With more than 170 events planned, organizers of Global Entrepreneurship Week already are seeing registration trends from those building their weeklong agendas at GEWKC.org
Topping the most popular are GEW’s kickoff breakfast — set to explore the future in terms of emerging Latino markets, transportation and the Hyperloop, and sports technology — and Marquita Miller’s “Get Paid to Speak” session, said Sarah Mote, marketing director for KCSourceLink, a key organizer of GEW.
Practical workshops early in the week dominate the top 10 list of Nov. 12-16 events, which in most cases are being organized at Plexpod Westport Commons. Overall programming tracks include makers and creators; startups; scalers; and social enterprise.
“Global Entrepreneurship Week inspires our community’s makers, doers and creators to take the next step in starting or growing their business,” said Erin Jenkins, program officer in entrepreneurship at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which founded GEW. “Whether you’re already your own boss, or you aspire to be, this week offers the educational tools and networking opportunities to make it your reality.”
Click here to begin building your own GEW agenda.
The top 10 most-registered events, in alphabetical order, according to KCSourceLink:
- A Wrap-Up Celebration — 5 p.m. Friday — Celebrate and wrap up #GEWKC with a networking reception at WeWork. Light bites and beverages will be provided. Space is limited. Registration required. (Organizer: WeWork Corrigan Station)
- Cheap and Easy Hacks to Make Your Videos Look Professional — 4 p.m. Tuesday — Prime your video skills for branding and online marketing with a few simple tools you likely have around the house. (Organizer: John Ary, Lillian James Creative)
- Content Marketing for Startups — Noon Monday — You probably think content marketing takes too much time and doesn’t pay off. Find out how one person can drastically increase organic web traffic with content marketing. (Organizer: Sellozo)
- Get Paid To Speak — Noon Monday — Have a passion for speaking? Wondering how you can work your passion and get paid? This session will help you to monetize your words. (Organizer: Marquita Miller, National Speakers Association, Kansas City Chapter)
- GEWKC Kickoff Breakfast: The Future of the World — 7:30 a.m. Monday — The GEW kickoff event looks at the future through the eyes of KC corporate strategic planners. Learn about the next big thing and the problems that need entrepreneurial solutions. (Organizer: KCSourceLink and Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce)
- How to Start a Business with No Money — 2 p.m. Monday — With a passion for helping people and a family, Mitch Shipman learned how to start a successful business by relying on hard work and dedication. Learn how you can do the same. (Organizer: Kelly Porter, Blue Beetle Pest Control)
- Leveraging LinkedIn — 10 a.m. Tuesday — Bring your laptop or smartphone and improve your LinkedIn profile to grow your personal or business brand. With step-by-step instructions, you’ll leave with a revamped LinkedIn profile. (Organizer: Aaron Fulk, Lillian James Creative)
- Naked Networking — 8 a.m. Tuesday — Explore Naked Networking, a new way to expose yourself to advanced business (and life) possibilities. Today’s competitive marketplace demands results and a powerful circle of influence, but it’s easy to make excuses not to network. Explore how to build and maintain professional networks that can lead to exciting breakthroughs and business ROI. Networking is about developing mutually beneficial relationships. (Organizer: Kari Mirabal)
- Say What? The Best Business Advice I Ever Got — 6 p.m. Monday — This networking-social event will begin with insightful lessons from the front lines of entrepreneurship — hear what great advice our featured entrepreneurs have found to be the most impactful to their business. Entrepreneurs will be from diverse backgrounds, building tech, manufacturing and restaurant empires. Their lessons, however, are universal. (Organizer: Kathryn Golden, Enterprise Center in Johnson County)
- Solopreneurship 101 — 10 a.m. Monday — If you want to pursue a small business full-time or want to just moonlight, learn the essentials: pricing, estimates, invoices, contracts, self-promo tricks and how to get clients. (Organizer: Julie Cortes)
Click here to read KCSourceLink’s insider’s guide to attending GEW.
Startland News is organizing its own GEW event under the news organization’s popular “Innovation Exchange” event series banner. “Hustle in the Making” explores the spectrum of maker startups in Kansas City with a panel of entrepreneurs and maker community leaders.
The event — presented by Plexpod and Polsinelli — is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Plexpod Westport Commons’ Medallion Theater with food, drinks, music, networking, and a peek behind the curtain of maker life planned.
Panelists include Andy Talbert, co-founder of Snow Pops; Carlanda McKinney, founder of Raaxo; Nick Ward-Bopp, co-founder of Maker Village KC; Sean Null, CEO of Erkios Systems; and Katie Mabry van Dieren, curator and owner of Strawberry Swing KC.