A Team, an Idea and 54 Hours: Startup Weekend Kansas City

Ask any business expert, "Is it possible to launch a company in under 54 hours?" and most of them will a) laugh and shrug off the question like it's a joke, or b) stare at you and shake their head.  But ask the founders of Startup Weekend if it can be done, and they'll confidently say, "Why not?"

Startup Weekend is a global network of passionate leaders and entrepreneurs on a mission to inspire, educate and empower individuals, teams and communities.  With this goal in mind, Startup Weekend puts together 54-hour events that focus on building a web or mobile application over the course of just one weekend.  And it's back this year for a fifth time in Kansas City on April 13, 2012.

Join Midwest entrepreneurs Adam Coomes (Salt), Royce Haynes (Legal Sonar), Danny O'Neill (The Roasterie) and many others for Startup Weekend Kansas City on April 13-15 at Union Station.  As a participant, you will have the chance to collaborate with other software developers, graphic designers and business people to build and launch a business in just 54 hours.

Prove the so-called "business experts" wrong and see your idea become a reality at Startup Weekend Kansas City.  Register today!

Great news, entrepreneurs!  I will be live blogging and reporting from Startup Weekend!  Stay tuned for more details and updates here on Think Big's blog. 

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

KCCowork Brings Coworking, Collaboration (and Beer Pong!?) to Prairie Village

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR

This week, Kansas City's newest coworking space opened in Prairie Village.  The space is known as KCCowork, and its goal is to bring together suburban entrepreneurs, innovators and startups for day-to-day collaboration and networking.

The KCCowork space opened with a bang with a Happy Hour on Wednesday.  With appearances by the Five Elms Capital, Legal Sonar, Think Big Partners, bizperc tenants and other KC entrepreneurs, the Happy Hour proved that Prairie Village was in need of a coworking space.

The evening was laid-back with an interactive famous entrepreneur guessing game, delicious sangria, tours of the coworking space and beer pong.  That's right, beer pong.  

Check out some of the pictures I was able to capture of KC's newest coworking space: 

KCCowork mimics bizperc's bright orange walls. Perfect for creativity. 

KCCowork provides a large kitchen area (and beer pong capabilities!)

Desks facing one another promote entrepreneurial collaboration.

A separate coworking room for the Legal Sonar team. 

KCCowork Happy Hour brings in entrepreneurs for tours and cocktails.

An intense game of "which famous entrepreneur is on my back".

Networking at KCCowork. 

Entrepreneurs and startups already collaborating at KCCowork.

KCCowork also provides private conference rooms.

Bonus!  KCCowork has a gym right down the hall for tenants looking to get buff.

Interested in joinined a coworking space?  Be sure to contact Think Big Partners to learn about the Think Big Nation Network and which coworking space is right for you! 

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Think Big Partners, Five Elms Capital and Legal Sonar Open Prairie Village Coworking Space

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER AND CHIEF EDITOR

Think Big Partners, a technology-focused startup accelerator and mentorship-based collaborative workspace, has partnered with Five Elms Capital and Legal Sonar to launch a new coworking space in Prairie Village, Kansas this fall called KCCowork, A Think Big Network Partner.

By establishing a coworking space in Prairie Village, the three firms hope to increase the number of startups in Kansas, promote job growth and job creation in and around Kansas City and provide a place for entrepreneurs to collaborate and build successful businesses.

“We're excited about the opportunity to work alongside other early-stage and startup companies in the greater Kansas City area,” said Nathan Kurtz, co-founder and COO of Legal Sonar. “The location is great; but we chose to be here for the opportunity to collaborate with other entrepreneurs, the ability to interact regularly with the team at Five Elms Capital, and to have access to the amazing resources that Think Big Partners offers. We hope to attract similarly-minded entrepreneurs that want to drive and thrive alongside us, and we anticipate mutual benefits as we learn from each other and grow our businesses in Kansas City."

As a coworking space managed by the Five Elms team, KCCowork will allow tenants direct access to a Five Elms Capital, a Kansas City-based investor in high growth companies and will provide the opportunity to operate a new business with essential services and resources from Think Big Partners.

KCCowork will be Think Big Partners’ second coworking space. Its first coworking space, bizperc, is located in the Crossroads Arts District of Kansas City and provides a modern, Midwestern workspace for entrepreneurs, high-growth small businesses and startup companies. By adding another coworking space to its network, Think Big Partners hopes to continue to promote Midwestern entrepreneurship and help more startup companies get launched quickly and successfully.

To learn more about KCCowork, please visit http://www.KCCowork.com. If you would like to learn more about launching a coworking space in your area, please call             (816) 842-5244       or visit http://www.bizperc.com.

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig