Drones, fashion, parties, more in Techweek queue
August 26, 2015 | Bobby Burch
Techweek Kansas City released its full schedule Wednesday, revealing a jam-packed agenda with a variety of tech-oriented events to connect and inspire.
The tech conference — which will be in Kansas City from Sept. 14 to Sept. 19 — will feature more than 40 events around the Kansas City area. Ranging from chats on drones and 3-D printing to a tech fashion show and hackathon, Techweek’s array of events hopes to engage more than just technologists in Kansas City, CEO Katy Lynch said. Techweek organizers are expecting upwards of 5,000 attendees.
Billed as a South-by-Southwest style celebration of tech entrepreneurship, Techweek has partnered with LaunchKC to present a grant competition and pitch contest. LaunchKC, which recently just announced 100 semifinalists, is an initiative to attract 10 tech firms to relocate to Kansas City with $50,000 grants.
Techweek also will feature several tech speakers, including:
- Jonathan Badeen, co-founder of Tinder
- Jim McKelvey, co-founder of Square
- Anand Sanwal, CEO of CB Insights
- Kristin Smith, CEO of Code Fellows
- John Jantsch, founder of Duct Tape Marketing
- John Fein, managing director of Techstars
- Boland Jones, CEO of PGi
- Chris Jeffrey, CEO of OrderUp
- Teffanie Stanard, CEO of MENT
- Blake Miller, a partner at Think Big Partners
- Claude Aldridge, CEO of Trellie
- Patrick Stuart, senior product manager at Skycatch

2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Culture Lab to Fountain City Fintech startups: Before you hire, define your culture
Bringing Culture Lab programming to the Fountain City Fintech accelerator’s inaugural cohort is part of a deeper effort to call attention to workplace culture in Kansas City, said Frank Keck. “We’ve been able to help each of these six cohort companies really define who they are, why are they doing what they’re doing, and help…
Investors deal BacklotCars $8M; KC-based startup hitting the gas on disruption
Disrupting the used car space has driven a Series A funding round to $8 million for Kansas City-based startup BacklotCars, the company announced Tuesday. “This investment comes at a great time. We are growing rapidly in our existing markets and expanding our national footprint. We expect to continue to add new features – to accompany…
Passive investment approach is so 30 years ago, Drawbridge strategist says
Transforming a systematic process into a company built on efficiency has Lee’s Summit-based Drawbridge Strategies ready to disrupt the world of finance, said Tim Fortier. “A product is a means to an end, not the end itself. What is necessary is better investor education on the process behind the product,” said Fortier, Drawbridge Strategies CIO.…
ebbie navigates journey from established insurance industry to tech startup mode
Olathe-based ebbie is injecting innovation into the risk-averse insurance industry, said Brian Hess. “We looked for spaces where we could come in and say, ‘We can make this a lot better,’” said Hess, operations officer at ebbie. “Fast forward to now, and we went through the development phase and the build, and we have successfully…
