
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!