There are a plethora of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter, or curious community member — we recommend these upcoming events for you.
Innovation Exchange
When: Feb. 21, 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Think Big Coworking
Rarely are all the facts of breaking news included in the stories we read. From the coincidences that led to a business deal to the personal challenges along the way, there’s often a fascinating patchwork of details that remain in reporters’ notebooks.
Think of Innovation Exchange as a chance to open a news organization’s notepad for a view into its sources’ rich backstories. On Feb. 21, Startland News editor Bobby Burch will explore breaking news in Kansas City entrepreneurship via a fireside chat with the newsmakers that catalyzed the headlines.
LaunchCode Workshop #2: Product Manager — A Developer’s BFF
When: Feb. 21, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Emfluence
At their core, Product Managers live in that crucial space between what customers want, and what engineers are focused on. They help clarify customers’ needs and support a roadmap for product development. In this workshop, Vince Kane will share his experience as a Product Manager, as well as insights on the role Product Managers play to support the development team.
Topics
How Product Managers (PMs) help engineers focus on the “right” problems
The value in understanding and communicating the “why” behind the problems engineers are focused on
Why engineers’ creativity in defining “how” to solve problems is critical — and different from the “why” support from PMs
Bring your question and learn about product roadmaps, the value of customer focus groups, and what makes a good Product Manager such a critical member of the development team.
About Vince Kane
Vince has been a Product Management in a rapidly-changing software environment at Netchemia (now PeopleAdmin) for three years. As a member of the Product team, Vince launched a Customer Advisory Board, turning customer’s feedback into product roadmaps, and leading efforts to improve user experience. Those efforts resulted in a 70 point NPS improvement in just six months. As PeopleAdmin has rapidly acquired other education software companies, Vince’s role has continued to evolve to include all aspects of Product Management.
The Foundation Series: Contract Red Flags- What to Look For Before Signing on the Dotted Line with Chris Brown, Venture Legal
When: Feb. 22, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Village Square Coworking
The Foundation Series addresses legal and operational issues commonly faced by startup founders, from the process of finding and working with co-founders to strategies to protect your intellectual property. This ECJC workshop series is presented in partnership with Village Square, Located in the heart of the Kansas City Startup Village, Village Square is a coworking space that offers entrepreneurs and startups a place to call home.
#XeroHour – Put a value on it: Determine what a business is worth
When: Feb. 22, 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Where: Think Big Coworking
What is the true value of a business? Why is this important? If your clients seek to sell their business – be it startup or a brick and mortar – a higher value means a higher return. Knowing the value is also important for stockholders and in estate tax matters, and more. Join us for the February Xero Hour and see how Xero, its features and cloud technology help with value calculations. Learn best practices to generate a more accurate balance sheet, including tips for automation (that’s right, no more pestering clients each month). Discover how report codes and standardization become your best friend when determining what a business is worth. Xero allows you to become a more connected advisor to your clients, which boosts your own value with more profit and more top of mind. Put a value on it and join us for Xero Hour. Beer/wine and light appetizers will be provided.
More than Baseball and BBQ: Why investing in KC makes sense
When: Feb. 22, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Husch Blackwell
Come join KC SaaS for an engaging panel discussion on why investing in KC’s SaaS companies goes way beyond our baseball and bbq – it’s about our people, culture and our commitment to growing the best companies anywhere.
Panel members include a growth equity investor, CEO, and an executive sales leader:
Steve Wolfe, Co-Founder Growth Street Partners
Carlos Antequera, Former Co-founder & CEO Netchemia
Nick De Buyl, Vice President of Sales Pear Deck
Social Media Secrets and Strategies for Business
When: Feb. 22, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where: UMKC SBTDC
This 3-hour fast-paced training course will show you how to implement the most important aspects of social media and should leave you feeling more intuitively in control of your company’s strategy.
Topics Covered:
What to post and how much to post on the top three social networks for business: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter
How to create a weekly Social Media process that saves you time and brings in referral business
How choosing the “right” social network for your company prevents a lot of disappointment and frustration
How to make sure clients, prospects, supporters, and media interact with your posts
What to do about ugly comments and trolls
How to use social media to get the most out of trade shows and events
How to stay in front of customers on Facebook without paying so much for ads
How much time it really takes for businesses to be successful with social media
What really matters when it comes to ROI and social media analytics
*BONUS! This class comes with a user license to take ThinkViral’s LinkedIn class online!
This course will be taught by Anne Cull of ThinkViral LLC.
Athena League – Transformation Thursday: February Breakfast
When: Feb. 23, 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Where: Exhale Boutique Fitness
The path to being happy in mind, body and spirit starts with a basic foundation in physical health. From exercise to the food we put in our bodies, adopting simple habits can be life-altering. Layer on the art of mindfulness, and there isn’t a goal you can’t tackle in 2017.
“Sure, I’ll skip my workout tonight.” “I can stay for one more cocktail.” Saying “No” to someone else is saying “Yes” to yourself. Shifting our mindsets to focus on our mental and physical health first influences positive change across all aspects of our lives.
Join us for our first VOX of 2017 on Thursday, February 23 to hear from the following health entrepreneurs and mindfulness experts:
– Eleanor Lisbon, MD, MPH, founder, Exhale, LLC
– Steve Spangler, founder, Simple Science Juices
– Darby Brender, founder, Fusion Fitness
Start saying “Yes” to yourself. You deserve it.
Velocity Lee’s Summit Entrepreneur Panel & Networking Night
When: Feb. 23, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Contra Software
Velocity Lee’s Summit is partnering with the Market Center of Ideas to create a series of free entrepreneurial events throughout the year, starting with the first event on February 23 at 5:30 p.m. featuring Bob Gourley, entrepreneur and author of Make Money for Bob: The Bottom Line on Entrepreneurship.
Utilizing Bots & Conversation as a Platform: Microsoft Hosted Lunch & Learn
When: Feb. 24, 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Think Big Coworking
John Alexander, CTO of AJi Software and Microsoft Regional Director, will be coming in on 2/24/2017 to Think Big Coworking to talk bots! Come learn how bots play into your customer support, FAQ, and user experience. Conversation as a platform is an emerging trend that is blending human language and machine intelligence as the next computing interface. If you have questions on Cognitive Services, Cortana, or bots, this is the lunch and learn to be at! Lunch will be provided. RSVP required.
The Nerdery: Overnight Website Challenge
When: Feb. 25 – Feb. 26
Where: The Nerdery
The Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge is a volunteer-driven program of the Nerdery Foundation, aimed at maximizing the community impact of nonprofit organizations through digital strategy and custom software design and development – all pro bono.
Ongoing events
Don’t miss out on the events that happen every week at the same time, in the same place.
Code for KC Hack Night
Mondays from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Sprint Accelerator
Hammerspace Open House
Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at Hammerspace
1 Million Cups
Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at Kauffman Foundation, Lawrence and KC Live Stream
Looking ahead
FastTrac TechVenture
When: March 1, 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Where: UMCK SBTDC
You’re on the cusp of developing a cutting-edge technology or science-based business while Kansas City’s entrepreneurial community is buzzing and moving faster than ever before. You want to be part of it, but you need help with the details including funding and intellectual property protection.
Designed specifically by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, the Kauffman Foundation’s FastTrac® TechVenture™ program is an intensive eight-session course designed to give technology and science-based entrepreneurs a proven framework and network of connections to help grow a great idea into the next viable innovation. Experienced business coaches and successful entrepreneurs work together to facilitate critical teachings, guide lively small group sessions, and share practical experiences to enhance your business. Participants learn with and from their peers, creating a powerful network that continues well after the program is complete.
Topics Include:
Identifying Funding & Investors
Pre- & Post-Money Valuation
Pitching to Investors
Financial Projections & Management
Due Diligence
Deal Sheets
Legal Structures
Business Feasibility & Demand
Class is held Wednesdays from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm for 9 weeks from March 1 – April 26.
First Wednesdays Events
When: March 1, 5:00 p.m.– 6:30 p.m.
Where: UMKC
On the first Wednesday of each month during the academic year, The Regnier Institute hosts special events designed to bring students and community members together and to inspire Bloch students to launch new ventures. These special events include inspirational stories from inductees of the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame and at the end of each semester culminate in a student venture feasibility plan and pitch competition. The evenings end in pizza and networking.
Join us at a special edition of First Wednesdays and hear from Bobby Burch, editor-in-chief of Startland News and some of Kansas City’s rising entrepreneurial stars.
When: Wednesday March 1, 2017, from 5-6:30 pm
Who: Bobby Burch of Startland News Moderates a Panel of KC’s Rising Entrepreneurial Stars
Reading and Understanding Financial Statements: It’s All About the Benjamins!
When: March 1, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where: UMKC SBTDC
This course is designed for business owners, managers, accountants, bankers and consultants who need to know how to turn financial statements into useful management tools. During this course, you will learn to identify key business information that is captured on the income statement and balance sheet. You will learn to calculate several ratios and understand what those ratios mean in terms of business productivity and success. You will leave this session with a greater understanding of how to read and interpret financial documents and how to use that information to drive business decisions.
Course Objectives
Identify key business information on income statements and balance sheets.
Know what key ratios indicate, why to use them and how they are calculated.
Make better decisions for your business based on sound financial understanding.
KC Roundtable Breakfast
When: March 2, 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Where: Eggct
KC Roundtable is in existence to provide 20 and 30-something Kansas City entrepreneurs with a group of peers to support and collaborate on each others’ businesses. Our mission is to: – Focus on relationship building; not lead generating – Facilitate collaboration, openness, transparency, learning and teaching – Establish an entrepreneurial network – Fill the void of not having the water cooler.
We meet for breakfast and various locations around the city. In addition to our morning meetings, KC Roundtable provides additional opportunities to network with young entrepreneurs such as events like small group Mastermind sessions & After Hour events.
Prospective members are self-motivated, curious, open to learning and currently starting a new business. Thanks for checking us out. We look forward to meeting you soon!
The Capital Series: Valuation of an Early-Stage Business with Rick Vaughn, Mid-America Angels
When: March 2, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Where: Enterprise Center in Johnson County
The Capital Series is offered for investors and entrepreneurs, allowing for detailed discussions of the due diligence process, term sheets, valuations and investor pitches during the equity investment process, as well as discussion of possible sources of debt financing. Lunch provided.
Conquer for Good
When: March 2, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Where: Gem Theater
Conquer For Good features talks by leaders working to build a thriving ecosystem of social enterprise and purpose-driven companies in Kansas City.
Speakers:
Gary White | Co-Founder & CEO | Water.org
Jonathan Arnold | CEO | Arnold Development
Melissa Hendricks | Vice President, Marketing Strategy | Cerner
Mark O’Renick | Co-Founder | Will & Grail
Joe Knittig | CEO | The Global Orphan Project
Chase McAnulty | Founder & CEO | Charlie Hustle
Kathleen Garman | Innovation Analyst | City of Kansas City
Are you hosting a relevant community event? Feel free to add it to the FWD/KC calendar for increased exposure. Once your event is submitted, it will quickly get reviewed and then published to the calendar.