Events Preview: DevFest, Innovation Exchange

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.

The Marketing Series: Maximizing the ROI of Social Ads
When: Feb. 15, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Sprint Accelerator
The Marketing Series takes an in-depth look at the science and analytics behind marketing campaigns–from the basics of growth hacking to ins-and-outs of content marketing. $15.

February TechTalk KCWiT x GDGKC
When: Feb. 15, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Google Fiber Space
Join Kansas City Women in Technology and Google Developer Group Kansas City to explore how you can use web and mobile technology to leverage your projects.
Google Developer Group Kansas City is an independent technology user group that meets regularly to discuss the latest Google technologies, tools, SDKs, and APIs. The focus is on learning about the broad spectrum of technologies provided by Google and finding ways to apply them whether you’re a developer, designer, and system administrator in applications for startups, corporations, and personal projects.
We will discuss Android, App Engine, Google Maps, Google Apps Script, and Firebase using a variety of languages like Java, HTML, Javascript, Angular, and Dart.
Join us once again at Google Fiber Space to learn more about platforms and languages that can give your startup, company, or personal projects an edge.

KC Roundtable Breakfast
When: Feb. 16,  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!

The Capital Series: Angel Investment 101 with Rick Vaughn, Mid-America Angels
When: Feb. 16, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Enterprise Center in Johnson County
The Capital Series is offered for investors and entrepreneurs, allowing for detailed discussions of the due diligence process, term sheets, valuations and investor pitches during the equity investment process, as well as discussion of possible sources of debt financing. Lunch provided. $35.

Third Thursday KCedu and Lean Lab Happy Hour
When: Feb. 16, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: EduHub
Join #KCedu and the Lean Lab at EduHub, a co-working space for education and youth-related startups. Network with genius educators, business partners, and other interested folks as you eat and drink, learn and collide!
When you arrive, grab a snack and check out the whiteboard where participants create the schedule on the fly! Want to share something? Want to get feedback from others on a topic? In addition to the featured guests, as an attendee, you can throw your idea up in one of the squares for small group breakout conversations. For example:
Want to talk about technology in education, apps, gamification or how to make it relevant to kids?
Want to talk family-community engagement in schools and in KC?
Want to plan a city-wide project to bring KC together, led by kids?
Looking for some interested parties to co-write a grant? EdHub has several offices for us to spread out and share/discuss.
After introductions of any featured guests at 6pm, we go into an Edcamp/Unconference format in two fast-paced, 20 minute breakout sessions. Stay in one group or sample more than one discussion. We come back together as a group at 7:00 for final announcements and then continue conversations at EduHub or at a nearby establishment.
This format is about active small group networking and relationship building, not passive listening. CHOICE and VOICE! You’ll be happy you plugged into KC’s vibrant educator network.

UX for Mobile with Steven Hoober
When: Feb. 17, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Where: Pointworks Academy
Learn from the man who literally wrote the book on mobile design in this day-long workshop filled with practical insights on how to design the best user experiences for mobile devices.

DevFest KC 2017
When: Feb. 18, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Where: The Brass on Baltimore
DevFest KC is a 100% community organized developer conference with industry experts presenting on exciting topics including mobile, web, cloud, virtual reality, machine learning, and much more!
This year’s event will take place on February 18th, 2017 at the Brass on Baltimore. The Brass is located within the historic Kansas City Club building, this premier Kansas City destination seamlessly combines the old-world charm of a historic social club with the modern luxury and elegance. Drawing on over 100 years of history as the premier social meeting place, The Brass on Baltimore provides a truly unique setting for DevFest KC.
Attend for great content from the experts, network with great people from all over Kansas City, and also for the chance to win some cool prizes!

Topics to be covered:
Mobile (Android / iOS / Web)
Web Apps
Analytics
Firebase
Google Cloud

and much more!

09:00am – Check in
09:30am – Opening message; review the day’s sessions
10:00am – Mobile/Web Sessions
12:00pm – Lunch
01:00pm – Mobile/Web Sessions
04:00pm – Closing statements
04:20pm – Announce winners and hand out prizes!

Please review https://devfestkc.com for full details and up-to-date information on sessions & speakers.

Innovation Exchange
When: Feb. 21, 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. On Feb. 21, Startland News editor Bobby Burch will explore breaking news in Kansas City entrepreneurship via a fireside chat with the newsmakers that catalyzed the headlines.

LaunchCode Workshop #2: Product Manager — A Developer’s BFF
When:  Feb. 21, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Emfluence
At their core, Product Managers live in that crucial space between what customers want, and what engineers are focused on. They help clarify customers’ needs and support a roadmap for product development. In this workshop, Vince Kane will share his experience as a Product Manager, as well as insights on the role Product Managers play to support the development team.

Topics
How Product Managers (PMs) help engineers focus on the “right” problems
The value in understanding and communicating the “why” behind the problems engineers are focused on
Why engineers’ creativity in defining “how” to solve problems is critical — and different from the “why” support from PMs
Bring your question and learn about product roadmaps, the value of customer focus groups, and what makes a good Product Manager such a critical member of the development team.

About Vince Kane
Vince has been a Product Management in a rapidly-changing software environment at Netchemia (now PeopleAdmin) for three years. As a member of the Product team, Vince launched a Customer Advisory Board, turning customer’s feedback into product roadmaps, and leading efforts to improve user experience. Those efforts resulted in a 70 point NPS improvement in just six months. As PeopleAdmin has rapidly acquired other education software companies, Vince’s role has continued to evolve to include all aspects of Product Management.

Ongoing events

Don’t miss out on the events that happen every week at the same time, in the same place.

Code for KC Hack Night
Mondays from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 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

The Foundation Series: Contract Red Flags- What to Look For Before Signing on the Dotted Line with Chris Brown, Venture Legal
When: Feb. 22, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Village Square Coworking
The Foundation Series addresses legal and operational issues commonly faced by startup founders, from the process of finding and working with co-founders to strategies to protect your intellectual property. This ECJC workshop series is presented in partnership with Village Square, Located in the heart of the Kansas City Startup Village, Village Square is a coworking space that offers entrepreneurs and startups a place to call home.

More than Baseball and BBQ: Why investing in KC makes sense
When: Feb. 22, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Husch Blackwell
Come join KC SaaS for an engaging panel discussion on why investing in KC’s SaaS companies goes way beyond our baseball and bbq – it’s about our people, culture and our commitment to growing the best companies anywhere.

Panel members include a growth equity investor, CEO, and an executive sales leader:
Steve Wolfe, Co-Founder Growth Street Partners
Carlos Antequera, Former Co-founder & CEO Netchemia
Nick De Buyl, Vice President of Sales, Pear Deck

Social Media Secrets and Strategies for Business
When: Feb. 22, 5:30 p.m.  – 8:30 p.m.
Where: UMKC SBTDC
This 3-hour fast-paced training course will show you how to implement the most important aspects of social media and should leave you feeling more intuitively in control of your company’s strategy.

Topics Covered:
What to post and how much to post on the top three social networks for business: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter
How to create a weekly Social Media process that saves you time and brings in referral business
How choosing the “right” social network for your company prevents a lot of disappointment and frustration
How to make sure clients, prospects, supporters, and media interact with your posts
What to do about ugly comments and trolls
How to use social media to get the most out of trade shows and events
How to stay in front of customers on Facebook without paying so much for ads
How much time it really takes for businesses to be successful with social media
What really matters when it comes to ROI and social media analytics
*BONUS! This class comes with a user license to take ThinkViral’s LinkedIn class online!
This course will be taught by Anne Cull of ThinkViral LLC.

Athena League – Transformation Thursday: February Breakfast
When: Feb. 23, 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Where: Exhale Boutique Fitness
The path to being happy in mind, body and spirit starts with a basic foundation in physical health. From exercise to the food we put in our bodies, adopting simple habits can be life-altering. Layer on the art of mindfulness, and there isn’t a goal you can’t tackle in 2017.
“Sure, I’ll skip my workout tonight.” “I can stay for one more cocktail.” Saying “No” to someone else is saying “Yes” to yourself. Shifting our mindsets to focus on our mental and physical health first influences positive change across all aspects of our lives.
Join us for our first VOX of 2017 on Thursday, February 23 to hear from the following health entrepreneurs and mindfulness experts:
– Eleanor Lisbon, MD, MPH, founder, Exhale, LLC
– Steve Spangler, founder, Simple Science Juices
– Darby Brender, founder, Fusion Fitness
Start saying “Yes” to yourself. You deserve it.

Velocity Lee’s Summit Entrepreneur Panel & Networking Night
When: Feb. 23, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Contra Software
Velocity Lee’s Summit is partnering with the Market Center of Ideas to create a series of free entrepreneurial events throughout the year, starting with the first event on February 23 at 5:30 p.m. featuring Bob Gourley, entrepreneur and author of Make Money for Bob: The Bottom Line on Entrepreneurship.

The Nerdery: Overnight Website Challenge
When: Feb. 25 – Feb. 26
Where: The Nerdery
The Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge is a volunteer-driven program of the Nerdery Foundation, aimed at maximizing the community impact of nonprofit organizations through digital strategy and custom software design and development – all pro bono.

Are you hosting a relevant community event? Feel free to add it to the FWD/KC calendar for increased exposure. Once your event is submitted, it will quickly get reviewed and then published to the calendar.