in Kansas City and initiate action throughout the community. 

Here’s How It Works!

1. Submit a Topic:  What the day looks like is entirely up to you!  If you have a great idea, submit it to iKC: The Unconference.  Who knows?  An entire session may be built around your idea. 
2. Come to the Unconference: On October 3, join us at iKC: The Unconference and see your ideas come to life!  
3. The Agenda is Created: Based off of your submitted ideas, the iKC agenda will be created.  The morning of the unconference, you will see which ideas become conference topics.

Take Action Now

Unconferences are only as successful as the ideas that people submit for them.  We’re asking you, Kansas City, to submit topic ideas that YOU want to see covered at iKC!  From your submitted topic ideas, we will create the schedule for iKC.  Remember; no idea is too crazy (we’ve already had one submission about nap time increasing productivity!). Submit your ideas here.

Sponsor iKC

iKC is looking for sponsors to become a part of the unconference!  Interested in sponsoring? Click here.

iKC: The Unconference will take place on October 3, 2013 at H&R Block World Headquarters in downtown Kansas City.  Tickets go on sale on August 1.  

Think Big Partners and The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Announce iKC: The Unconference on October 3, 2013

Last year, Think Big Partners and The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce held the very first iKC conference--a day-long even dedicated to Kansas City innovation and entrepreneurship.  We are extremely excited to announce a second iKC conference in the works.  Introducing--iKC: The Unconference! 

iKC: The Unconference is a day-long unconference that will be hosted at H&R Block World Headquarters on October 3, 2013.  The main mission of the unconference is to enable a higher level of “collision density”, the level of collisions made between entrepreneurs, investors and connectors in a single area.  At this time, collision density is 20 times less likely to occur in Kansas City than it is in San Francisco because entrepreneurs, investors and connectors are too spread out geographically.  iKC: The Unconference will solve this issue by uniting a large number of individuals under one roof to turn innovative ideas into actionable items. 

“We’ve seen great success come out of unconferences in cities such as Austin and Boston,” said Sarah Snyder, meeting planner and event organizer at Think Big Partners.  “After seeing firsthand the power of organic community-driven discussions and relevant collaboration, we are eager to bring this refreshing format to Kansas City to help improve the collision density of our community.”

To carry out its mission, iKC will take the form of an unconference.  An unconference is an open-format conference in order to facilitate activity, conversations and collisions between individuals.  iKC: The Unconference asks individuals to submit topic ideas before the conference.  A few days prior to the day of the conference, an agenda will be distributed based off of the submitted topic ideas.  Unconference sessions can take on many different formats including short presentations, group discussions, show and tell, “unpanels” and more.   After the sessions are complete, iKC: The Unconference will host Open Mic Awards in which attendees can publicly award prizes to standout community leaders as well as a networking after-party. 

In addition to the unconference format, iKC will also be hosting a 1-on-1 program for new entrepreneurs.  Entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply for the 1-on-1 program in order to meet with local, high-level mentors throughout the day of the conference.  To apply for the 1-on-1 program, visit www.ikctheunconference.com.

“In 2011, the KC Chamber launched the Big 5 goal of making Kansas City ‘America’s Most Entrepreneurial City,’ and, since then, there’s been no looking back,” said Jim Heeter, president and chief executive officer of the KC Chamber. “Each of our Big 5 goals for Big KC leverages assets already in place and each has great potential for adding to our regional economy.  iKC supports our vision of gaining global recognition for Kansas City as a premier location for launching and expanding innovative, high-growth companies, and does so in an unconventional way.”

iKC: The Unconference is currently looking for leaders in the Kansas City community to get involved through sponsorship opportunities.  To learn more about these opportunities, please visit www.ikctheunconference.com. 

iKC: The Unconference will take place on October 3, 2013 at H&R Block World Headquarters in downtown Kansas City.  Tickets for the unconference will go on sale August 1, 2013.  To purchase your tickets and learn more about iKC: The Unconference, please visit www.ikctheunconference.com. 

We hope to see you at our first ever unconference in October! Stay tuned...more details will be leaked along the way