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.
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.
Merge Briefing – Corum Group M&A
When: March 7, 8:30 a.m. — 10:00 a.m.
Where: Polsinelli PC
Thinking about selling in the next 1-3 years? The Merge Briefing is a 90-minute executive briefing providing an update on current software M&A trends and a brief overview of the Tech M&A process: “8 Stages to an Optimal Outcome.
Join us for the most up-to-date Tech M&A conference for executives and buyers in software, IT and related technology.
Networking begins at 8:00am
How to Pitch to the Sandbox
When: March 7, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Where: UMKC Innovation Center
Jeff Shackelford, director of Digital Sandbox KC, will walk you through the process of applying for and pitching to the Sandbox decision makers. After this session you’ll know exactly how to make the most effective presentation for funding support from Digital Sandbox KC and increase your chance for funding approval.
Documentary Screening: Most Likely to Succeed
When: March 7, 4:45 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Plexpod
Join CEED, STEAM Studio and Gould Evans for a screening of Most Likely to Succeed – an acclaimed film that provides a provocative look at the future of education, revolutionizing the way we approach “school” and student success in today’s innovative world.
See schedule below:
4:45pm – 5:45pm: Tours of Plexpod & Networking
5:45pm – 6:00pm: Introductions & Announcements
6:00pm – 7:30pm: Screening of Most Likely to Succeed quick restroom break
7:35pm – 8:15pm: Panel discussion of education leaders
8:15pm – 8:30pm: Networking
The Marketing Series: Creating a Memorable Brand Experience with Tom Morse Brown, mb creative
When: March 8, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30
Where: Sprint Accelerator
Creating a Memorable Brand Experience with Tom Morse Brown, mb creative
TechHire KC – Tech Sector Meetups at Think Big
When: March 8, 12:00 p.m. — 1:30 p.m.
Where: Think Big Partners
This meetup is for tech-sector employers looking to hire or shape the workforce pipeline.
Find out how the TechHire initiative can impact your organization, how you can participate with subsidized placements, and discover how you can influence programming, training and curriculum to better meet your workforce needs. During these meetups, we will explore those topics and dive deeper into the region’s 5-year outlook, sector best practices, labor trends, and curriculum/instructional design in I.T. in Kansas City.
Think Big Partners serves as the Tech Sector Intermediary on behalf of FEC and the TechHire initiative in Kansas City.
Bitcoin in Review – Q1 2017
When: March 10, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: C2FO 3rd floor by the big screens
Wayne Vaughan, CEO of Tierion, will be our co-host for this event.
See these links to learn more about Wayne:
http://tierion.com
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/blockchain-identity-proofs/
View story at Medium.com
Attendees are encouraged in advance to “sit through” all videos (this list has been updated since the initial email) so that everyone is situated to review in a group setting and maximize the usefulness of the three, interspersed 20-minute blocks of discussion time:
https://c2folab.com/03102017.html
Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_160oMzblY8&list=PL4cOPpykx4hwzIcP
Barbecue is planned for around 11:30am and will be set up buffet style so you can eat at your leisure as we work through the material. Overall goal is simple: for all or most of us walk to away with a better understanding of the potential represented by this growing, public, decentralized, data structure.
Second Fridays
When: March 10, 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Village Square Coworking Studio
Come to Second Fridays at Village Square Coworking Studio!
Second Fridays is a casual, fun gathering for the startup community to connect on a monthly basis with no agenda except good times.
We’ll provide games & cards (bags if it’s nice). This event is BYOB with a twist – bring a 6-pack of your favorite beer to share and we’re going to have a “beer potluck” cooler. We’ll ice down everyone’s beer and have quite the selection to choose from!get to know someone over a brew!
We’d also encourage you to bring an instrument if you play. What better way to end your week than with a jam session?!
Feel free to stop by anytime after 4:30pm. We’ll hang out until everyone leaves (unless it gets ridiculous).
No RSVP necessary, just come on by!
Science Outlook 2017
When: March 11, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Where: Linda Hall Library
The “Science Outlook 2017” panel will forecast the challenges and opportunities regionally, nationally, and internationally this year and in the near future.
The panelists are:
Gretchen Ivy, Planning Group Director at HNTB Corp.
Luke Hagedorn, an energy attorney at Polsinelli PC
Dr. Sarah Zanders an assistant investigator at Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Lesa Mitchell, Managing Director of Techstars
The group will address a wide range of issues, including how changes in funding and technological advances will impact science and technology. The event is free and open to the public; however, attendees must register for an e-ticket at lindahall.org.
Coding & Cupcakes
When: March 11, 1:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m.
Where: Code Koalas
Join us for our bi-monthly coding series, Coding & Cupcakes. Parents and daughters are invited to attend sessions to learn about code and how to build websites together. No coding experience necessary! The minimum age requirement is the ability to read, type, and use a mouse. Delicious cupcakes from BabyCakes will be provided for coding fuel!
Coding & Cocktails: Introduction to Command Line
When: March 11, 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: The Nerdery
Join us for our monthly coding series, Coding & Cocktails. Women are invited to attend sessions to get an introduction to website building in a fun, laid-back atmosphere.
We’ll talk about what the command line is, what to use it for, how to use it, some common commands and get you some practice with support from awesome mentors!
There will be lots of guidance and support for those with no coding experience so come join the fun!
No coding experience necessary (we mean that!)
Wifi-enabled laptop is required (don’t have one? Borrow one of ours)
Must be at least 21 to attend
Cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, and light appetizers served
Please familiarize yourself with Kansas City Women in Technology’s Code of Conduct.
SecKC
When: March 14, all day
Where: Kanza Hall
As the premiere monthly hacker meeting, there is simply nothing else like Kansas City’s SecKC. With a reach to over 800 of Kansas City’s most influential Information and Network security professionals, SecKC is the place where you can finally reach an audience that simply ‘gets it’. Each month, SecKC holds a ‘Mini Conference’ similar to B-Sides/Derbycon/Defcon consisting of conference quality presentations on hacking topics ranging from PCI Compliance to Penetration Testing, from getting free wifi on a plane to printing your own physical security badges. SecKC is where the people you are trying to reach are.
Verge Pitch Night
When: March 14, 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Lifted Spirits Distillery
If you’ve never experienced a Verge pitch, now’s your opportunity to catch 3 of the most exciting companies in the Midwest. Each startup will have just 5 minutes on stage to pitch their startup—no exceptions.
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
The Marketing Series: Inbound Marketing for High-Growth Startups with Alex Greenwood, AGPR
When: March 15, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Sprint Accelerator
The Marketing Series takes an in-depth look at the science and analytics behind marketing campaigns–from the basics of growth hacking to ins-and-outs of content marketing.
How2: Develop and Apply Customer Insights
When: March 15, 11:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Where: UMKC SBTDC
The How2 Develop and Apply Customer Insights workshop is based on Steve Blank’s Lean Startup principles. The active participation format prepares participants to walk out with tools and a plan they can use immediately.
Do you want to gain an in-depth understanding of the customer development process? Plus, learn How2 apply these proven principles in your business. Then this workshop is for you!
In the workshop learn How2:
- Get out of the building
- Use archetypes to visualize the customer
- Conduct customer discovery, including How2 interview, what questions to ask and where to find customers
- Analyze and interpret the customers’ answers
- Define customer needs and derive insights from the answers you receive
- Apply your customer knowledge and insights to your business
* NOTE: A small amount of pre-work will be required before the class. Following completion of interviews, participants will schedule one-on-one sessions with the facilitator for interpreting data, needs definition, and insight development.
AWS Learning Day-DevOps in the Cloud
When: March 15, 1:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m.
Where: Westin Crown Center
Amazon Web Services is hosting a learning half-day followed by a happy hour at the Westin Crown Center. Meet your local AWS Account Team and Solution Architect and spend a half day taking a deep dive into DevOps methodology on AWS. Sumo Logic and Relus will be co-hosting and providing one on one sessions for those interested.
Cash Flow Management: 99 Problems but Cash Ain’t One!
When: March 15, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where: UMKC SBTDC
This course is designed for business owners, managers, accountants, bankers (commercial lenders and their staff) and consultants who have limited knowledge of financial statements and how to use them effectively.
In this three-hour session, we’ll show you how to turn financial statements into useful management tools. We’ll take a close look at where cash comes from in a small business, where it’s used in day-to-day operations and how to identify and correct cash flow problems. At the end of the session, you’ll be able to identify key information on cash flow statements and be able to follow the path of cash as it travels through your company.
As you examine actual case studies, you’ll identify cash flow strategies that you can use in your organization. You’ll become familiar with the sources and uses of cash, ratios and the most common “gobblers” of cash in any business.
Inaugural Health 2.0 Meetup: Redivus Health, KingFit, FEWDM Fitness
When: March 15, 5:30 p..m. – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Polsinelli Conference Center South
This is information you can take back to your business and use right away. This isn’t theory – its practical application for real businesses – like yours!
Health 2.0 is the premiere international catalyst of health-technology entrepreneurship. Active in more than ninety cities and countries around the world, we are proud to bring Kansas City to this exclusive and forward-thinking community! We welcome entrepreneurs in the health industry, as well as healthcare professionals, and students in the medical sciences to come network, enjoy hors d’oeuvres, and listen to some great speakers!
www.health2kc.com
FAQs
Who will be speaking?
The entrepreneurs who will be presenting their companies are Tommy Saunders, Founder and CEO of FEWDM Inc. and Miguel Johns, CEO of KingFit. Our Thought Leader (also known as the keynote speaker) will be Doug Peterson, Director of Clinical Innovations at Redivus Health.
Is there a limit on the number of people who can attend?
Yes – attendance is capped at 50, so RSVP soon!
Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?
Nope! Anyone is welcome to attend – although this event is recommended for those with an interest in healthcare.
How can I contact the organizer with any questions?
Email: info@health2kc.com
KCWiT International Women’s Day Tech Talk
When: March 15, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: SMG Studio
IWD stands for International Women’s Day and this year’s theme is “Telling Our Story”.
Join Kansas City Women in Technology (KCWiT) and Women TechMakers (WTM KC) in celebration of International Women’s Day! All technology enthusiasts are welcome to attend.
- Q&A time with all of the speakers
- Meet speakers from a variety of interesting and unique technology backgrounds
- Hear career-insights from industry professionals
Come join us as we celebrate the women doing great things in our community. Visit womentechmakers.com to learn more.
KC Roundtable Breakfast
When: March 16, 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Where: Eggtc
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 Sales Series: Eleven Elements of a Dynamite Sales Organization with Dan Schoepf, Lungs Up Legs Down Leadership
When: May 16, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Enterprise Center in Johnson County
The Sales Series teaches entrepreneurs the basics of building scalable sales systems, attracting and compensating top-performing sales staff and customer retention.
Third Thursday KCedu and Lean Lab Happy Hour
When: March 16, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: EduHub
Join #KCedu and the Lean Lab at EduHub, a co-working space for education and youth-related startups. Network with genius educators, business partners, and other interested folks as you eat and drink, learn and collide!
When you arrive, grab a snack and check out the whiteboard where participants create the schedule on the fly! Want to share something? Want to get feedback from others on a topic? In addition to the featured guests, as an attendee, you can throw your idea up in one of the squares for small group breakout conversations. For example:
Want to talk about technology in education, apps, gamificatoin or how to make it relevant to kids?
Want to talk family-community engagement in schools and in KC?
Want to plan a city-wide project to bring KC together, led by kids?
Looking for some interested parties to co-write a grant? EdHub has several offices for us to spread out and share/discuss.
After introductions of any featured guests at 6pm, we go into an Edcamp/Unconference format in two fast-paced, 20 minute breakout sessions. Stay in one group or sample more than one discussion. We come back together as a group at 7:00 for final announcements and then continue conversations at EduHub or at a nearby establishment.
This format is about active small group networking and relationship building, not passive listening. CHOICE and VOICE! You’ll be happy you plugged into KC’s vibrant educator network.