Events Preview: Chat with Victor Hwang, Municipal Innovation
December 13, 2016 | Meghan LeVota
There are a plethora of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter, or curious community member — we recommend these upcoming events for you.
Weekly Events Preview
Innovation Exchange
When: Dec. 14, 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Think Big Coworking
Rarely are all the facts of breaking news included in the stories we read. From the coincidences that led to a business deal to the personal challenges along the way, there’s often a fascinating patchwork of details that remain in reporters’ notebooks. Think of Innovation Exchange as a chance to open a news organization’s notepad for a view into its sources’ rich backstories. Startland News editor Bobby Burch will explore breaking news in Kansas City entrepreneurship via a fireside chat with the newsmakers that catalyzed the headlines. This month, Bobby will be talking with Kauffman’s vice president of entrepreneurship Victor Hwang, KCK’s Chief Knowledge Officer Alan Howze and KCMO’s innovation analyst Kate Garman.
Innovation Partnership Program Demo Day
When: Dec. 13, 5:00 p.m. — 7:00 p.m.
Where: Sprint Accelerator
You’re invited to join Mayor James & City Manager Troy Schulte for Kansas City’s inaugural Innovation Partnership Program Demo Day. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to hear lightning presentations by the seven partners selected in 2016 to pilot a service within City Hall!
Poe Man’s Challenge
When: Dec. 13, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Think Big Coworking
Poe Man’s Challenge is an event that bridges at-risk youth and tech entrepreneurs in a competition to see which team can present their company the best in a “Shark Tank”-like setting. A number of Dontari’s teammates will be there, along with a Harlem Globetrotter and various tech luminaries.
Digital Health Innovation Forum
When: Dec. 14, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Sprint Accelerator
Over the past year, the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute (KCALSI) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City have convened broad workgroups on opportunities in health IT, population health, and how we transition from a fee-for-service to outcomes-based health reimbursement models. While these two efforts began with specific and discrete objectives, there has been some significant overlap in the ensuing discussion and big ideas about the opportunities for better community health in Kansas City.
Among our speakers will be:
Keith Gary, Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute
John Spertus, Health Outcomes Sciences, Co-Chair of KCALSI Health IT Outcomes Workgroup
Karen Johnson, Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueKC Blue Ribbon Panel
Questions?
Contact: John Fitzpatrick, Health Consultant, KC Digital Drive: jfitzpatrick@kcdigitaldrive.org
TechrIoT KC: An Internet of Things community
When: Dec. 14, 7:00 p.m.
Where: IBM
TechrIoT is a Kansas City-based community of Internet of Things (IoT) entrepreneurs, executives, manufacturers, investors, engineers, suppliers and academics. Together, we’re collaborating to enhance speed to market for innovative new IoT products and services and convening Kansas City’s ecosystem of resources for ground-breaking companies.
Ongoing events
Don’t miss out on the events that happen every week at the same time, in the same place.
Code for America Hack Night
Mondays from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Sprint Accelerator
Coworking Wednesdays
Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Sprint Accelerator
Hammerspace Open House
Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at Hammerspace
1 Million Cups
Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at Kauffman Foundation, Lawrence and KC Live Stream
Looking ahead
KC Roundtable Breakfast
When: Dec. 22, 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Where: Eggct
KC Roundtable is in existence to provide 20 and 30-something Kansas City entrepreneurs with a group of peers to support and collaborate on each others’ businesses. Our mission is to: – Focus on relationship building; not lead generating – Facilitate collaboration, openness, transparency, learning and teaching – Establish an entrepreneurial network – Fill the void of not having the water cooler.
We meet for breakfast and various locations around the city. In addition to our morning meetings, KC Roundtable provides additional opportunities to network with young entrepreneurs such as events like small group Mastermind sessions & After Hour events.
Prospective members are self-motivated, curious, open to learning and currently starting a new business. Thanks for checking us out. We look forward to meeting you soon!

2016 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Area gamemaker Shoutz partners with Pitbull for mobile arcade
Area tech firm Shoutz Inc. has launched a mobile gaming subsidiary that’s working with celebrity recording artist Pitbull. Overland Park-based Shoutz Inc. recently announced the founding of GameRail, which partnered with Pitbull to offer a variety of casino-style games in both English and Spanish. The PitBull Arcade — which features the artist’s image — offers…
Regional Roundup: Chicago’s megamall turned innovation hub
In this week’s roundup of watercooler talk from the region’s startup hubs, we have the dish on Chicago’s booming startup density, Uber and Lyft’s Austin tantrum, and Denver’s No. 3 rank for digital economy readiness. Check out more in this series here. ChicagoInno: How the Merchandise Mart became the epicenter of Chicago tech How…
Futuristic transportation vision for Kansas City includes self-driving buses
Kansas City hopes a pioneering vision for public transportation will help it emerge as the top contender for a $50 million award. Kansas City is one of seven finalists for the “Beyond Traffic Smart City Challenge,” which will dish $50 million to a mid-sized city dealing with rapidly-changing transportation needs. With stiff competition from tech…
Events Preview: Startup Waffles, NKC Showcase
There are a boatload of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter or curious Kansas Citian, we’d recommend these upcoming events for you. WEEKLY EVENT PREVIEW Startup Waffles When: May 27 @ 8:00 am – 10:00 am Where: Think Big Coworking Are you a founder, hacker or investor…
