Kansas City can’t get enough of TEDxKC
August 28, 2015 | Andrea Essner
Kansas Citians have rushed the stage to buy tickets for TEDxKC.
When tickets for TEDxKC went on sale in early June, they sold out in less than 30 minutes. For those who weren’t able to snag tickets to the live event and simulcast at the Kauffman Performing Arts Center, other area organizations offered watch parties.
Those parties now have also sold out, as nearly 4,000 people around the Kansas City area have purchased tickets to watch TEDxKC, an event featuring national speakers challenging participants to see the world as it isn’t. The enthusiastic response from the community begs the question of whether a larger venue — such as the Sprint Center — is needed for future events.
With the theme set as RE:IMAGINE, TEDxKC Live will take place at Kauffman Center, with simulcast in the Muriel Kauffman Theatre. Watch parties are set at Sprint Accelerator and KU Edwards Campus. Between the three hosting venues, nearly 4,000 people will hear the TEDxKC talks. This is the 7th annual TEDx event hosted in Kansas City.
TED talks will begin at 5:30 p.m., with 10 speakers lined up to share their stories of re-imagination and three performers to entertain the masses.
Meet some of the TEDxKC speakers:
- Ashley Dara Dotz is a humanitarian utilizing 3D printers to disrupt supply chains and black markets in disaster zones.
- Scott Hamilton is one of the most recognized male figure skating star in the world, has won 70 titles and awards, and inspires others as a speaker, philanthropist and cancer and pituitary brain tumor survivor.
- Martin Pistorius is the author of the New York Times best-selling book “Ghost Boy: The Miraculous Escape of a Misdiagnosed Boy Trapped Inside His Own Body.”
- Nikole Hannah-Jones is a reporter for The New York Times Magazine covering civil rights. Her 2014 investigation into school re-segregation won two Online News Association awards, first prize in the National Awards for Education Reporting and was a National Magazine Award finalist.
- Dr. Barmak Heshmatmit is a media Lab researcher exploring the link between science fiction, art and invention. His research dives into a technology that will allow us to change the way we look at the world.
2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
BKS Artisan Ales takes measured approach with nano-brewery concept
It takes only about an hour for BKS Artisan Ales to sell out of its packaged bottles and cans each Saturday afternoon, Brian Rooney said. “We thought it would be great if maybe 40 people came in and maybe each of those 40 took a beer home,” said Rooney, a craft brewer who owns and…
KC named a top ‘dark horse’ to land Amazon HQ2
National media is lending credence to Kansas City’s prospects of attracting Amazon’s second headquarters. Inc. Magazine on Wednesday published a list of “5 Dark Horse Cities” to land Amazon HQ2, a prospective project that promises to create upward of 50,000 new jobs in whatever locale that nabs the online retailer’s massive new hub. While speculative,…
Couple with tech, startup background embraces risk-taking as new Pitch owners
Local ownership of The Pitch will preserve the Kansas City alternative news publication’s voice, as well as expanding digital content for readers, and promotions and services for advertisers, Stephanie Carey said. “I love the independent voice. I love the fact that we can push those boundaries, push the envelope on stories, dig a little deeper,”…
Cultural differences contribute to entrepreneur access gap, Porter House founder says
Early education about entrepreneurism and the resources available aren’t typically priorities in low- to moderate-income communities, said Daniel Smith. “A lack of access results because we don’t really have a lot of programs in our communities that focus on small business and entrepreneurism,” said Smith, founder of The Porter House KC. “It’s more focused on…