Top 5 Reasons You Need to Be at iKC 2013

iKC: The Unconference is all about taking great ideas and turning them into action.  So why do you need to be at the unconference on October 3?  

1. You decide the topics you want to talk about At an "unconference," attendees submit and vote on ideas ahead of time to decide what the day's agenda will look like.Therefore, what the conference looks like is entirely up to you. Submit your ideas here.   2. Increase collision density in Kansas City Collision density is the level of collisions made between entrepreneurs, innovators, connectors, and investors in a single area. The higher an area's collision density, the more quickly and efficiently innovative development can occur. 3. This isn't a lecture hall. iKC incorporates the "Law of Two Feet." Unconference Rule #4 says, "if you're not learning or contributing, it is your responsibility to use your own two feet to find someplace where you are." If the session you're in is not a good fit, we encourage you to go find a conversation that makes more sense for you. 4. Get 1-on-1 mentorship from some of KC's most respected entrepreneurs and business leaders We're lining up some of the city's most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders for the UnMentor Program. Apply for the UnMentor program and you may have an opportunity for a 20-minute session with one of our UnMentors during the conference.   5. The After Party. No, really.  At 4:15, we'll head to the Alamo Drafthouse for the iKC Closing Session (sponsored by Google Fiber) where you can enjoy free drinks and appetizers. There will also be Open Mic awards where attendees can grab the mic and personally award prizes to a person they think had the most impact on their day. Plus! At 6:30 p.m., you'll be one of the first to see The Tech Trek, a Google Glass-enabled documentary, and learn all about the capabilities of Google Glass from the eyes of KC entrepreneurs.  **This screening is free for iKC attendees. General public tickets will become available if space permits. Claim your iKC ticket today! We will see you October 3!

Announcing the iKC UnMentors!

For the second year in a row, we have teamed up with the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce to bring KC an (un)conference unlike any other.  iKC: The Unconference is an open format conference to facilitate collisions between innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and connectors.
Unlike any other event in Kansas City, iKC is all about taking great ideas and turning them into action. 

This year, we are unleashing our UnMentorship program.  If you're an entrepreneur looking for feedback or mentorship, you'll be interested in speaking to one of our UnMentors!  During iKC, UnMentors will have open time slots of 20 minutes to meet with budding entrepreneurs (or just grab someone with an UnMentor badge!).

A huge thanks to our iKC UnMentors:

• Dr. Julie Edge, Ph.D.
• Taylor Cowan
• Keith Bae
• Pat Doherty
• Rob Bensman
• Kelly Pruneau
• Judy Sindecuse
• Ryan O'Connell
• John Peryam
• Mark Nuss
• Nathan Benjamin
• Dan Schmidt
• Willis Jackson
• Sarah Dickey

iKC: The Unconference takes place on October 3, 2013 at H&R Block World Headquarters in downtown Kansas City.  A big thanks to a few of our new sponsors who have helped make iKC possible: eBeam, Boom Ideanet, City of Kansas City and the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDCKC)! For a full list of our sponsors, click here.

Apply now for the UnMentorship Program at iKC!

Think Big Accelerator in partnership with Microsoft Ventures

You may already know about Microsoft Ventures which currently has accelerator locations in Tel Aviv, Bangalore and Beijing (and is opening several more soon).  But you may not know that Microsoft Ventures is partnering with a selected few established U.S. accelerators to provide immersive programs, mentoring, technical guidance and connections.  One of those selected few accelerators is Think Big Accelerator.

Think Big Accelerator in partnership with Microsoft Ventures will be one of only a few partnerships of its kind in the United States.  Microsoft Ventures will act as a strategic partner for promising startups in the Think Big Accelerator program focused on business growth, customer development, industrial strength technology and beautiful usable products. 

According to Cliff Reeves, who leads the Microsoft Ventures Community team, “Entrepreneurism is a local phenomenon everywhere, and Think Big Partners represents the best of KC as well as startup reach nationally and globally.  We’re very pleased to be working with them to find and support great startups.”

The partnership between Think Big Accelerator and Microsoft Ventures will provide accelerator companies access to even more mentors, resources and connections.  As Microsoft Ventures is a corporate run partnership with the intent to engage and support a select few independent accelerators per geo, the local Microsoft field office will play an active role in day-to-day support and mentorship of Think Big Partners’ startups as part of this partnership. While the Microsoft BizSpark program will be providing software, support and visibility to the startups, Microsoft Ventures will be providing additional resources through this limited partnership to better enable the startups success on the Microsoft platform while they develop their business as a whole. Along with providing consistent access to Microsoft technical resources and devices, startups engaged in the Think Big Accelerator will have the opportunity to qualify for additional benefits via the BizSpark Plus program where startups qualify for a rich set of offers including Office 365 and Azure.

"We at Think Big Partners are very excited to grow what has already been a great learning relationship with Microsoft,” says Blake Miller, Director of Think Big Accelerator.  “The resources that Microsoft adds to our checklist-oriented process will help us get entrepreneurs from idea to first customer faster and even more efficiently."

If you are interested in joining what is sure to be one of the strongest accelerator partnerships in the country, we encourage you to apply for the Think Big Accelerator program.  Think Big Accelerator typically invests between $18,000-$50,000.  Upon acceptance into the program, you will instantly have access to the benefits and connections that Microsoft brings to the startup world.  To learn more or apply to Think Big Accelerator, click here.

It’s Time to Vote for Your Favorite iKC Topics

Thanks to our strong startup community, we have received many different topic ideas in order for us to build the agenda for iKC: The Unconference. A huge thanks to everyone who submitted an idea or a topic--the unconference would not work without you!

But now, it’s time to vote. Starting September 26, voting for your favorite iKC topics will open on the IdeaScale platform. Here’s how it works:

1. Visit http://ikc.ideascale.com/ to view a list of all iKC topic ideas 
2. Vote for or against topic ideas using the “I agree” and “I disagree” buttons
3. The most popular ideas or topics will be displayed at iKC: The Unconference on October 3
4. iKC attendees will then vote or comment on the popular ideas during the opening reception of the unconference
5. The iKC staff will then build an agenda around the most popular ideas from the morning

A big thanks to our Agenda Creation Sponsor, Husch Blackwell. And of course, to those entrepreneurs, innovators, investors and connectors who have contributed to the IdeaScale platform for iKC to make it an action-oriented day for Kansas City! See you on October 3! Haven’t purchased an iKC ticket yet? Now’s the time to do it! Purchase your ticket here.

Nominate Your Favorite Tweeps to Win Free Tickets to iKC!

Do you know of a startup or small business that deserves to win a free ticket to iKC, but hasn’t purchased one yet? We want you to nominate them to win a ticket to the unconference! 

We’re giving away 2 free tickets to 5 different deserving groups and individuals nominated by our Twitter followers. The contest begins Monday, September 23 and runs until Friday, September 27.

Nominating an innovative organization is as easy as 1, 2, tweet! Follow iKC on Twitter (@iKC2013) and tweet @iKC2013 in 140 characters or less who you think could contribute innovative ideas at iKC and deserves a free ticket to the unconference.

Entrepreneurs are known for their innovative ideas; the goal of iKC is to make meaningful collisions that result in ideas that make an impact on our community as a whole.  So be sure to nominate people who not only deserve a ticket, but who can help create collisions and action at iKC 2013!

Nominate the innovators in your life today! Tweet @iKC2013. 

iKC Invites You to its Closing Session & Celebration!

PHOTO CREDIT: ExploreKansasCity.com

From what we’ve learned after planning multiple events for entrepreneurs and innovators, some of the best conversations happen after the event doors close. And that’s precisely why we are inviting all iKC attendees as well as the general public to join us to the iKC Closing Session immediately after the iKC: The Unconference at 4:15pm at the Alamo Drafthouse downtown (sponsored by Google Fiber!).

What can you expect at the Closing Session? More than the typical event closing...

Drinks, Apps and Networking
What’s a closing ceremony without drinks, appetizers and networking? You’ll work up a thirst and a hunger during iKC: The Unconference, so be sure to walk over to the Alamo Drafthouse immediately after iKC for refreshments and power networking.

Open Mic Awards (Brought to you by the City of Kansas City, Missouri)
Did someone stand out to you during iKC? Did someone contribute something to the unconference and you’d like to give them recognition for it? Did you notice that someone stepped out of their comfort zone and participated in the unconference? If so, we want you to recognize that person! The City of Kansas City, Missouri’s Open Mic Awards gives you the opportunity to reward someone for their iKC participation or contribution during the Closing Session. Simply select a gift, step up to the microphone and speak to the crowd about who made a big impact during the unconference. (Oh, and did we mention we have gifts from Boulevard, Indigo Wild, The Kansas City Chiefs, Z Strike and more?)

The Tech Trek Premiere
We are thrilled to announce that the iKC Closing Session will also feature the premiere showing of The Tech Trek, a Google Glass-enabled documentary shot by local Kansas City entrepreneurs. The premiere starts at 6:30pm. Tickets to The Tech Trek premiere are free to iKC attendees and $10.00 for the general public.

As busy entrepreneurs, we understand that sometimes you just don’t have the time to attend a full-day conference. But if you’re anything like us, you also hate missing out on the action. So even if you are unable to attend iKC: The Unconference on October 3, we want to invite you to our iKC Closing Session. And trust us when we say you won’t want to miss out.

A special thanks to Red Bull, our sponsor for Closing Session beverages and DJ. Also, thank you to Google Fiber, our sponsor for the Alamo Drafthouse arcade. To see a full list of event sponsors, click here.

The Entrepreneurial Story of Kansas City’s Solomon Consulting Group

Anyone can be an entrepreneur: File some paperwork, pay for office space and embrace the culture of a startup. But the problem with this simplistic mentality is that there is a big difference between “being” and entrepreneur and actually being and entrepreneur.

The difference is doing things. Here at Think Big, we love companies that are doing real things. One company that is making a name for itself here in Kansas City is Solomon Consulting Group. Solomon Consulting group was just named #3 in Inc. Magazine’s fastest growing companies in Kansas City. To learn more about Solomon Consulting Group’s story, we connected with President and Founder of the organization, Grant Gordon.

Can you tell us about Solomon Consulting Group's beginnings? How did it all start? Do you consider yourself a startup?

Yes, I consider us a startup and entrepreneurial company as we blossomed from really nothing to now almost a team of 30. We are adding jobs and providing opportunities for people each month. I started this firm to focus on the niche area of business intelligence back in 2008, however, it was playing second fiddle as I was wrapping up the sale of Intronic Solutions to Premier Alliance, and didn’t spend much time growing the business. After my 2 year contract at Premier was winding down, I jumped in with both feet and joined Karen Blue and Darci Crow at Solomon and now we are making our mark!

What is your take on life as entrepreneur, specifically as an entrepreneur in Kansas City?

It’s fun, it’s challenging, but I couldn’t ask for a better city to be in to grow a business. I have so many caring people around this town. The toughest part ironically is staying focused in KC. As this is a “small” town, when you have some success, you consistently get requests for coffee, lunches and happy hours to meet with people who want to pitch ideas and talk partnerships. Most have brilliant ideas…but you have to stick to your core competency otherwise your time gets away from you…and time is a resource I can’t get back.

What challenges have you faced with Solomon?

The biggest challenge is typically the ebb and flow of our business. The highs are fantastic – the lows stink! You have to be able to remain level headed through each to see consistently improving results. The biggest challenge is to remember that my “Chapter 2” might be my competition’s “Chapter 12”. You have to challenge yourself – not look around and try compete with others.

What surprises, good or bad, have you encountered given your location?

We are based in South Overland Park. Some would consider us closer to Tulsa than to downtown. I think that we may look to add an office downtown in the future as the startup community is hopping and making the old areas new again! It’s fun to see the growth and the potential of downtown and its surrounding areas – and we need to be in the middle of that!

What advice would you like to pass along to current startups on growth and handling that growth?

Create budgets – stick to budgets – watch your cash flow daily. Grad school never taught me that “too much business can be as damning as no business” if it’s not handled properly. If you are growing faster than you expected, make sure you communicate issues and challenges with your banks, your investors, your clients and your family!

What does it take to become one of Inc. 500?

It’s a fantastic honor to be on the list with amazing firms across our area and the country. To make the list as Kansas’ 3rd fastest growing company was a bit of shock – but testament to Karen and Darci doing an amazing job growing this firm over the last couple of years.

What does such a big accomplishment mean for the company?

Like any achievement, it makes you work harder, not less. We want to make the list again and again…which means we have to grow. I ask everyone to make progress each day in one facet of the business or another. If we all take at least one step forward each day, we will get to the goals we have set ourselves.

What does the future hold for Solomon Consulting Group?

Our collective goal is to expand nationwide with offices in several cities. We want to grow to a firm with over 100 consultants in the next 5 years. We love what we do, and have a ton of fun doing it. Keeping that culture and making this a firm that people want to work for (and clients want to work with) is the main goal for us.

With such a great beginning, one can only anticipate where Solomon Consulting Group will go next. We want to thank Grant for taking time out of his extremely busy schedule to sit down and talk about his entrepreneurial Kansas City business. As any entrepreneur doing things knows, that’s no easy task.

Keep an eye on Solomon Consulting group by following them on Twitter!

Next Think Big Accelerator Registration Window Opens Sept. 16

With the first Think Big Demo Day in the books, it’s now time to start looking for the next class of entrepreneurs ready build exceptional companies in the Think Big Accelerator. We’re looking for entrepreneurs who have the gusto to take a big idea and turn it into profitable company.   

If you think you have what it takes, we want to meet you. The application window for the next Think Big Accelerator opened on September 16, 2013. Interested parties can learn more about the Think Big Accelerator model by contacting us via email or visiting thinkbigpartners.com/accelerator. We’re excited to see what big ideas come out of our next class and what companies join the ranks of past successes.

Do you have what it takes? Apply for the Think Big Accelerator today!

Announcing the iKC Ambassadors

For the second year in a row, we have teamed up with the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce to bring KC an (un)conference unlike any other.  iKC: The Unconference is an open format conference to facilitate collisions between innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and connectors.

Unlike any other event in Kansas City, iKC is all about taking great ideas and turning them into action.  And that’s also where the iKC Ambassadors come into play.  The iKC Ambassadors will not only be in attendance at iKC on October 3, but they will play an integral part in bringing iKC awareness to the community and fostering more collisions and connections both prior to and during the unconference.  

A big thanks to our iKC Ambassadors:

• Sam Bao, Curator at StartupDigest
• Adam Coomes, Kansas City Entrepreneur
• Katie Peterson, Director at iStart, Manager in Networks and Innovation at the Kauffman Foundation
• Perry Pucetti, President and CEO of Triple-I
• Carrie Royce, Founder of Shabby Hats and Prodigy Arcade
• Ryan Weber, President of KCNext–The Technology Council of Greater Kansas City 

In addition to our Ambassadors, iKC: The Unconference will also feature a 1-on-1 UnMentor program.  Current UnMentors include Keith Bae, Pat Doherty, Dr. Julie Edge and Ryan O’Connell.  Stay tuned as we announce more UnMentors in the coming weeks.  Attendees can sign up to be mentees of the UnMentor program by filling out the online application.  In order to apply for the 1-on-1 program with one of our UnMentors, you must purchase an iKC ticket. 

iKC: The Unconference takes place on October 3, 2013 at H&R Block World Headquarters in downtown Kansas City.  A big thanks to our iKC Location Sponsor, H&R Block and the iKC Agenda Creation Sponsor, Husch Blackwell.  A special thanks to our newest sponsors including Centrix Innovations, Kansas City Business Magazine, Adopt-a-Highway, Inboun, CBIZ and Microsoft BizSpark.  To see a full list of sponsors, click here.

Get tickets to iKC: The Unconference!

The 3 Best Ways to Prepare for an Unconference

We’ve all been there: stuck in a room for hours listening to speaker after speaker. We say we are there for work, professional development or networking, but we’re actually just horribly bored and unengaged. You guessed it; we’re at a typical run-of-the-mill conference. 

Sure, the concept of a conference is a great one.  But too often, traditional conferences are poorly executed. That is where the unconference concept comes into play. What is an unconference, exactly?  It’s a lot like a conference, but less structured and more participatory. The attendees have just as much to do with what the agenda looks like as the organizers. While one says he or she is at a conference to network, the unconference is where it actually happens.

An unconference is still a fairly new concept, but it may just be the future of professional development events. With that in mind, and with iKC: The Unconference right around the corner, here are the 3 best ways for you to prepare for your next unconference: 

1.    Keep an open mind

The unconference model doesn’t work if you walk in with preconceived notions of what should or shouldn’t happen. A true unconference is not a super structured event and therefore, those who attend shouldn’t be either.  In other words, keep an open mind throughout the entire unconference--no matter what sessions you attend, speaker you engage with or networking experience you have. 

An unconference should also be a safe space where people should feel comfortable to freely share their ideas and receive feedback from others. This way, ideas keep flowing and innovation and connections are allowed to happen (after all, that’s the point!). 

2.    Be prepared with ideas to share and questions to ask

Now that you’re ready to meet and speak with anyone and everyone at an unconference, you’ve got to have something to say! Don’t be afraid to share your ideas or provide feedback...no idea is a bad idea at an unconference.

For example, if another attendee presents a new product or idea to you, let them know your honest opinion. If someone brings up a topic that you don’t understand, ask him or her to clarify. An unconference is not an event where you let the speaker’s words flow in one ear and out the other. This is your chance to discover new ideas, get feedback and take action on those ideas.

3.    Practice your listening skills

We love industry disruptors and innovators, but please don’t be an interrupter! An unconference is a great place for real collisions to happen and relationships to form. Listen carefully to what the speaker or fellow attendee is saying so you can provide thoughtful comments or feedback. An unconference is anything but fluff or saying something just to say something. An unconference is the ideal place of meaningful action – and listening to others lets that occur.   

Anyone who’s a quick thinker with an open mind, who also knows when to shut up and when to speak up, is the best kind of unconference attendee. Now that you know what it takes, why not get in on the unconference action?

Don’t be shy; get your tickets for iKC 2013 today!

5 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Do Their Part on 9/11 This Year

It's hard to believe that twelve years ago our nation suffered the tragedy of 9/11--a series of coordinated suicide attacks by al-Qaeda upon the United States on September 11, 2001. And once again, this year on 9/11, our nation will remember those who have fallen by raising the American flag at half mast and participating in volunteer activities and acts of service throughout the community.

Entrepreneurs, we know that you’re busy every single day of the year. Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day and 911 Day are no exception. But if you have an extra 10 minutes in your day on September 11, we encourage you to honor those impacted by the terrorist attacks with any of these 5 easy activities:

1.  Educate: We are fortunate enough to live in a country that promotes freedom--and that includes the freedom to choose exactly what we with our lives. Entrepreneurs take the concept of “freedom” to a whole new level by choosing the startup road less traveled. The career path of entrepreneurship is a scary one, and a lot of people do not know how to begin. As an entrepreneur, offer some advice on entrepreneurship on 911 Day to encourage other budding entrepreneurs to embrace freedom. Participate in an educational event, host a lecture, mentor a younger entrepreneur or teach people your area of expertise for just a few minutes on this special day.

2.  Create the Right Jobs: If entrepreneurs create the right jobs with a focus on important technical skills, a large abundance of jobs will spring up across the nation and promote the newfound American Dream and an increase in opportunities. In addition, the notion of self-reliance can improve economic sustainability. We, as Americans, enjoy many freedoms including the availability of extremely low prices (from companies such as Wal-Mart). The economic reality of this is that it is not sustainable. By providing more jobs and paying more for everyday goods, we can create a much more sustainable economy.

3.  Promote Health: In order to promote a healthy America, entrepreneurs and small business owners must keep their physical health in check on a day-to-day basis and also make it an important matter in the workplace. Eating right, exercising, and getting an adequate amount of sleep benefits the body as well as the mind, allowing entrepreneurs and small business owners more creativity and energy while at work. It's a win-win situation all around. We challenge you, entrepreneurs, on 911 Day, to get out of the office and go for a walk with colleagues, hit up the gym for a jog on the treadmill or attend a yoga class. Free your body and your mind for a just a few minutes.

4.  Volunteer: Whether you're a large business or a small startup, all companies should be interested in becoming good corporate citizens. When entrepreneurs and their companies volunteer, they can achieve an enhanced public image with a cohesive and motivated workforce. Volunteer programs also help employees strengthen their leadership and interpersonal skills and increases interaction among different departments.

5.  Think Big Beyond Borders: The essence of being a patriotic entrepreneur is to look past the artificial borders of nationality, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and politics in order to address the most critical problems that we face as a global society. When entrepreneurs think beyond these artificial borders, we can promote a positive change in the workforce and in the world. Thinking beyond borders allows more people to achieve their own American Dream.

Entrepreneurs, what will you do on 911 Day? Will you do more than put your flag at half-mast? We encourage all entrepreneurs to Think Big on 9/11/2013 by educating, creating more jobs, promoting health, volunteering, and thinking beyond artificial borders.

From Kate Spade to the Garment District: An Inside Look at Kansas City Fashion Entrepreneurship

We all remember (and envy) when KC native Kate Spade blew up as a fashion designer in the mid-1990s and made us proud entrepreneurial devotees and Kansas Citians. Why, you ask? Because as a budding fashion entrepreneur, Kate Spade had a dream and she made it happen in one of the most challenging industries in the world (not to mention in Kansas City!).

Fashion entrepreneurship holds a unique market for those involved...and a competitive one at that. This market is just as important as other entrepreneurial ventures. It focuses on developmental clarity, requires experimental vision and is also backed up by a strong network.

And guess what? Fashion entrepreneurship is booming right here in Kansas City.
The term “fashion entrepreneurship” may seem somewhat new, but creative design, innovative business plans and attention-grabbing marketing strategies have been a part of entrepreneurship since the early days of Chanel. (And even before that, especially in Kansas City!)

Our very own Kansas City Fashion Week Executive Director, Teisha Barber, thinks of fashion entrepreneurship as anything from starting a unique clothing line to owning a boutique to being a stylist (with even more subgenres too!). We see all of these genres becoming more and more prevalent here in Kansas City and in our surrounding areas.

Barber shares that there are several local and regional designers making a name for themselves in the industry by traveling around the country and participating in Fashion Weeks. It’s important though, to not overlook Kansas City’s styling history. Barber explains that within Kansas City history, fashion-related businesses are revered:

“According to the Garment District Museum, in the 1940’s, Kansas City's own Garment District was a major fashion hub known for well-made clothing and accessories using quality fabrics, second only to New York. But as the styles changed over the years, the factories began going out of business. People started dressing more casual for work and jeans became very popular in the fashion world. By 1988, all the factories were gone.”

Today, a fashion revival is sweeping Kansas City. Designers and boutiques again populate the city, bringing a new age of fashion to the heart of the Midwest.

With events like Barber’s Kansas City Fashion Week on October 2-6, 2013 at Union Station, how could we not be proud of all of the new blossoming couturiers and designers?

KC Fashion Week's director, Teisha Barber, had a few things to say about the event. According to Barber, the new Kansas City Fashion Week was established in 2010 and has been thriving ever since. Each season, the crowd has grown and Kansas City residents have jumped completely on board. In fact, both show dates for 2013 were declared by the city of Kansas City, enhancing the flourishing expression of designers, stylists, models and photographers to show the public their collections, talent and entrepreneurial drive.

But Kansas City Fashion Week (with presenting designers such as Baldwin Denim, Birdies Panties and many, many others) is just the tip of the iceberg for fashion entrepreneurship in Kansas City. We cannot overlook Fashion on the Fringe, a sub-genre of Kansas City Fringe Festival or the 13th Annual West Eighteenth Street Fashion Show that took place in June.

As each KCFW comes and goes, Kansas City reaches closer and closer to the heart of the fashion industry’s map. Here at Think Big Partners, we are proud to be supporters of Kansas City Fashion Week and will even be hosting an event at KCFW in our parking lot during October’s First Friday (October 4, 2013). After all, we support entrepreneurs in every industry--from technology to fashion. Stay tuned on our calendar for more information!

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

Think Big Demo Day Fosters Collisions, Unites Entrepreneurs and Investors

Just two simple words have the ability to make investors turn their heads and make entrepreneurs’ palms sweat: Demo day.  Demo day is the opportunity for startups to get in front of angel investors and venture capitalists and pitch their ideas with the hopes of getting funded, or at the very minimum, making strong connections.

Think Big hosted its very first Demo Day on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at the Think Big Partners loft.  You could feel the energy and passion of each entrepreneur as they stood solo on the Demo Day stage in front of 85+ investors, community leaders and startup enthusiasts.  And although each 8-minute pitch seemed simple and comfortable enough, what the audience may not have realized is that many of these entrepreneurs had been practicing for weeks to deliver the perfect pitch--after all, that’s what it takes to get funded.

For the eight presenting entrepreneurs, Think Big Demo Day didn’t just take place on August 28.  The journey toward Demo Day started when they decided to turn their idea into a business.  From there, the entrepreneurs built, grew and launched a new startup right here in Kansas City.  Four of the presenting startups went through the Think Big Accelerator program.  Many utilized the benefits of Think Big Coworking space.  And all were consulted and mentored by Think Big Partners along their startup journey toward Demo Day.

Think Big Demo Day began with a 45 minute networking luncheon and an opportunity for entrepreneurs, startups, community leaders and investors to get acquainted with one another.  After lunch, the audience warmed up with energetic opening remarks from Think Big Co-founder and Managing Partner, Herb Sih and a quick 10-minute tour of Think Big Coworking.  

By 1:00PM, it was time for the pitches.  Polished presentations from Nathan Benjamin (InvenQuery), Jeb Ory (Phone2Action), Parker Hills (Keyzio) and Jeff Alholm (CandyCam) were followed by Q&A sessions from the audience and were then followed by explosive applause.

After a short break, it was Group 2’s chance to pitch.  Many audience members frivolously jotted down notes as Scott Tibbits (Katasi), Connor Sweeney (WeeJay), Bryan Richard (Fully) and Pierre Barbeau (Moblico) presented their startup concepts to the crowd.  Once again, the room burst into applause after each and every pitch.

By the time Pierre Barbeau stepped down from the stage, the audience was still fully energized and geared up to get some face time with the presenters.  Lucky for them, Think Big Demo Day wasn’t over.  The chance for investors to entrepreneurs to connect was just beginning.  Many decided to stay at Think Big to meet one-on-one with each other while others moved the event down the street to Snow & Company for frozen cocktails, power networking and further beneficial connections. 

Although the ultimate goal of Demo Day was to connect entrepreneurs with investors and funding, another goal rose from the gathering of so many passionate and energetic people: an increased number of collisions.  As mentioned by Herb Sih during opening remarks, the reason that companies get funded and that more jobs are created is because of increased collision density.  The term “collision density” is the level of collisions made between entrepreneurs, investors and connectors in a single area.  The higher an area’s collision density is, the more quickly and efficiently innovative development can occur.  Increased collision density was just another much anticipated outcome of Think Big Demo Day.

 

Think Big Partners would like to thank all attendees and presenters, as well as the partners of the Think Big Accelerator who help address the needs of the startup companies: The City of Kansas City, Missouri; Microsoft BizSpark, Twilio, SendGrind.  And a special thank you to all mentors and resident advisor, Dr. Julie Edge.

The next round of Think Big Accelerator applications open September 16, 2013.  For more information, please visit www.thinkbigpartners.com or call 816-842-5244.  

Kansas City Entrepreneurs Embrace Labor Day

Although all of us celebrate Labor Day by taking a day off of work to enjoy time with friends and family, very few of us know the true meaning behind the end-of-summer holiday. Dating back to 1882 when a group from the Central Labor Union took an unpaid day off, Labor Day’s origin was to celebrate "a workingmen's holiday" and to recognize the social and economic achievements of the modern laborer. Over time, more and more states enacted laws that gave many workers this day off. In 1894, it finally became a national holiday. Labor Day became a tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. It also was recognition for a more balanced outlook to work and a worker's life.

Entrepreneurs across the country should take heed of this day and celebrate! While many entrepreneurs are not able to share one of the benefits of Labor Day legislation, in which the 58 hour work week officially became 40 hours, it should be not be casually brushed aside either.

Being an entrepreneur can have many tremendous benefits, but this career choice is usually not an easy path to economic prosperity. The dream of the 40 hour work week seems fairly idyllic when one is normally working over 70 hours a week. The hours can mount up fast, while other parts of an entrepreneur's life can become unbalanced. So why take a whole 24 hours off just to celebrate Labor Day? We’ll tell you why...

Here at Think Big Partners, we want to challenge every entrepreneur to celebrate this holiday in some meaningful fashion, if for no other reason than trying to achieve some sort of work-life balance. The everyday world of an entrepreneur is hard enough. Be sure to take some time off once in awhile. Your startup, your American Dream, your email box - it all can wait once in awhile!

Happy Labor Day from Thing Big Partners!

What Happens in Vegas Won’t Stay in Vegas: Think Big’s SXSWV2V Experience

Admit it. We’ve all had a very similar experience to that of The Hangover when visiting Las Vegas. And although pictures and stories do arise from trips to Vegas, most of us tend to leave out the good parts and stick to the “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas” mentality. 

But not for Think Big Partners! We want to share with you exactly what we experienced while in Las Vegas for SXSWV2V. And we’ve got the pictures to show it, too.

Think Big Partners headed to SXSWV2V with a few different goals. But the main mission among all six team members was to connect with other entrepreneurs and startups and to spread the word about the Kansas City startup scene. SXSWV2V was the perfect opportunity to do so. The first SXSW event in Las Vegas brought together 1500+ entrepreneurs, innovators, investors and connectors from across the globe. We met people from Austin, Boston, Vegas, Denver, San Francisco, and even some that we didn’t know from Kansas City (just to name a few). We attended a variety of SXSWV2V events and even explored other areas of Vegas known for a thriving startup scene outside of the conference. And of course, we had a lot of fun along the way.

Think Big arrives in Vegas! 

Herb Sih and Blake Miller head to a SXSWV2V networking event.

Team bonding at Minus 5 in THEhotel.

Think Big co-founder Herb Sih hosted a SXSWV2V mentor session on Monday morning.

SXSWV2V’s second keynote, Steve Case.  

Partners of Think Big playing a game of "bags" at the SXSWV2V Tech Cocktail event. 

After attending the Tech Cocktail and Chic CEO events, Think Big explored downtown Vegas.

The next day, Think Big toured Tony Hseih’s apartment and learned about the Downtown Project.

Vegas’ “Wall o’ Ideas” provided great inspiration for the KC startup scene.

This isn’t our first rodeo...Tech Trek was in Vegas not too long ago!

Think Big left its mark at usr/lib coworking space in downtown Las Vegas.

Touring Work In Progress, Vegas’ most well-known coworking space.

Think Big stopped for lunch at one of Vegas’ local joints.  This one boasts “Time is precious, waste it wisely.”

Think Big then co-hosted KC @ V2V with LaunchKC.  It was a great opportunity for Vegas entrepreneurs to learn about the KC startup scene.

Vegas was a great place for the Think Big team to bond, make great business relationships and spread the word about Kansas City entrepreneurship!  Thanks for having us!