LaunchKC Makes Tech, Innovation and Startup Plans

Mayor Sly James addresses the press at the
LaunchKC event on September 10, 2012.

Yesterday, LaunchKC held a press conference on the iconic Barkley rooftop to announce its plans and new implementations for 2012.  The initiative has been designed to attract and develop information technology entrepreneurs and professionals in the emerging digital communities within the Crossroads Arts District and throughout Greater Downtown Kansas City.  LaunchKC stemmed from discussion within the Mayors' Bistate Innovations Team (MBIT) about the Google Fiber project in Kansas City.

Yesterday at the LaunchKC press conference, Mayor Sly James, Mike Burke, Pete Fullerton and other Kansas City leaders made announcements about LaunchKC's goals and new plans.  The group laid out five common goals for the Kansas City entrepreneurial community: computing, incentive, mobility, innovation and collaboration.

1.  Computing: LaunchKC will open a new Kansas City data center to improve capacity and computing power.

2. Incentive: LaunchKC will assist small technology businesses with equipment and computers to help them grow and develop.

3.  Mobility: LaunchKC will create a district-based WiFi network.

4. Innovation: LaunchKC will open a new research and development lab in Union Station in late September.  This R&D lab will be known as Site Deck KC.

5. Collaboration: LaunchKC is driven to make Kansas City an entrepreneurial hub.  In doing so, the initiative has partnered with seven local Kansas City companies known as Launch Pad Companies that will provide space for entrepreneurs to work.  A few of these spaces include Barkley, Crown Center, Union Station and DST.

To learn more about LaunchKC, visit www.launchkc.com.

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Kansas City's All-Star Game Hits a Social Media Home Run

For hundreds of years, baseball has been all about tradition.  Ballpark hotdogs.  Take Me Out to the Ballgame. The 7th inning stretch.  Baseball is one of America's most beloved pastimes--and we don't see it transforming dramatically anytime soon.  But a popular technology was implemented in this year's All-Star game in Kansas City and it elevated the buzz of the entire week to a whole new level.  What was the technology, you ask? Social media, of course.

According to many, the All-Star game in Kansas City was the most social All-Star game ever.  But why wouldn't it be?  Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Blogger and even Instagram have grown exponentially since last year.  To learn that the 2012 All-Star game was an extremely social one should come to no surprise to fans and social media gurus alike.

The Social Media Command Center.

image via Kansas City Star

But it was surprising when Kansas City Mayor Sly James commented that his favorite part of the All-Star game was the social media center, which was made up of a small group of volunteers at the H&R Block World Headquarters, about 15 minutes away from Kauffman Stadium.  The center quickly became known as the Kansas City Social Media Command Center.  The Center was used to monitor content posted from social media users in Kansas City using specialized software.  Volunteers also responded to questions about tourism, travel, KC, and all activities circulating the All-Star game.

Hashtags including #ASG and #HRDerby decorated Kauffman Stadium throughout the week.  The hashtags were even printed on each and every ticket sold.  A Twitter feed was rolling near the outfield in which 290,000 comments were posted with #ASG in the first inning alone!  That number alone surpassed the total posts from the entire All-Star game in 2011.

Twitter may have hit its peak when Robinson Cano (New York Yankees) stepped up to the plate during the Home Run Derby.  As the player was surprisingly booed by a plethora of Kansas City fans (much to the disapproval of Cano himself), the Yankee responded immediately with none other than a 140-character tweet.  And it was a tweet heard 'round the world.  That tweet alone caused an onslaught of both positive and negative attention on KC fans.

Although we still love the classic bag of peanuts, a coordinated "wave" from the crowd and those once-in-a-lifetime home-run catches from the stands, we are ecstatic that Kansas City went above and beyond with its social media effort during the All-Star game.  Next up?  The Olympics.

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

One Week KC Presents Entrepreneur Day at the K for Entrepreneurs and Startups

The rumors are true: Kansas City is throwing a 9-day celebration to recognize the city's growing movement of entrepreneurship, startups and innovation.  It's called One Week KC and it takes place on June 18-26, 2012 throughout the entire city.

According to Adam Coomes, organizer of One Week KC, the 9-day celebration is meant to propel the Chamber's Big 5 Entrepreneurial Initiative ahead and to build Kansas City into America's Most Entrepreneurial City.

“There are many reasons One Week should happen in KC," says Coomes.  "First of all, we have great entrepreneurial events in Kansas City already.  Although they build up the community, people don’t always know about them.  One Week KC will help others meet the startup community and bring new people out.  We want to boost the startup scene in KC and use this to lead us toward our ultimate goal—to become America’s Most Entrepreneurial City.” 

As the grand finale for One Week, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Big 5 Entrepreneurial Initiative is helping to host Entrepreneur Day at the K on June 26th.  At "E Day at the K", entrepreneurs are invited to watch the Royals take on the Tampa Bay Rays, network with one another, and tune into special announcements from Mayor Sly James, the Johnson and Wyandotte County Council of Mayors and other area Mayors.

Entrepreneurs in attendance will also have the opportunity to throw the first pitch or watch from the field during batting practice.

Tickets for E Day at the K are $13 for both a Field Box and Field Plaza seat.  The game starts at 7:10pm with mayoral announcements to take place beforehand.

Stay tuned.  More information about One Week and Entrepreneur Day at the K is coming...

Kansas City: America's Smartest City?

Kansas City is slowly becoming known as America's most entrepreneurial city...but will it become America's smartest city too?  Mayor Sly James seems to think so with his State of the City address that occurred earlier this week.

In the State of the City address, James introduced Screampoint, a geomapping technology company from Silicon Valley.  The organization, which has used more advanced, game-like mapping technology for international projects, has been looking for a city to model its platform in North America.  That city could be KC.

According to the Kansas City Business Journal, Mayor James presented screen shots of high-tech maps of Singapore, Abu Dabi and other international locales when discussing how Kansas City could become a smarter city (and perhaps one of the smartest on Earth) with Screampoint.

So what would Screampoint mean for Kansas City?  It could mean syncing up city water, sewer, street, utility and other infrastructure information...for starters.

Think Big Partners is more than thrilled to join the efforts of the Screampoint team.  With our ongoing partnerships with both the city as well as the successful Silicon Valley-based technology company, we hope to continue to change the face of KC...and for the better.  

First Google Fiber and then (perhaps) Screampoint.  Where will Kansas City go next?

Follow Screampoint! @Screampoint
Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Kauffman Sketches Kansas City as the City of Entrepreneurs

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR

Have you ever seen a Kauffman Sketchbook?  It's a new YouTube initiative brought to you by the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City.  In the Sketchbooks, Kauffman literally draws the important entrepreneurial movements that are occurring in and around the Kansas City area.  

From defining entrepreneurial "Magic Sauce" to teaching how to play the "Money Game", the Kauffman Foundation Sketchbooks teach anything and everything that entrepreneurs may need to know in an artistic and creative way.

Narrated by Mayor Sly James and Mayor Joe Reardon, the "City of Entrepreneurs" Sketchbook provides more than KC entrepreneur education.  It tells the story of Kansas City entrepreneurship in the here and now.  From covering the Google Fiber initiative, the history of entrepreneurship in Kansas City and the companies that KC entrepreneurs can find inspiration from (for example, Kauffman Labs, Think Big Partners, KCSourceLink and many others), the video proclaims Kansas City as the City of Entrepreneurs. 

In the video, Mayor Joe Reardon may have stated it best: "What's really being built here is the worldwide platform for entrepreneurship and the bridge that will take us into the future.  Together, we are committed to making Kansas City the City of Entrepreneurs, where we celebrate those who take risks, apply new technology and have the imagination and ingenuity to create something new." 

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Broadband Leadership Summit Postponed Until December 2012

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR

On December 6-8, 2011, leaders from the Kansas City area were planning to unite in order to discuss innovative economic development, Google Fiber and job creation at the Kansas City Broadband Leadership Summit.

The event will bring together Kansas City movers-and-shakers like David Sandel, Mayor Joe Reardon, Mayor Sly James, Herb Sih, and many others.  Topics at the event will include the importance of high-speed fiber infrastructure to the Kansas City area, competition in the marketplace, how data speed is relevant to businesses and residents and how public-private partnerships can help cities deploy this type of infrastructure.

What was regularly scheduled to take place on December 6-8, the Broadband Leadership Summit is now postponed until December of 2012.  The Broadband Leadership Summit says that the schedule has changed due to a delay in Google's scheduled rollout of its ultra-high-speed fiber project.

Stay tuned for more information about the Broadband Leadership Summit here.

@AllisonThinkBig

KCADC Challenges Kansas City to Build Strong, Build Fast

The KCADC Annual Meeting 2011.

The past two and a half hours were quite a whirlwind.  Not only did I find myself in the middle of some of Kansas City's most influential people, but I got the chance to hear three big announcements from the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC), tune into Bill Taylor's keynote speech and have lunch in the energetic atmosphere of the Kansas City Convention Center's Grand Ballroom.

The KCADC Annual Meeting known as FastKC brought together some of Kansas City's most influential movers-and-shakers; from the team at McCownGordon Construction, to both Mayor Sly James and Mayor Joe Reardon, to Bob Marcusse, President and CEO of the KCADC.  Over 1,000 attendees sat in on the KCADC Annual Meeting, and for good reason.  There were a lot of announcements to make about Kansas City...and Kansas City's new fiber speed.

Bob Marcusse of KCADC discussed the three new implementations that Kansas City is developing:

1. Australian animal health firm SmartVet has chosen Kansas City's Animal Health Corridor and more specifically, Olathe, for its U.S. headquarters.  This will be one of the nation's largest concentrations of animal health research and manufacturing companies.
2. Netsmart Technologies, a growing New York-based healthcare information technology firm, is relocating its headquarters to Kansas City, creating 130 jobs to start with the goal of hiring 520 people locally within five years.
3. KCNext will become the Technology Council of Greater Kansas City with the Software and Information Technology Association of Kansas (SITAKS).

The KCADC Annual Meeting concluded with a keynote speech from Bill Taylor (co-founder of Fast Company), where he discussed the importance of keeping up with the fast pace of Kansas City.  He stated that "the most successful organizations in our fast-paced global economy encourage employees to develop radical ideas."  

Congratulations to KCADC and all of the sponsors of the Annual Meeting.  We are excited to see what exciting changes Kansas City will experience this year.  

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

KCADC Asks, "Are You Learning as Fast as Kansas City is Changing?"

Last week, the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC) published a blog titled “Are You Learning as Fast as Kansas City is Changing?”  We would love to ask you the same question.

From the KCADC blog:

Bill Taylor, co-founder of Fast Company magazine and author of Practically Radical, is a firm believer in embracing the fast pace of the world. In his article, The 10 Questions Every Game Changer Must Answer, Taylor notes that the above question may be the most important to ask yourself. Are you keeping up?

“I first heard this question from strategy guru Gary Hamel, the world-renowned innovation expert, and it is the ultimate challenge for any executive determined to unleash big change in difficult circumstances. In a world that never stops changing, great leaders can never stop learning. How do you push yourself to keep growing and evolving—so your company can do the same? And remember: Among leaders and organizations, the most eager learners tend to be the most accomplished teachers as well. So look for ways to share what you’ve learned.”

— Bill Taylor, The 10 Questions Every Game Changer Must Answer

Kansas City, that’s the boat we’re in. We’re changing. We’re evolving. We’re learning. And with the addition of Google Fiber, we have the opportunity to do it faster than any other city in the nation.

Because of the Google Fiber initiative, our city will be forever changed. Many Kansas City organizations are joining forces with tech innovators to create new apps and businesses utilizing the lightning-speed network, and in turn, a number of big media names have put the spotlight on Kansas City; from the Wall Street Journal (Where the ActionIs – Kansas City) to Entrepreneurs Unpluggd (4Entrepreneurial Cities to Keep Your Eye On), from Forbes (America’s BestDowntowns – Kansas City #7) to Wired Magazine (Google ChoosesKansas City, Kansas as Broadband Mecca).

Is Kansas City learning as fast as the world is changing? Sometimes, it’s difficult to keep up with the speed (not only of the city…but of the Internet too!). So what can we do to slow down, embrace the change and fully understand what’s going on in our city?

It may all start at the Kansas City Area Development Council’s Annual Meeting on November 4^th.  Aptly named FastKC, KCADC’s Annual Meeting will feature keynote speaker Bill Taylor. At the event, Taylor and other Kansas City business and civic leaders will share how light-speed advancements in global commerce will affect business. The event will look at radical ideas and offer practical advice that will help anyone get a jump on the competition.

Join KCADC, Bill Taylor, Mayor Sly James, MayorJoe Reardon and hundreds of Kansas City thought- and industry-leaders at FastKC: KCADC’s 2011 Annual Meeting. Tickets are on sale now: Register today. And when people start asking if you’re learning as fast as the city is changing, you can confidently reply, “Yes.”

Written by Ashlie Hand

@ithinkkc @kc_next

bizperc Coworking Space Buzzes on First Friday: Networking, a Visit from the Mayors and Entrepreneur Corner

The Crossroads Arts District is always buzzing come the first Friday of every month.  After all, the district opens many of its art galleries, businesses and restaurants to the public for First Fridays and attracts hundreds of Kansas City residents and visitors to the artsy and eclectic area.  But add in a big-time networking breakfast, an extremely collaborative afternoon, a meeting with the mayors of Kansas City and an evening of entrepreneurial networking, and it's easy to see why so many people are joining in on the buzz.

We're talking about what bizperc went through on Friday, October 7th.  Sure, it was the First Friday of the month, so many of the bizperc tenants knew that it would be a busy, energetic and collaborative day.  But last Friday seemed to be so much more than that. 

bizperc, the modern Kansas City coworking space for entrepreneurs and startups, opened a little over a year ago in the heart of the Crossroads Arts District.  Surrounded by quaint pizza parlors, thriving small businesses and an artsy atmosphere, bizperc became not only a coworking space, but a place for people to meet, get educated, and have fun.

It all started on Friday morning when I attended the Social Media Club of Kansas City's networking breakfast at the Kansas City Cafe; a hop, skip and a jump away from bizperc.  About 80 entrepreneurs, social media gurus and marketing experts networked, enjoyed a breakfast buffet and listened to insight from the founder of Water.org.  During the event, I of course had to promote the upcoming Entrepreneur Bootcamp, the Gigabit Challenge and Entrepreneur Corner -- all initiatives of Think Big Partners and bizperc.  During my short talk, I saw many faces light up.

In the afternoon, as I was working in bizperc, I couldn't help but notice the outstanding collaboration that was happening within the space.  Entrepreneurs were working with other entrepreneurs, conference calls were taking place in conference rooms and drop-ins were coming by to take a quick tour of the space.

Around 4:00 PM, bizperc was lucky enough to have both the Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri mayors stop by for a quick tour and meeting with Think Big Partners.  The honorable Sly James and the honorable Joe Reardon as well as many other political figures in Kansas City came to see what the bizperc and TBP buzz was all about.

 

Finally, the busy First Friday finished up with Entrepreneur Corner that took place in bizperc's parking lot right off of 18th and Baltimore.  Life Equals, a Kansas City startup that provides specialty supplements and daily essential vitamins (and donates a percentage of every purchase to the Vitamin Angels) brought in a fun photo booth.  Other entrepreneurs and startup companies from Kansas City exhibited their own products and services, complete with company pamphlets, prize drawings and free beer!

Whew.  What a day it was at the bizperc coworking space.  But the truth of the matter is, the busier we are, the more Kansas City will benefit.  After all, startups, small business and a strengthened economy have to come from somewhere- and we believe that one of those places could be bizperc.

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Kansas City Get Your Business Online with Google Happening NOW

Today marks the first day of Kansas City Get Your Business Online, a forum for local small businesses and entrepreneurs to better understand and learn how to effectively use the Internet for their business ventures. At the event, Google experts are sitting down with Kansas City entrepreneurs to teach search engine optimization, Google Places, Google Adwords, building and running a website, and much more.

This morning, Kansas City Get Your Business Online brought together both the KCMO and the KCK mayors (Sly James and Joe Reardon) as they spoke about the city's giant opportunity to innovate on the Google Fiber network.  Of the 1,100 cities that applied to be the first city in the nation with a fiber network, Kansas City was chosen due to its growing tech base and entrepreneurial vibrancy.

In addition, the attendees of Kansas City Get Your Business Online had the chance to listen to the team of Burns-McDonnell, an extremely successful engineering firm in Kansas City.  In 1898, Clinton Burns and Robert McDonnell themselves chose Kansas City, MO as their original base of operations because it was growing quickly and it had the most potential.  Burns and McDonnell chose correctly: Since then, the firm has grown to fill three office buildings with more than 2,200 employee-owners.  We like to think that Kansas City is back to that fast-paced lifestyle with the implementation of new tech advances like Google Fiber. 

Because OfficePort, the host of Get Your Business Online, is a friendly neighbor of bizperc and Think Big Partners, the Kansas City coworking space invited us to check out the event. Of course, we snapped a few pictures:

Day 2 of Kansas City Get Your Business Online starts tomorrow. Sorry, guys; the event has already reached capacity. However, feel free to come by and talk with Google product experts one-on-one in the online expo area.

Written by Allison Way

@AllisonThinkBig

Sly James Announces Mayors' Bi-State Innovation Team

Last week, "a Casablanca moment" happened in Kansas City.  According to the Kansas City Star, "a beautiful friendship" was created when Google Fiber decided to launch in both KCMO and KCK.  The two Kansas Citys are uniting, all in the name of creating more small businesses and fostering innovation in the Midwest. 

Sly James, mayor of Kansas City, Missouri and Joe Reardon, mayor and CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas recently announced the formation of a Mayors' Bi-State Innovation Team.  This team has been created in order to leverage the Google Fiber network and create business opportunities that will benefit the entire KC metro area. 

The Mayors' Bi-State Innovation Team will include 10 people with 5 from KCMO and 5 from KCK.  Mike Burke was named co-chairman for the innovation team. 

Will the collaboration of the two cities that we know and love foster even more innovation and business success?  We like to hope so. 

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig