Global Entrepreneurship Week is returning to Kansas City in November with the ability for attendees to build their own week-long schedules from more than 150 planned virtual and in-person sessions. With a theme focused on inclusion, the wide-ranging options offer resources and insight for solopreneurs and small business to scaling startups — regardless of geography.
Events Nov. 14-20 span five tracks: startups; scalers; youthpreneurs; inclusive community builders; and makers, artists and creators.
Michael Carmona, KCSourceLink
“Entrepreneurs are the engines that drive the Kansas City economy, so we’re crafting this year’s GEWKC to help them follow their passions and build and grow something great to strengthen our communities,” said Michael Carmona, chief organizer for Global Entrepreneurship Week Kansas City and senior director of KCSourceLink.
Click here to begin exploring the schedule for GEWKC. The base camp for events is set for iWerx in North Kansas City, though activity is spread across the city. All events are free to attend, though they require registration through the Sched platform.
“When entrepreneurs can get the help and resources they need, they can do amazing things, so we wanted to harken back to past GEWKC celebrations with a base camp in an area that’s thriving with entrepreneur activity, as well as offer a virtual option for certain events to really open it up to everyone and lean into this year’s theme, ‘You Belong Here,’” said Carmona.
Looking for a place to start building? Check out these 10 events curated from the GEWKC calendar:
- Community Creates Innovation — Noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14 at Spark Kansas City — Motivational speaker and DEI expert Micha Mims leads a session focused on the value of physical space and community, and encouraging innovation together. (Organizers: Spark Kansas City and Startland News)
- Endeavor’s Kansas City Expansion Launch — 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14 at Restless Spirits Distilling Company — Endeavor, a 25-year-old global nonprofit focused on helping scaling companies grow, is expanding to Kansas City. Learn more about how its network supports scaling founders and receive the latest update on its investment arm, Catalyst, which has $500 million in assets under management. (Organizer: Shawn Morris, Endeavor)
- Digital Equity for Emerging and Informal Entrepreneurs — 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15 at iWerx Pavillion — Through this facilitated workshop, participants will learn more about 1) the Digital Readiness Assessment, 2) local ESOs who are specifically focused on the success of emerging and informal entrepreneurs, 3) tools for digital transformation and economic mobility and 4) the experiences of these entrepreneurs as they seek to grow their businesses. (Organizer: Rick Usher, The Usher Garage)
- Black Professionals in the Startup Ecosystem — 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15 at Keystone CoLAB — Black Excellence KC will assemble a panel of Black professionals who work in the startup space to give their perspective on the industry to give a basic understanding about the space and firsthand experience of Black founders. (Organizer: Craig Moore, Black Excellence KC)
- Celebrating the Winners of the LaunchKC 2022 Grants Competition — 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15 at J. Rieger & Co. — After a four-year hiatus, the LaunchKC grants competition is back. This session will announce winners, showcase their companies and have an opportunity for networking. (Organizer: Becca Castro, LaunchKC)
- Show Up for Yourself and Your Business — 3:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16 at Chicken N Pickle — Stop hiding behind your products and services and let the world see, hear and experience you. This session will explore how to show up for yourself and your business in the most authentic way as a creator, maker, influencer and artist. It culminates with a free professional headshot and branding photo for your portfolio, website and social media. (Organizer: India Wells-Carter, Fresh Factory KC)
- Movie Lovers Unite: Local Filmmakers Panel and Movie Night with Screenland Armour — 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16 at Screenland Armour — Join to learn more about the film industry through the eyes of local filmmakers. The panel discussion will be followed by a free entrepreneurship-themed film picked by participants. (Organizer: Michael Carmona, KCSourceLink)
- Strategies for Getting Things Done in an Entrepreneur’s World — 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 at Restless Spirits Distilling Company — Take a page from other entrepreneurs’ experiences and explore how to ensure you are working on the right things, establish the right system and discipline to make executing easier, and develop a mindset that propels you. (Organizer: Maria Flynn, Ambiologix)
- AltCap Your Biz Competition — 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 at iWerx Pavillion — Winners of the AltCap Your Biz Competition are revealed. (Organizer: AltCap)
- Evolution of the High Heels: Sis, We Should All Be Millionaires — 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 at The Blakk Co. — A forward-thinking conversation draws inspiration from the book “We Should Be Millionaires” to discuss the value of women of color in both the entrepreneurial and corporate workspace. (Organizer: The Blakk Co.)
The metro’s largest celebration of entrepreneurship, GEWKC draws thousands to network, learn and connect, but Global Entrepreneurship Week isn’t just contained to Kansas City. It is an international celebration of the makers, innovators and job creators who launch startups and bring ideas to life in the small business community.
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation founded GEW in 2008, and it has since expanded it to more than 170 countries.
All GEWKC events were crowdsourced from local organizations and businesses, and the volunteer GEWKC Organizing Committee curated the final list of events now live on GEWKC’s website.
This story is possible thanks to support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that works together with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful.
For more information, visit www.kauffman.org and connect at www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn
