Techweek is a natural fit for Kansas City, Amanda Signorelli said.
“Kansas City is one of the country’s most influential, up-and-coming tech hubs,” Signorelli, Techweek CEO, said in a release. “The community has given Techweek a warm welcome.”
The Chicago-based conference series, which focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship, returns to the City of Fountains for the third time Sept. 11-15. Techweek Kansas City, a five-day conference, expo and festival, is one of nine such events across North America, gathering tech visionaries and thought leaders.
With a focus on high-growth companies this year, Techweek KC is expected to feature such educational and networking opportunities as speaker panels, interactive workshops, a hiring fair and the LaunchKC competition. Techweek’s goal is to help local startups become influential, thus bringing jobs to Kansas City, Signorelli said.
“The success of last year’s LaunchKC competition, and the increased participation this year alone, are a clear demonstration of Kansas City’s capability and eagerness to influence the tech industry in a positive way,” Signorelli said. “We are here to nurture that excitement and teach local tech startups the best way to make it happen.”
The LaunchKC competition awards eight startups each a $50,000 non-dilutive grant and one firm a grand prize of $100,000 after a live pitch competition. The 20 contenders — which beat out more than 400 applicants from across the world — include 14 finalists from the Kansas City metro, five from other U.S. states, and one international business from Ukraine.
Prominent speakers include Kathryn Minshew, founder and CEO of The Muse; Tom Chi, co-founder of Google X. In addition, local leaders have established a significant presence this year with Joshua Montgomery, CEO of Mycroft AI; Davyeon Ross, co-founder of ShotTracker; John Fein, managing director of Firebrand Ventures; Chris Costello, co-Founder and CEO of Blooom; Bek Abdullayev, founder & CEO of Super Dispatch; Cleve Adams, CEO of Site 1001; Tim Sylvester, CEO of Integrated Roadways; Davide Rossi, co-founder and CEO of FitBark; Erika Klotz, co-founder and CEO of PopBookings and others.
This year, Techweek KC’s events are set for various locations in the city, including Plexpod: Westport Commons, Sprint Accelerator and Grand Hall at KC Power and Light.
Here are some of Techweek KC’s highlighted events:
- Techweek Kansas City Kick-Off Party — 7 pm. Sept. 11 at Boulevard Beer Hall
- Building inclusive tech communities — 11 a.m. Sept. 12 at Missouri Career Center
- Cars, Trucks and Roadways: Meet Kansas City’s leaders in Mobility Technology — 3 p.m. Sept. 13 at Pure Pursuit Event Space
- Women in Tech Breakfast — 8 a.m. Sept. 14 at Plexpod: Westport Commons
- Growth Summit, individual CEO talks and panels — 9 a.m. Sept. 14 at Plexpod Westport Commons
- Techweek Hiring Fest — noon Sept. 14 at Plexpod: Westport Commons
- LaunchKC Competition — 8 a.m. Sept. 15 at the Grand Hall at KC Power and Light
- LaunchKC Awards — 8 a.m. Sept. 15 at the Grand Hall at KC Power and Light
For the full schedule, click here.