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
Blooom CEO switch better allows Costello to ‘evangelize’ high-profile KC startup
Following a “tremendous” year of growth, Blooom officials said Wednesday that upward trajectory requires a new leader at the helm. Co-founder Chris Costello, who has served for the past five years as chief executive officer, has stepped down and moved into a new role as chairman of Blooom’s board of directors. Matt Burgener, the company’s…
Starty Pants podcast host Sharice Davids making bid to unseat Rep. Kevin Yoder
Americans have an intergenerational responsibility to leave society and the country better than they found it, Sharice Davids said. The startup founders she interviews for her Starty Pants podcast understand that duty, she said. “When I think about entrepreneurship, I think of the risk taking and forward thinking of people who are trying to address…
Tech leaders: City needs more innovative approach to regulating the sharing economy
Feb. 22 update: After a robust, 40-minute conversation Thursday, the full Kansas City Council voted 7-4 to pass a proposed ordinance that would prohibit short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods zoned as R-7.5 and R-10. Voting yes: council members Scott Wagner, Heather Hall, Dan Fowler, Lee Barnes, Jr., Alissia Canady, Scott Taylor and Kevin McManus. Voting…
