What Will SEIN Analytics Do with $100,000 Gigabit Challenge Prize?

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR 

Since SEIN Analytics & Asset Management walked away with the $100,000 Grand Prize at The Gigabit Challenge Finale earlier this year, the Brooklyn-based startup has begun developing plans for 2012 that include hiring, creating deals, marketing and formulating new business structures.

Think Big Partners’ Gigabit Challenge was a global business plan competition looking for new applications to disrupt technology on the Google Fiber Network.  Prizes at the awards ceremony on January 18, 2012, included the $100,000 Grand Prize, which was awarded to SEIN Analytics & Asset Management, the People’s Choice Award, and a $250,000 Born Global Prize.

“I launched our prototype and turned my attention to getting feedback from others,” said Samuel Belu-John, CEO and Founder of SEIN Analytics.  “I looked for places to present our idea to.  I signed up for iStart and saw The Gigabit Challenge. There was a natural fit to what Google Fiber could do and what we were doing.”

SEIN Analytics & Asset Management is a new venture founded by a structured finance veteran and a team of dedicated designers, strategists and programmers. SEIN develops a data-centric cloud application for analyzing and managing asset-backed securities (ABS). The software standardizes loan level data and displays it in an easy to use form that financial institutions and investors can use to track and analyze ABS investments.

In a recent Silicon Prairie News article, Chris Bernard, startup specialist at Microsoft and Gigabit Challenge judge, commented that “...no other company did as good a job of showing how the cloud and fiber could help businesses solve big data problems that were previously the providence of big data centers and deep pocketed customers.”

“When we were watching other presenters [during The Gigabit Challenge], we felt as if our numbers were too small,” said Suk-Hyon Paek, COO of SEIN Analytics.  “But the truth of the matter is, our numbers were realistic.  We were very down-to-earth about our idea.  Everything we presented was based on reality.”

With the $100,000 Grand Prize under their belts, the SEIN Analytics team plans on putting every penny from The Gigabit Challenge into launching their business.  In 2012, Belu-John hopes to hire more developers to assist him in flushing out SEIN.  The rest of the SEIN Analytics team plans to handle the future of the company by focusing on building strategic alliances with potential partners, increasing the deal database, refining the existing pricing models, developing a staffing plan, and creating marketing and sales initiatives. 

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

The Gigabit Challenge Announces a $200,000 Prize for Entrepreneurs and Startups

The Gigabit Challenge is creating some major buzz in Kansas City.  With coverage from Silicon Prairie News, The Kansas City Star, and multiple other media outlets, it’s easy to see that the Gigabit Challenge is making a splash.  And for good reason.  This global business plan competition is designed to find and support startup entrepreneurs, early-stage businesses and existing growth companies that will make use of Google’s first-in-the-nation 1-gigabit fiber network.  
And just recently, Think Big Partners announced a few rules and details for the challenge, including an inside-scoop at the grand prize.  Below are a few details that may be of use to those applying for The Gigabit Challenge:

·        Applications will be accepted starting October 3, 2011.  Applications should be accompanied by a 3-5 page executive summary.

·        Applications must be submitted by October 31.

·        The top 25 finalists will be announced by November 15.

·        The 25 finalists then have until December 15 to submit a short form (10 page) business plan with 5 extra pages of supporting documentation. 

·        Winners will be announced at a public event in Kansas City in mid- to late January of 2012.

But let’s cut to the chase.  How much is the Gigabit Challenge actually rewarding to the winning entrepreneur?  Think Big Partners has announced that it will award more than $200,000 in cash and services, with the Grand Prize valued at $100,000.  Seems like a competition worth entering...

“As the first city chosen by Google to implement the fiber network, Kansas City has taken on a supporting role in Google’s worldwide initiative,” said Herb Sih, Managing Partner and co-founder of Think Big Partners. “In the past few years, Kansas City has received significant national recognition as a vibrant community for entrepreneurs, marshalling resources to take ideas and make them into viable businesses. Now, companies have the opportunity to innovate using technology like Google fiber so that they can create more new, technology-based to the challenges facing our world.”

For more information about The Gigabit Challenge or to express interest in becoming a sponsor or judge, please visit The Gigabit Challenge website or contact Ann DeAngelo at (816) 842-5244.

Written by Allison Way

@AllisonThinkBig

11 Reasons Why KC Innovation is Exploding in 2011

Wow.  What a year it's been for Kansas City innovation and entrepreneurship.  And the good news?  It's only May.  We are not even half way through the year and Kansas City has seen an explosion of innovation, startups, and entrepreneurial growth in 2011.

KCHub summarized it perfectly in their post, The Inertia of Innovation:

• Google Fiber announces its launch in KCK
• Think Big Partners opens bizperc accelerator
• Angel Capital Group creates partnership with Think Big - a nationwide funding network ready for KC startups
• Silicon Prairie News launches KC coverage
• KCITP surpasses 5,000 members
• KC Startup Weekend has a record turnout - startup rival those coming from NYC and other tech hubs
• KCNext grows IT events and rebrands the region
• Zaarly launches amid rave reviews at SXSW
• Kauffman Labs attracts entrepreneurs from around the globe to its KC headquarters
• K-State Olathe Innovation Campus opens; JoCo Research Triangle takes another step forward
• KU Med NCI bid - let's put it this way, you don't say "perfect game" during the 7th inning
• Etc., etc.

Look at what Kansas City has gone through in the past 5 months.  Pretty incredible, right?  We cannot wait to see what's in store for the city until December and for many innovative years to come.

Written by Allison Way.

@AllisonThinkBig

InvestMidwest: Bringing Silicon Valley Expectations to the Midwest

Silicon Prairie News.  Think Big Partners.  KCHub.  The Chamber of Commerce. 

All of these organizations are doing their part to improve entrepreneurship and increase the number of startups and small businesses in the Midwest.  In the effort to bring a Silicon Valley-atmosphere to Kansas City, Omaha and all midwestern cities in between, we have seen a vast number of entrepreneurial initatives.  But among the many informative blogs, business events, educational seminars, ribbon cuttings, and entrepreneurial competitions, one event may stand out more than the rest. 

InvestMidwest.

What is InvestMidwest?  In short, it's the opportunity that all entrepreneurs dream of. 

The 2011 InvestMidwest will showcase 45 companies representing 9 states from the Midwest.  The conference will have three company tracks presenting concurrently: life sciences, technology and alternative energy/cleantech.  With 300+ attendees including investors from the top venture capital firms in the Midwest, the conference has helped to generate over $400 million in investments in 11 years!

With an opening reception, a breakfast program, company presentations, and forum luncheon, InvestMidwest is a day jam-packed with energy.  Taking place on March 31st at the Overland Park Convention Center (Ballroom B), InvestMidwest will also feature its honorary speakers, Henry W. Bloch and Ken Conklin. 

Learn more about InvestMidwest and get involved today!

Thanks to everyone involved in InvestMidwest for getting out there and thinking big! 

Written by Allison Way.  Allison is a writer for Think Big Partners, Kansas City's early-stage business incubator and startup accelerator.  To read more of Allison's work, check out the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner as well as her articles on Helium, BrooWaha and eZine.  Follow Allison! @AllisonThinkBig

Silicon Prairie News Launches in Kansas City!

Think Big. 

It's a statement that we use each and every day to inspire entrepreneurs, increase small business growth, and solve the many problems that we face each day.  But this simple term is more than just a marketing strategy, a great slogan, or a clever phrase.  The "Think Big" mentality that we love is being implemented by many different companies throughout the nation; and one of them is moving to our own backyard.

Silicon Prairie News knows how to Think Big.  What started in 2008 as an online community for highlighting the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Midwest has become an Internet sensation for any entrepreneur located in Silicon Prairie.  Also known as SPN, Silicon Priaire News has hosted successful events, has created a high-traffic blog, and has received recognition from CNN.com, The Next Web and Seth Godin.

And now, SPN has launched in Kansas City.

To celebrate the launch, the Silicon Prairie Kansas City team is inviting you to join them on Tuesday, March 1st from 5:30 - 8:30 PM at McFadden's Sports Salon (1330 Grand Boulevard), located in the KC Power and Light District.  With almost 70 guests already RSVP'd on Facebook, the SPN team is looking forward to a great turn-out to celebrate their KC launch.

If you are interested in attending the Silicon Prairie News Kansas City Launch Party, be sure to RSVP on Facebook.  And then, great ready for a wild ride with SPN; a company that has a busy few months ahead of them in Kansas City!

Thanks for your "Think Big" attitude, Silicon Prairie News!  We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday!

Written by Allison Way.  Allison is a writer for Think Big Partners, Kansas City's mentorship-based startup accelerator and business incubator.  To read more of Allison's work, check out the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner as well as her articles on BrooWaha, Helium and eZine.  Follow Allison!  @AllisonThinkBig

Silicon Prairie Highlights Think Big Partners

Nonstop development.  Innovative technology.  High-power business.  What words can better describe Silicon Valley, the nation's largest hub for high-tech innovation and development? 

Although Silicon Valley may be the central hub for business, other regions in the US are promoting widespread development, updated technology, and new business.  One of these regions is the Midwest, where you can find the latest news from yet another "Silicon" in the country; Silicon Prairie News.

Silicon Prairie News is a resource that interviews the region's leading entrepreneurs and creatives, reports on startups and companies in the area, and announces important Midwest business events.

Last week, Think Big Partners' very own co-founder, Herb Sih, was highlighted in the Featured Interview section on Silicon Prairie News.  Take a look at how both Think Big Partners and Silicon Prairie News are making the Midwest its very own booming region in terms of new business, entrepreneurship, and startup companies: 

Read the Article. 

Written by Allison Way.  Allison is a writer for Think Big Partners, Kansas City's mentorship-based business incubator and startup accelerator.  To read more of Allison's work, check out the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner as well as her articles on Helium, BrooWaha and eZine.

Big Omaha - An Event Worth Checking Out!

I recently had the pleasure of speaking to Dusty Davidson, Co-Founder of Silicone Prairie News, about an upcoming event called Big Omaha.

In 2009, Big Omaha's inaugural event brought together 400-plus entrepreneurs, innovators and creatives to hear almost a dozen nationally-recognized speakers of the like. The goal of the event was simple: inspire attendees to follow their passions, build the businesses they love and strengthen their creative communities.

There seems to be a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs who are passionately making their mark on their communities - and not waiting for the next government bailout to show them the way to economic success for themselves and the town they live in.

In Kansas City, the event that embodies this spirit is Think Big Kansas City.

In Omaha, it's Big Omaha.

This event brings together the region's best and brightest to motivate, challenge, excite and connect with one another, and in turn raise the bar on the level of work that they are producing. The Amercian Dream is alive and well in Omaha!

This year, Tony Hsieh is speaking. Tony Hsieh is the author of "Delivering Happiness" and the CEO of Zappos. In 1999, Tony sold LinkExchange, the company he co-founded, to Microsoft for $265 million. He then joined Zappos as an advisor and investor, and eventually became CEO, where he helped Zappos grow significantly while simultaneously making Fortune magazine's annual Best Companies to Work For list. In November 2009, Zappos was acquired by Amazon.com in a deal valued at $1.2 billion on the day of closing. Zappos is a model of customer service excellence, and a case study for every company that desires raving fans.

So, if you are in the area and willing to make the trip for a good dose of entrepreneurial inspiration, be sure to check out Big Omaha. Tickets are on sale now and worth checking out!