Techweek, Launch KC winners have shot at more money
May 26, 2015 | Bobby Burch
The winning company at a demo day competition during Kansas City’s coming Techweek conference will earn a chance at nabbing significantly more dough.
In addition to a $50,000 LaunchKC grant, the winning firm would have a shot at an added $50,000 from a national competition. LaunchKC — an initiative to attract 10 tech firms to relocate to Kansas City — partnered with Techweek to present the competition, which is expected to attract hundreds of attendees.
Judges will whittle down the 10 grant finalists from a group of about 25 pre-selected startups, who will then slug it out for the additional $50,000 at the event’s “Launch Championship.” The Launch Championship will be held in Miami.
“The Launch Championship is the ultimate startup pitch competition,” said Andrew Charnesky, a director of Techweek’s event.
Charnesky added that Techweek offers startups a valuable opportunity to fine-tune their pitches with experienced judges and in front of a live audience.
Techweek is a weeklong conference that features a variety of programs, including prominent technologists, speakers, a job fair, fashion show, social events and many others. Techweek is expecting 3,000 to 5,000 participants for its inaugural conference in Kansas City. Among the first announced speakers include Jonathan Badeen, co-founder of Tinder, and Kristin Smith, CEO of Code Fellows.
Kansas City’s Techweek is set for Sept. 14 – Sept. 20. Click here to learn more on the event.
(Editor’s note: Startland News was initially provided erroneous information on prize values. The story has now been corrected with the appropriate prize values.)
2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Meet Kansas City’s ‘data experts in coffee,’ PerfectCube
Editor’s note: This content is sponsored by LaunchKC but independently produced by Startland News. Kansas City’s flourishing independent coffee roaster market has brewed opportunity for a duo of entrepreneurs. Mark Calhoun and Jim Starcev co-founded the big data platform PerfectCube in 2015. And although the platform is a viable analytics solution for any retailer, the…
Joni Cobb and Pipeline took ‘a leap of faith’ that’s paying off
In 2006, Joni Cobb was busy coaxing Kansas business executives to apply for a program honing their leadership skills. Then a state-subsidized program, Pipeline would cultivate promising entrepreneurs that would tangentially grow the Sunflower State’s economy with their firms. Extolled as rigorous, the Pipeline sales pitch hit snags with its intensiveness and novelty. Skeptical entrepreneurs…
The Pipeline fellowship’s journey to the Emerald Isle in photos
In an educational adventure focused on finance and global business strategy, the Pipeline entrepreneurial fellowship program ventured across the pond for a week of relationship building. I tagged along not only to observe the experience — expect more on that front soon — but to capture some moments with my camera. This smattering of photos, which…
Kansas City startups flex pitch skills in national Kauffman contest
Four Kansas City area startups — and one Lawrence, Kan. firm — have qualified to the top 40 of Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s 1 in a Million pitch competition. The competition offers those who have presented at 1 Million Cups in the last year a chance to snag a $25,000 prize. Hundreds of applicants — who…