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
Vote now: Kansas Citians vie to lead tech, education panels at SXSW 2019
A cadre of Kansas Citians are hoping to take the podium at one of the nation’s largest tech and innovation conferences in 2019. At least four Kansas City tech and entrepreneurship leaders are vying for panel or speaking spots at the 2019 South by Southwest conference March 8-17 in Austin, Texas. SXSW recently opened voting…
Nominations for Techweek 100 list of premier KC innovators close Sept. 9
It’s not a ranking. Techweek 100 celebrates the whole spectrum of individuals and organizations who are impacting the business and technology landscape on a significant scale in cities like Kansas City, organizers said. Nominations close Sunday, Sept. 9. “Honorees include fast-growing technology companies, prominent sector investors, key contributing enablers of the digital ecosystem, those at…
Lenexa teen IDs winning medical solution with Parkinson’s detection tech FacePrint
Stanford University will have to wait. Eighteen-year-old Erin Smith is taking her medical technology venture, FacePrint, on the road. The Johnson County teen has been selected to join two prestigious fellowships to further develop FacePrint, which is a diagnostic and monitoring Tool for Parkinson’s Disease. She’s been tapped for $25,000 from the Davidson Institute for…
Velocity Lee’s Summit gets first big boost from city with $145K innovation investment
A $145,000 allocation for Velocity Lee’s Summit represents the first step in the City of Lee’s Summit getting serious about investing in innovation, said Grant Gooding. “There is a lot of talent in Lee’s Summit and we wanted to give entrepreneurs a place and an ecosystem to foster the development of their businesses,” said Gooding,…