
Posted by: The 1102 GRAND Team
Last night, Silicon Prairie News made a splash within the Kansas City technology community when it announced that it would expand its highly successful Big Omaha, Big Des Moines to include Big Kansas City! This inaugural event will take place March 26-28 and feature some of the brightest entrepreneurial speakers around. 1102 GRAND urges any Kansas City technology professional and all entrepreneurs to sign up to attend this great event.
In addition to announcing Big Kansas City, Silicon Prairie News announced that Michael Stacy and Regan Carrizales will be relocating to Kansas City to represent Silicon Prairie News. Stacy, a Kansas City native has covered the Midwest region since 2011 and we look forward to having him local.
Please visit www.bigkansascity.com to register today!
Check out this article by Jeff Slobotski on Silicon Prairie News’ announcement on Big Kansas City.

We have very exciting news to share with the Silicon Prairie community. But before we get into the news, I’d like to take a few moments to reflect on how we got to where we are today.
If you rewind four years and five months, you arrive at the point when Silicon Prairie News went from an idea – something I thought I would hack away on during my free time – to a website and brand, launched with the help of another entrepreneur.
Through interviews, meetups, coffees, pitch sessions and other activities, the community embraced the idea, and together we built something I believe is truly amazing. The activity in the region now is the start of something great.
One component that strengthens our community is the regular events and activities that bring people together. I’ve always said it’s not about the size of the events but, rather, about making sure we have as many of the right folks in the room as possible.
In 2009, that was one of the goals of Big Omaha, a conference that featured speakers Gary Vaynerchuk and Jason Fried (right) and a half-dozen more entrepreneurs and innovators. Our aim was to give attendees a “kick in the pants,” to inspire them to follow their passion and start the business they love.
In turn, our attendees gave us a “kick in the pants.” Enthusiasm for Big Omaha its first few years led us to launch a similar event in Des Moines in 2011. And in 2013, we’ll be doing the same in Kansas City.
We’re thrilled to reveal that Big Kansas City, our inaugural Kansas City event, will take place March 26-28.
Our goal in Kansas City is to continue delivering the experience you have come to expect from each of our previous events. We’re excited to have Big Kansas City join Big Omaha and Big Des Moines (our new name for Thinc Iowa) as the first events of our Big Series.
Each event follows our familiar format – more than a dozen entrepreneurial speakers over two and a half days – but accentuates the unique culture, people and venues of its host city.
We launched a website Tuesday with more details and – for those of you anxious to join us in March – put discounted tickets on sale for a limited time. Visit bigkansascity.co to secure your spot today!
By: Greg Elliott, Director of Business Development at 1102 GRAND
Exciting times to be involved with the tech community in the KC area! It seems like every other day I am asked what good tech networking/educational opportunities are coming up in the area so I thought I would highlight the events that I am looking forward to. I am sure I missed a few, so feel free to join and add events that you are excited about to 1102 GRAND Networking Group on LinkedIn or on our Facebook page.
1102 GRAND is excited to once again have the opportunity to be the Host Sponsor for the upcoming KCnext fall IT networking event! Save the date - Thursday November 15th , 5-8 at the College Basketball Experience. These IT networking events provide the unique opportunity to connect with
technology industry professionals, exchange innovative ideas and establish beneficial relationships and strategic partnerships to grow your business. The events also promote KC’s assets for the technology sectors and innovators within the industry. Make sure you register at www.kcnext.com to be notified when you can sign up.
Here are a few other opportunities to network that have recently been brought to my attention.
Tech ESP-Technology Entrepreneurs Speakers Program
The Technology Entrepreneurs Speakers Program features innovative technology business leaders discussing ideas and opportunities for future generations of entrepreneurs. The next in the series is scheduled Oct. 16 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at Polsinelli Shughart.
The featured speaker will be Asim Pasha, co-CEO of Sporting Innovations. Pasha recently led the technical design and implementation at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, which is considered by many to be the most technically advanced stadium in the world. He also launched Fan360, a software platform to drive fan experience to new levels. Register HERE!
Tech Cocktail- Wednesday October 17th, 5:30-8:30 at Boulevard Brewery
Tech Cocktail mixes Kansas City’s tech startups with hundreds of tech enthusiasts. The result is a blend of mind-sharing, connections, access to talent and capital. This inaugural event will showcase some of KC’s tech startups in an expo-style format giving attendees direct access to these companies. Click HERE for more information!
Compute Midwest- conference + hackathon- November 8-11!
Compute Midwest (CMW) is a conference + hackathon in Kansas City that delves into new ideas, emerging technologies, and especially their impact on the Midwest region looking forward.
You’ll hear from tech leaders, startup founders, and innovators as they share their vision of the future. Find out where technology is going and discover how Kansas City can capitalize on Google Fiber.
Kansas City VMUG User Conference with an interactive chat with Steve Wozniak- Tuesday, December 11th, 2012- to register and for additional information, click HERE!
I will look forward to learning from you what other tech events are coming up on our LinkedIn Group!
By: Greg Elliott, Director of Business Development at 1102 GRAND
Networking, networking and yes, more networking!
Last Thursday night, 1102 GRAND was thrilled to be the Host Sponsor for the KCnext IT Happy Hour at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. The venue, of course, was solid and the vibe was excellent as 450+ people relentlessly networked. We have always been huge believers in the power of face to face networking and this event did not disappoint.
I had meaningful conversations with CIOs, developers, CTOs, IT directors, owners, etc. I was able to visit with a few local startup companies and listened to challenges they are facing. Conversely, I spoke with a larger company and learned what types of innovative projects they have coming down the pipeline. What a great dynamic!
If you happened to miss this networking opportunity and want to save the date for the upcoming KCnext Summer IT Networking Happy Hour it is scheduled for Thursday, July 26 at the Negro League Baseball Museum. Also, if you would like to learn more about KCnext and check out the membership page go to http://www.kcnext.com/index.php/membership/ .
Hope to see you there, or at the next KCnext event!
Posted by: Greg Elliott, Director of Business Development at 1102 GRAND
Congratulations from 1102 GRAND to UMKC on their No. 1 ranking for Innovation Research Management by the Journal of Product Innovation Management! At 1102 GRAND, we have seen serious evidence of entrepreneurial energy in the Kansas City Area that can definitely be attributed, in part, to the UMKC’s Bloch School of Management and the faculty. Keep up the excellent work! Here is the full story from the UMKC website.
UMKC RANKED No. 1 IN THE WORLD
Kansas City, MO., December 5, 2011 – The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) today announced that it has been ranked as the world’s No. 1 university in innovation management research by the Journal of Product Innovation Management.
A total of 625 universities were ranked – including MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Michigan State and Texas A&M – on research topics and current trends in the field of innovation management. The ranking will be published in the March 2012 issue of the journal.
“We are extremely proud to hold the No. 1 spot in the world for innovation management research,” said UMKC Chancellor Leo E. Morton. “UMKC aligns with the Kansas City community’s commitment to becoming the most entrepreneurial city in the nation through our focus on entrepreneurship across all campus disciplines.”
The results were driven by the research of three UMKC faculty – Michael Song, Ph.D., Mark Parry, Ph.D., and Lisa Zhao, Ph.D. – in the Henry W. Bloch School of Management’s (Bloch School) Department for Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The three faculty also were listed among the top 50 innovation management scholars, with Michael Song ranking No. 1 in the world.
Posted by: Greg Elliott, Director of Business Development at 1102 GRAND
I wanted to take a moment to thank Think Big Partners for all they do to strengthen the Kansas City area business fabric on a daily basis. They host and sponsor numerous entrepreneurial events in the Kansas City region and around the nation. In addition, they provide a spot (BizPerc) and a system for people to grow their ideas into viable businesses through a number of different methods.
Their latest initiative, The Gigabit Challenge Finale, is going to include live pitches from the finalists vying for $100,000 in prize money as well as additional financing! See Allison Way’s recent blog post for further details and how to register. Thanks again and keep up the great work!
Experience Gigabit Speed: The Gigabit Challenge Finale Event
WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR
With over 113 submissions, we knew we had to make The Gigabit Challenge Finale big. After all, we’re dealing with lightning-fast Internet speed, some of the most lucrative startup business plans and a panel of standout judges and advisory board members. So we’re opening the Gigabit Challenge Finale to the public this January at the Kansas City Public Library (Plaza Branch).
At the event, attendees will have the chance to watch live pitches from The Gigabit Challenge finalists, network with other entrepreneurs, investors and startup enthusiasts and sit in on the Awards Presentation. This all-day event will not only bring in The Gigabit Challenge finalists, but also many of TGC’s advisory board members and judging panel.
Join the team at Think Big Partners for The Gigabit Challenge Finale on January 18, 2012 from 8:00AM until 5:00PM (time subject to change) at the Kansas City Public Library Plaza Branch (4801 Main Street). The Gigabit Challenge Finale is FREE.
A huge thanks to the Kansas City Public Library for sponsoring The Gigabit Challenge Finale!
Register today and get your gig on!