Entrepreneurs, Startups, Innovators – Converge! Big Kansas City is almost here!

Big Kansas City, one of the region’s most highly-anticipated entrepreneurial conference, is set to begin on Tuesday, March 26. Big Kansas City is the kickoff of the Big Series, with Big Omaha following in May and Big Des Moines wrapping up in October.

What is Big Kansas City?

The conference will span three days in Hangar 9 (also known as the National Airline History Museum) at Kansas City’s Charles Wheeler Downtown Airport, ending on Thursday, March 28. Hosted by Silicon Prairie News, the event provides a space for everyday people to converge with entrepreneurs, inventors, innovators, investors and to hear talks from special guests.

Who will be at Big Kansas City?

Special guests include:

• Scott Harrison: founder and CEO of charity:water, a nonprofit providing more than a million people with clean water
•  Alexis Ohanian: co-founder of social news site/taste-making powerhouse Reddit
• Dan Martell: founder and CEO of Clarity, a 7,000+ community of entrepreneurs offering phone mentorships to entrepreneurs around the world;
• Michael Baldwin: CEO and chief community caretaker of Graphic.ly, a digital comics marketplace
• Bo Fishback: founder and CEO of Zaarly, a proximity based, real-time buyer powered market (built right here in Kansas City)
• And many, many others!

Why should I go?

Dusty Davidson, co-founder and CEO of Silicon Prairie News, said of the event,

“We think that the importance of Big Kansas City lies in bringing the entrepreneurs and the investors and these creative folks that we’ve met in and around Kansas City and the region for two days of high energy and exciting talks, interactions, mingling, and all the things that come out of Big events that we’ve done in the past.”

This is a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs and startups enthusiasts alike – a chance to hear some of the nation’s most innovative leaders, to network with other entrepreneurs, and to support the Kansas City startup community.

Jeff Slobotski, co-founder and Chief Community Builder of Silicon Prairie News, says,

“I think Big Kansas City is important because of the fact that it brings together so many players in the space. So you have the entrepreneurs interacting and talking with the investors, who are learning from the mentors or other serial entrepreneurs that are there.”

The event is open to the public, but tickets must be purchased for entry. Tickets may be purchased through the conference’s Eventbrite page, and a variety of purchase options are available.  To interact with Big Kansas City, follow @BigKansasCity.  

ShowMe SXSW Bus: The Ultimate Roadtrip for Midwest Entrepreneurs & Startups

SXSW has long been a mecca for music fans all over the world. In recent years, the festival has evolved into a place not only for music, but as a unique opportunity for startups to network, gain exposure and launch their careers. This all happens at the SXSW Interactive in Austin, TX, March 8-12, 2013. SXSW Interactive has become, in recent years, a premier place for businesses from all over the nation to converge and learn from one another. In keeping with the spirit of collaborative entrepreneurship, multiple Missouri sponsors have worked together to create the ShowMe SXSW bus.

We are excited to announce the ShowMe SXSW initiative. Largely underwritten from major sponsors like The Kauffman Foundation and The St. Louis Regional Chamber, and with additional contributions from Think Big Partners, the KU Center for Technology Commercialization, and the EDC of Kansas City, this endeavor will surely be one to remember.

The ShowMe SXSW bus is important and special for many reasons.  First, ShowMe SXSW provides access to transportation down to SXS—a gigantic community effort to support local startup and the incredible levels of innovation.  But perhaps the most important aspect of ShowMe SXSW provides young startups the chance to connect to a broad, culturally powerful audience, and learn from and bond with each other along the way. This is a collaborative effort aimed at helping innovative startups connect with each other and the world.

Two such startups are Click With Me Now from St. Louis and Phone2Action from Kansas City. Both companies have been nominated as two of the 48 internationally selected finalists for the 2013 SXSW Interactive Accelerator Award, a prestigious award that is often a launchpad for widespread cultural recognition. Receiving the award is akin to receiving an Oscar – a career is forever changed and the sky is the limit from then on out.

The ShowMe SXSW bus will depart from the Kauffman Foundation at 9 PM after a celebratory send-off for the entrepreneurs on March 7.

According to the official press release, other Missouri startups and companies traveling to Austin on the ShowMe SXSW bus include LightBridge, Local Ruckus, Stand Up For Good, Macquarie Energy, Integrated Roadways, Locker Partner, DC Ventures, The Icarus Agency, Clifton Labs, Neighbor.ly, TheHub.fm, Capital Innovators, Cultivation Capital, LockerDome, SNW Research, Crave Coffee House, Think Big Partners, KC Digital Drive, Every Child’s Hope, The App Tribe, JGrill Media, 4 First Names, GS Acoustics, H&R Block, Revvv.It,  Mano’s Gifts, SightDeckKC, RareWire, FoodEssentials, Openly Disruptive, Code for America, Digital Talent Agents and the KC Startup Network.

As you can see, ShowMe SXSW is an enormous opportunity for local startups to expand their reach via the SXSW audience, while simultaneously expanding inward their connection to other local startups. This will be a career-making event for some companies and Think Big Partners is thrilled to be a part of it.

If you’d like to learn more about ShowMe SXSW, follow on Twitter @startupmo or @showmesxsw. Bloggers will be chronicling the adventures on a Tumlbr as well as capturing the event in photos via Instagram.

The Next Big Thing: Path.To

Have you ever seen the movie Office Space?  As one of the funniest movies of all time (in this writer’s opinion), Office Space tells the story of Peter Gibbons, a disgruntled programmer at a software company called Initech.  Peter’s biggest problem in life is his job.  He hates it.  He hates his coworkers (well, most of them), he hates his boss and he hates that he has to work weekends.  In other words, Peter is 100% unhappy in his work life.

Lucky for us (and for Peter), Path.To, a new startup that exploded out of Jacksonville, Florida, is looking to rid the world of the Peter Gibbons attitude.  The founder’s vision says it all: “We want to create a happier workforce.”

In order to do so, the team at Path.To has launched an online platform that matches job seekers with compatible technology and design job openings.    Path.To integrates a better, deeper understanding of job seekers, searches for compatible companies, sprinkles in a little algorithmic sugar and finds the right company to match the job seeker’s preferences and experiences (i.e. résumé, work/life, benefits, culture, etc.).  The platform then recommends the applicants to compatible companies in the database based on a Path.To score.  Because of this unique, creative process, Path.To has quickly become known as “the eHarmoney for job seekers”.

The startup launched in April in the Bay Area and is now expanding to 19 other “tech centers” throughout the United States.  The startup prefers to launch in areas that foster strong startup cultures, which has made Kansas City a prime target.  The platform is now available in the Silicon Prairie region, allowing Midwest entrepreneurs, software developers and designers to easily find open positions. 

“Most software engineers have a job for 8 months and then quit,” explains Darren Bounds, founder and CEO of Path.To.  “We want to connect business applicants with opportunities and help form a deeper bond.  In the long run, we want this to increase retention rate.” 

But running a business like Path.To isn’t without its challenges.  According to Bounds, the company is extremely successful in analyzing its applicants 80% of the time.  It’s the additional 20% that is challenging.  In order to solve this issue, Bounds and his 13-person team at Path.To are constantly building and refining the product in order to reduce that 20%. 

“All of the challenges are worth it when I receive emails and tweets that someone found an amazing opportunity because of Path.To,” he explains.  “I once received a 3-page email from a girl who found the perfect company because of Path.To’s analysis.  It was a personal, heart-felt email.  That’s what we’re all about.”

How Does Darren Bounds of Path.To Think Big? “It’s something I’ve always had since childhood—it’s a part of my personality.  It may be a deficiency, but I suffered from ADHD as a child.  But I think that my mind wanders in creative ways—it explores concepts and takes paths that others may not consider.  I have learned to have confidence in my ideas.  It’s just part of who I am.”

Getting Started as a Young Entrepreneur in the Midwest

WRITTEN BY RYAN FRANKLIN, BLOGGER AND YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR

Are you a Midwesterner who has an amazing business idea, but think you might be too young to start working towards it? Don’t think that way! You’re never too young to start chasing your dreams. Plus, the Midwest is a great place to launch a business. Startups are flourishing all over the region, due in part to Midwestern values like an enterprising attitude and the willingness to help out our neighbors.

So you have your idea and you’re in a great location; what’s next?

Establish Your Business’s Name
Get the fun stuff out of the way first by letting your creative juices flow. Once you have your idea down, choose a business name and then get it registered with your County Clerk’s office. This way, no other company can come along after your business is established and use your business name legally. Remember, this is not the same thing as getting a trademark of your logo or a copyright of written content on your website. Look into the U.S. Patent Office for steps on doing that. Once you have registered your business name, get online and purchase a domain name. It should be as close to your business name as possible, though you may have to get creative. Set up the placement page so visitors will know your site is under construction, and then create a direct marketing channel by obtaining visitor’s information. This way you can send out a mass email promotion when the site goes live. Avoid spamming—your customers will appreciate it!

Write a Business Plan
Because you are young and have less business experience, it’s likely that you will have to raise some money to achieve your startup capital. Creating a good business plan will be essential for seeking outside funding of your business, and it will also keep you on track on those days when you feel in over your head (and there will be days like that!). Having a business plan will maintain your focus by laying out the future of your business step-by-step. Sections of your business plan that should be included are:

1. Cover Page – Business Name, Address, Phone Number, Website, Logo.
2. Purpose Section – A short summary of the purpose of your business and how it will stand apart from others.
3. Business Structure – How will your business structure be set up? Sole Proprietor, Partnership, LLC, Corporation? 
4. Product or Service – Give more detail about your product or service. Include pictures.
5. Client’s Needs – How will you meet the needs of your clients? 
6. Financial Table – How much will you charge? Expenses of business?
7. Time Table – Break down by quarter what the goals and expectations are. Explain where funds will be spent in company.
8. Management and Staff – List founders, managers, staff, volunteers, vendors, etc. 

Start Marketing
Now that you’ve done all that hard work, there is still one more important thing to consider: marketing. Sometimes, the toughest part of getting your business off the ground is getting your name out there in front of those potential consumers. Plus, learning to set your business apart from the rest is an ever-changing process. However, there are a few tried and true methods to get going:

• Design business cards and flyers to advertise your website. 
• Link your website to every social networking site that makes sense for your business.   
• Create a legitimate SEO campaign to maximize your website’s traffic. 
• Generate traffic to your site through search engines and be select with the ads you allow on your site. 
• Produce great web content.  Remember, there’s nothing worse to an online shopper than landing on a page that’s cluttered with junk. Be mindful of your web content! 

Finally, it is extremely important to remember to take advantage of your supportive community. Don’t overlook any way to network and get your name out there. No connection is unimportant when you are getting your business off the ground!

Ryan Franklin is a blogger and young entrepreneur who writes on behalf of Ordoro.

Midwest Startups We Love

Entrepreneurs, we’re proud of you! We want to encourage you to keep pushing the limits and reaching for your goals. To show our appreciation, we’ve made a list the Midwest’s most loved startup companies. Is your startup on the list?

Front Flip: Overland Park, KS

Front Flip helps your business engage with your customers. Learn who your customers are and track how many times they’re in your store. Interact with them through promotions and giveaways, and grow your customer base easily. Front Flip gives your business the tools to impress your customers and keep ‘em coming back for more!

Goodsmiths: Des Moines, IA

Think of a marketplace like Etsy. Goodsmiths is a place where you can buy unique, handmade items from jewelry to clothing to metal art. No more travelling to flea markets because there is something for everyone on this site.

Battle Sports Science: Omaha, NE

Battle Sports Science is a mission to make sports injuries a thing of the past. At Battle Sports Science, the company works tirelessly by researching new methods of safety.  The company then implements all findings into new products. These revolutionizing products are available for almost every sport. If you play the game, you need Battle Sports Science in your life!

Locusic: Des Moines, IA

Are you a music fan? Locusic makes it easier for you to discover new artists and listen to local music in your area. Listeners get free music from bands within 50 miles of where they live. Not only is it great for the fans, the local bands now have an opportunity for more exposure than ever! Talk about a win-win!

Oohly: Leawood, KS

Have you ever been watching a TV show and thought, “Hey, I want that!” Now, with Oohly, you don’t have to think it—you can do it! This new app connects to your TV and allows you to see what your favorite stars are wearing...and then you can purchase instantly! Yes, you can purchase more than just apparel; it’s compatible with tons of other products!

Divshot: Kansas City, MO

If you own a business, you know how important it is to have an online presence. And with the overwhelming use of smartphones, developing an app is almost necessary. Divshot has come up with a simple solution for those that aren’t so tech savvy. Divshot invented a way for the average person to build an app using HTML and CSS, without having to learn code! Pretty neat, we’d say!

Chirpify: Portland, OR

Twitter meets transactions; that’s Chirpify. You want to buy that song on your favorite artist’s Twitter page? Done! Just Tweet “Buy”. It’s as easy as that. You can even Tweet your friends money because they look nice today or because they helped you move—whatever the reason! It’s a social way to do business!

Leap2: Kansas City, KS

When you search something on Leap2, you get all the information. Web, images, location and social media all on one page—and it’s live! You can opt to receive notifications when something new is posted about the topic. It’s the ultimate tool to stay “in the know”.

Planet Reuse: Kansas City, MO

Want to do more for the environment? Planet Reuse can help! They make it easier to use salvaged materials in buildings. Planet Reuse is a brokerage firm that matches salvaged materials to those that need it for projects. They’re on a mission to reduce landfill waste, save money and time and save the planet in the process!

Spread the love—what Midwest startups are you pining for? 

Entrepreneurship Across the Midwest: Is Tulsa Next?

For over a year now, we've been hearing about how Kansas City is the next big hub for entrepreneurship.  But other Midwest states aren't far behind (just take a look at the big entrepreneurial movements going on in Omaha and Chicago, for instance).  But you won't believe what city may be next in line--Tulsa, Oklahoma.

In a recent article posted on TulsaPeople.com, reporter Tara Lynn Thompson covers the growing startup scene in the Tulsa area and highlights important new companies emerging from our southern neighbor.

One of those individuals making a statement in Tulsa is Brian Paschal, executive director of The Forge, Tulsa's Young Professionals' (TYPros) business development center.  According to Paschal, Tulsa was founded on entrepreneurial risk-takers.  And these risk-takers have helped Tulsa become one of the Top 10 states for job growth and business creation, according to the 2011 US Bureau of Labor statistics.

So what's going on in the startup scene in Tulsa?  Take a look:

• i2e (Innovation to Enterprise): a private, nonprofit corporation that focuses solely on high-growth companies in Oklahoma
• Launch: a new 16-week entrepreneurial program at Tulsa Community College 
• TCC Startup Cup: a business idea competition that helps to get more ideas to market in the area
• The Tulsey Awards: recognizes the importance of entrepreneurs on Tulsa's economy and quality of life
• Hardesty Center for Fab Lab Tulsa: a nonprofit entity that supplies entrepreneurs with equipment and computers for innovation and STEM education 
• Tulsa Web Devs: a tight-knit group of Tulsa web developers and designers that build with open-source technology 
• Sway Balance: a new app that tests balance for a variety of patients like athletes and those with chronic diseases
• Collaboratorium: a private, nonprofit corporation that operates as a resource center to provide coaching, education, discounted office space and networking for startups

That's right, Kansas City!  Our friendly neighbor to the south is doing its part in building the entrepreneurial scene in the Midwest.  We're excited to see what others cities jump on board in 2012 and beyond.

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Big Omaha 2012: Let's Be Honest

Admist the hype, interactive photo booths, artistic arena and sold-out seating, Big Omaha 2012 stood for something that many attendees tend to forget: good, old fashioned Midwestern passion.  

According to Blake Miller, partner at Think Big Partners and Big Omaha attendee, the conference was one of the most honest, down-to-earth, comfortable events he had ever attended.  Why?  From the casual networking atmosphere to late night beers in the hotel lobby, Blake was able to reach out to other Big Omaha attendees at ease throughout the entire weekend. 

If you snagged a ticket to Big Omaha, consider yourself lucky.  The event doesn't print too many tickets, but for good reason.  The always sold-out conference gives off an intimate, cozy feeling that entrepreneurs cannot help but love.  This intimacy was one of Blake's favorite aspects of the entire conference.  Sometimes, the bigger the conference, the less you get out of it.  Big Omaha was the Goldilocks of entrepreneurial conferences--not too big, not to small, but just right.  The intimacy of Big Omaha allowed for attendees like Blake to communicate openly, honestly and comfortably.  Even when he had the chance to speak with Yael Cohen of F Cancer, Blake felt completely at ease and ended up engaging in a collaborative, interesting conversation.  Not bad for connecting with one of the most popular speakers at the conference!

Yael is a testament to the caliber of speakers that Big Omaha 2012 brought in.  Although the line-up may not have been as "impressive" as previous years, it clearly worked to Big Omaha's advantage.

"Although I didn't recognize a few of the speaker's names at first, I still got a ton out of every talk," said Blake Miller.  "In fact, it may have been even more valuable because I could sincerely relate to everyone who spoke. Sometimes it's tough to relate to those billionaire entrepreneurs who are one in a million." 

But Blake's favorite part of Big Omaha 2012 wasn't listening to the speakers, the professional networking or popping in on some photo booth pictures.  Blake's favorite memory happened to take place after-hours at Big Omaha's nightly casual, unplanned get-togethers.  According to Blake, some of the coolest people from the conference would clink beer glasses and chat after the day's sessions--and this provided some of the best insight.  After all, people with a touch of alcohol in them give off just a bit more honesty!

"I felt like I knew everybody at Big Omaha," said Blake.  "There were no strangers.  I felt like I could connect with every single person and have real, meaningful conversations with them."

Congratulations on a big success, Big Omaha!  Until next year...

Follow Big Omaha! @BigOmaha

Follow Silicon Prairie News! @SiliconPrairie

Follow Blake! @BlakeMiller32

Entrepreneurial Attitudes In Kansas City [From Brad Feld of TechStars and Foundry Group]

Brad Feld, co-founder of Foundry Group and TechStars, recently corresponded with Herb Sih, co-founder of Think Big Partners, to discuss the startup scene in and around the Kansas City area.  Read the article featured on Brad's blog, Startup Communities and view it below: 

Brad Feld of TechStars
and Foundry Group.

I’ve gotten many emails about how startup communities grow and develop completely separately from Silicon Valley. Following is an overview of what’s driving the Kansas City startup community right now, written by Herb Sih, the co-founder and managing partner of Think Big Partners.

The founders of Think Big Partners toured the startup scene in Silicon Valley before they launched their Midwest business incubator and startup accelerator.  And although the Think Big team uncovered helpful tips during a tour of the Valley (like the impact of coworking spaces, the need for local funders and the importance of a tech culture), they seemed to learn one lesson that was much more impactful after returning back to their home of Kansas City:  You don’t need to be like Silicon Valley in order to get Silicon Valley-esque results.

Herb Sih of Think Big Partners.

And that’s where Think Big Partners started.  They asked themselves, “How can we make a Silicon Valley impact with our own Midwestern roots?  How can we make a dent in the startup and tech worlds in our own city, on our own watch?”  The team answered these questions by developing one of Kansas City’s first coworking spaces, which has been the second home to over 50 entrepreneurs and their startup companies.  Think Big Partners also developed a business incubator and startup accelerator model that has helped to launch and grow some of the most successful Midwestern businesses today.  With collaboration from other Kansas City entrepreneurial superstars such as the Kauffman Foundation, KCSourceLink, Kansas PIPELINE, the University of Kansas City-Missouri Bloch School and others, Think Big Partners helped to make entrepreneurial success one of the city’s main focuses.

And Think Big Partners’ launch was timed just right.  Because soon after the launch of TBP, Kansas City (and the Midwest for that matter) underwent an immense entrepreneurial transformation.

Since the launch of Think Big Partners, entrepreneurship seemed to explode in and around the Kansas City area.  Startup companies such as Zaarly, Dwolla and LiveOn have flourished in the Midwest.  There has been so much startup success that the Midwestern region has become known as Silicon Prairie.

But it isn’t Silicon Valley that has defined the terms for Silicon Prairie.  The Silicon Prairie area is an entrepreneurial movement in its own right.  For instance, Silicon Prairie has become the home of the nation’s first Google 1-Gigabit Fiber Network, has been named the IT hub by The Wall Street Journal and is gradually becoming known as The City of Entrepreneurs.  This has all been on Silicon Prairie’s watch—not Silicon Valley’s.

But how has this entire region grown its startup scene without help from Silicon Valley?  The answer is obvious: with entrepreneurial attitudes.  Silicon Prairie is all about collaboration.  At one moment, you’ll see that H&R Block has rejuvenated its entrepreneurial mentorship program and the next, you’ll find that The Kauffman Foundation has invested in Kansas PIPELINE initiatives.  In one instant, you will learn about Think Big Partners’ Gigabit Challenge business plan competition and the next, you’ll see five new coworking spaces pop up around the Midwest.  Everyone is working on entrepreneurship together—making the Midwest one of the nation’s up-and-coming entrepreneurial hubs to date (we like to also call this “coopetition”—where competitors end up cooperating together instead of competing against each other.  This is one of the main reasons that Kansas City and the Midwest have become so entrepreneurial.)

Kansas City: It's the people in that make this community
an entrepreneurial one.  

It’s not about having a Silicon Valley attitude—it’s about having an entrepreneurial attitude.  It’s about partnering with other organizations in and around your area.  It’s about thinking big with entrepreneurs that sit next to you in your coworking space.  It’s about collaboarting with tech gurus, social media wizards and community leaders at cool business events.  It’s the people that make a community an entrepreneurial one—not the location—and it’s up to you to contribute.

Follow Brad! @bfeld

Follow Herb Sih! @thinkbigKC

LiveOn (Among Other Startups) Head to St. Louis for InvestMidwest

What do you get when you put 300 attendees, 60 venture capital companies and 44 startup organizations under one roof in St. Louis, Missouri?  You get an entrepreneur's dream; you get InvestMidwest.

InvestMidwest showcases 44 companies representing 10 states across the flyover region in three different industry tracks including life sciences, technology and clean energy/sustainability.  This venture capital conference has helped to generate over $850 million of investments in the past 12 years.

One company in particular is looking forward to the InvestMidwest opportunity.  The startup has been making a splash in the entrepreneurial world with appearances and nominations at SXSW and at during the Think Big Field Trip to Silicon Valley.  The startup, known as LiveOn, is hoping to make an even bigger impact at InvestMidwest today.

"We are looking forward to attending the InvestMidwest Forum as an opportunity to meet potential investors as well as to mingle with other entrepreneurs," said Jonathan Whistman, founder of LiveOn.  "The Midwest continues to be an interesting place to build a business and these types of forums always help with creating a platform to connect like-minded people."

LiveOn hopes to take what they learned during the Think Big Field Trip and implement pitching strategies at the InvestMidwest Forum.

"We just recently returned from a trip to Silicon Valley to participate in a two startup showcases.  One was put on by Silicon Valley Bank and the other by Kansas City's Think Big Partners.  It will be interesting to see the differences in the investment environment from the coast to here in the Midwest," said Whistman.

All startups presenting at InvestMidwest must be located within the center corridor of the United States.  These companies must be seeking $1 million to $20 million in funding and must have revenue projections of $20 million within the first five years.

InvestMidwest will take place on April 4-5, 2012 at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark in St. Louis, Missouri.  To learn more, please visit https://www.investmidwestforum.com/.

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

What Are the 50 Fastest Growing Companies in the Midwest?

Not all good ideas come from Silicon Valley.  If they did, why would Kansas City be making such a splash with startups like LiveOn, AgLocal, Audio Anywhere and KlinkMobile?  If all good ideas came from Boston and Austin, Google would not have chosen Kansas City as its launchpoint for Google Fiber.  And if all good ideas only came from the Bay area, organizations like the Kauffman Foundation, PIPELINE, KCSourceLink and Think Big Partners would not exist.

Five Elms Capital is on a mission to honor those companies that help make the flyover states prosperous.  Introducing the Flyover 50: the 50 fastest growing companies in the middle of the country.

Companies from the flyover states (Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentrucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin) are invited to apply for the Flyover 50 contest, in which they will be ranked according to their percentage of revenue growth.  To apply, companies must have brought in annual revenue greater than $1 million in 2011.  All revenue and growth figures used in Flyover 50 applications are confidential.


Winners of the Flyover 50 will receive an honorary plaque at an awards banquet as well as a press packet with the Flyover 50 logo for their website and marketing materials.  In addition, winners will receive free services from Flyover 50 sponsors (including Think Big Partners!). 


Flyover 50: another reason why entrepreneurship (and startup success) in Kansas City is continuing to grow.  To learn more, please visit www.flyover50.com. 


Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

AgLocal: Bringing Power to the Meat Lover and Innovation to the Midwest

Take a drive through the Midwest and you'll see a lot of a little.  You'll see cornfields.  You'll see flat farmland.  And you will certainly see grazing cows.  And although many people joke about the snoozefest that is endured while driving through the Midwest, it's that uneventful, flat farmland that has helped to jumpstart one of the coolest startups at SXSW.

Don't believe me?  Take a look at AgLocal, a startup based out of Overland Park, Kansas, picked to pitch at this year's SXSW Accelerator.

Co-founded by Naithan Jones and Jacob McDaniel, AgLocal is a marketplace that connects independent farmers and producers with the demand of local businesses and consumers.  AgLocal is made up of a mobile app as well as a website that aim to provide producers with better local options for cheaper, higher-quality meat.  In other words, AgLocal brings "power to the meat lover."

"I am really looking forward to the energy, the creativity and the people at South by Southwest," said Naithan Jones of his anticipated venture.  "South by Southwest is a hub of ideas.  I cannot wait to spread the word about AgLocal there."  

AgLocal is one of 48 contestants (chosen from a pool of 670!) to participate in SXSW's Accelerator on March 12-13 in Austin, Texas.  The Kansas-based startup will compete in the Innovative Web Technologies portion of the Accelerator against Trapit, OneID, Scrible, Prism Skylabs, Viztu Technologies, BrandYourself.com and ZeroDesktop (a majority of which reign from California).

According to Jones, AgLocal is extremely unique to the other competitors in the Innovative Web Technologies category.

"We are not a tech company, we are a people company that uses technology," he explains. "We stand out and have the ability to be very unique because we have much more to educate people on.  We are also one of the only companies in the Midwest featured at SXSW.  This is a great opportunity to talk about innovation coming out of the Midwest. None of this would have been possible without the support we've gotten from Kansas City."

In addition to being honored as a contestant in the Accelerator at SXSW, AgLocal is also a featured startup for the Startup America portion of SXSW, which is to take place on March 12th in Startup Village.

But what's next for AgLocal after SXSW?  Because the Midwest startup will be experiencing so much exposure down in Austin, the startup is preparing for big things during the remainder of 2012.  According to Jones, AgLocal will continue to build by running hackathons, hiring new interns, collaborating with developers in San Francisco, finalizing products and closing major deals.

Best of luck to Naithan Jones and then entire AgLocal team during SXSW!  We will be rooting for you from Kansas City!

How does Naithan Jones Think Big?

"I always ask myself what I can do that's bigger than myself.  I want to work with people who understand a problem and have a desperate need to help solve it.  That's my take on startups in general.  I also believe it's important to take life seriously, but not yourself seriously."

-- Naithan Jones, AgLocal

Follow AgLocal! @AgLocal

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Pitch Camp Grooms Midwest Startups for Think Big's Flyover Field Trip

Imagine receiving one-one-one pitch mentoring, collaborating with other entrepreneurs and participating mock question-and-answer sessions just 3 weeks before one of the most important moments in your entrepreneurial career: your pitch to investors.

Going through this process would probably make your pitch more clear, concise and compelling to those investors, wouldn't it?

That's why Think Big Partners held its first Pitch Camp this week; to prepare those Midwest startups selected to participate in the Flyover Field Trip for the scrutiny of Bay-area investors, the excruciating business plan questions and the nerves that many of them would face while pitching.

The Flyover Field Trip is a highly-intensive, multi-day pitchfest for entrepreneurs who live in the Midwest and want to get in front of investors from startup hubs such as Silicon Valley, Boston and New York.  At the end of March, those selected startups will join Think Big Partners and travel to Silicon Valley for the Silicon Valley Showcase and the Think Big Showcase in California, where they will have the chance to get in front of Bay-area investors to make their final pitch.

Pitch Camp, held this week at bizperc, prepped those entrepreneurs participating in Flyover Field Trip by incorporating a number of different coaching and mentoring sessions.  Because when you only have one shot to get in front of investors, you have to make it count.

Check out what the Flyover Field Trip entrepreneurs experienced this week at Think Big's Pitch Camp:


Day 1: The Deck

Entrepreneurs brought their "finished form" decks for review, discussion and refinement.  Think Big mentors made sure that all essential components were included in the deck and that the startups were presenting information in a clear and compelling manner.


Day 2: Turning the Deck into Presentation Knowledge

Entrepreneurs began the day by presenting segments of their pitch in group environments which helped them realize things about their presentations that they may not have realized before.  In this phase, startups underwent intense mock question-and-answer sessions and were evaluated on their ability to present information relative to their overall goal.


Day 3:  The Pitch

Practice makes perfect!  In this phase, each startup practiced their pitch over and over again until perfection.  Startups practiced their elevator pitches as well as their 7-8 minute presentations until they were clear, concise and compelling.

A few photos from Pitch Camp this week:

Startups were split up into groups to present their pitches.

A Pitch Camp group on the 6th floor of bizperc.

Willow of InvenQuery discusses her pitch strategy.

Herb Sih of Think Big Partners welcomes the Pitch Camp group.

Entrepreneurs' pitches were video taped to emulate a high-pressure experience.

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Building the Silicon Prairie: Startup Kansas and Startup Missouri Launch Jan. 31

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR

A little less than a year ago, the Startup America Partnership was formed.  The nationwide initiative strives to grow entrepreneurship and startup companies in every state.  The partnership was founded with three main goals:  1) to provide valuable resources and connections to help young companies grow, 2) to support regional startup ecosystems throughout the country, and 3) to recognize startups as the drivers of our economy and their founders as American heroes.

This is all good and well, but what actions are participants making to actually make the Startup America goals a reality?  We can talk the talk all we want...but will this organization walk the walk?

Kansas and Missouri have both taken the first step to make Startup America a reality.  Both states have organized their own partnership networks known as Startup Kansas and Startup Missouri.  Both networks hope to create hubs that combine existing entrepreneurs, investors, officials and coalitions into a central space to help boost entrepreneurship as a whole.

So we know what these two organizations are doing...but how are they going to do it?

It all starts on January 31, 2012, when Startup Kansas and Startup Missouri launch.

Startup Kansas
Winston/Meriwether of Topeka is launching Startup Kansas at the Topeka and Shawnee Country Public Library from 1:00 to 2:00pm.  With a welcome from Matthew Gassen, President of Winston/Meriwether, a video from Magic Johnson, and speeches from Cameron Cushman and Riley Scott, Startup Kansas hopes to bring in some of Kansas' most passionate entrepreneurs, investors and startups.

Startup Missouri
Missouri is hoping to transform from the "Show Me State" into the "Grow Me State" during its Startup Missouri launch on January 31.  The event will go from 11:00am-4:00pm at the Railway Exchange Building in St. Louis.

Will Startup Kansas and Startup Missouri help grow Kansas City into the most entrepreneurial city on earth?

Hey! That's cool! Startup Weekend and Tech Cocktail are going head-to-head to see who can recruit the most startups and become a member of Startup America.  Learn more here.  

Follow Startup Kansas! @StartupKS
Follow Startup Missouri! @StartupMO
Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Mixing Paint and Mingling Entrepreneurs: PIPELINE Innovator of the Year Comes to KC Jan. 26

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR

PIPELINE, the premier Entrepreneurial Fellowship Program for high-growth entrepreneurs, will launch the first ever Regional PIPELINE Fellowship class this Thursday, January 26th.  In tandem with the launch, PIPELINE will also celebrate the past five years of accelerating the best and brightest technology entrepreneurs at the Innovator of the Year event.  This event will bring together hard-to-pin-down successful entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, advisors and thought-leaders from around the nation for an all-day event of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.  

The day will feature a competition for the PIPELINE Innovator of the Year, gathering of the entire alumni and mentor community, discussions with national leaders around trends and strategies for entrepreneurs and loads of high-impact networking.  But what else can you expect at IOTY?

• Innovator of the Year Competition
• National Expert Panel on "Entrepreneurs and the Creative Edge"
• Networking with local, regional and national attendees
• Innovator of the Year event in the evening 

Be sure to bring your creativity!  The PIPELINE Innovator of the Year event has an art-focus this year and will blend together two of Kansas City's most prominent initiatives; art and entrepreneurship.  

Register to buy a table or simply a ticket at this year's PIPELINE Innovator of the Year event!  Register now to claim your seat (tickets often sell out!).  

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Think Big Welcomes Kansas Secretary of Commerce Pat George to bizperc and the Startup World

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR

On Wednesday, Think Big Partners welcomed Kansas Secretary of Commerce Pat George to the bizperc coworking community.  The Kansas Secretary of Commerce and the Kansas government visited in order to see the growing entrepreneurial movement that both Kansas and Missouri are experiencing and to learn about how the Kansas government can get involved in the initiative.

Entrepreneurship is close to Mr. George’s heart.  As a true entrepreneur himself, our own Secretary of Commerce spent 25 years starting and building numerous successful business ventures in southwest Kansas including a family automobile dealership, real estate developments and professional sports organizations.  Mr. George has enhanced his entrepreneurial goals by running for Kansas Secretary of Commerce in 2011.  He now leads the state’s economic development organization in its mission to empower and bring prosperity to individuals, businesses and communities.  With these goals, Mr. George’s focus is to create jobs through business recruitment and expansion—which means that he can go back to his roots and focus on entrepreneurship in Kansas. 

Which brings us to why the Secretary of Commerce visited Think Big Partners and bizperc yesterday.  At the meeting, Think Big Partners and the Kansas government will sat down to discuss the importance of new businesses, startups and job growth in Kansas. Kansas is getting serious about entrepreneurship and job growth and this meeting proves that the government is taking a step in the right direction. 

Thank you to Secretary of Commerce Pat George and the city of Kansas for helping to make the Midwest one a hub for entrepreneurship, startups and overall job growth. 

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig