Events Preview: Innovation Exchange, E Day at the K

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.

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.

Inside/Outside Innovation Summit
When: June 19 – 21
Where: Pinnacle Bank Arena
The Inside/Outside Innovation Summit is a 3-day national conference, bringing together the best high-growth startups and corporate entrepreneurs to collide and innovate.Startup Teams in the Startup Showcase will be matched with corporate innovators and fellow startup founders. Startups will also have the opportunity to compete in a pitch competition for a $100k investment and incentives.

Startup Games powered by KC Crew
When: June 19, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Liberty Memorial (Southeast Lawn)
Join KC Crew at Startup Games to kick off 1WeekKC in the most fun way possible!
KC Crew has put together fun games to get your minds thinking and prepping you for a week sharing ideas and learning new skills. Startup games will allow for networking opportunities through team building exercises between entrepreneurs and startups!
Each player will be randomly drafted to a team. All you have to do is sign up and show up!
RSVP today!
This event is part of 1Week KC. For more information check out: www.1weekkc.com

Venture Lounge
When: June 20, 5:30 – 7:30
Where: WeWork  Corrigan Station
Calling all entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts! Join the Venture Lounge happy hour to network and connect over appetizers and cocktails.
This event is part of 1Week KC. For more information check out: www.1weekkc.com

The E*SHIP Summit
When: June 21 – 23
Where: Kauffman Foundation
The Kauffman Foundation will host a first-ever summit of its kind on entrepreneurship in Kansas City in the summer of 2017. Our vision: to build and support a dedicated community of the world’s “entrepreneurial ecosystem builders.”
This event combines several of the Foundation’s national gatherings into one large event. It will be designed to provide a comprehensive understanding and collective experience of ecosystem building.
Why should you attend?
– Peer Learning. Learn from a diverse peer group of inspiring thinkers, doers, entrepreneurs, leaders, policymakers, researchers and professionals from communities of all kinds, from all corners.
– Shared Ideas. Be part of an immersive and interactive exchange of ideas, information, stories and shared experiences on how ecosystems can be built to thrive.
– Latest Tools. Acquire new tools to shape the creation of social networks and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Gain insights on how to implement this new model of economic development successfully and measure it effectively.

How2 Create Competitive Advantage
When: June 21, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Where: UMKC SBTDC
Do you want to know How2 create competitive advantage so you can win in the marketplace? This workshop will develop an innovative roadmap to create that competitive advantage. You can start using your new plan that day!

Innovation Exchange: KC Ecosystem Analysis
When: June 21, 4:00 – 6:00
Where: Think Big
Presented by Think Big and Startland News, this month’s discussion will be an analysis of KC’s entrepreneurial ecosystem looking at its past, present and future. We’ll speak with area entrepreneurship leaders for a historical perspective on how far KC has grown and with emerging community builders to see where it can go.
The Innovation Exchange is an event to give the community a more intimate way to connect with newsmakers in Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. From investors and entrepreneurs to corporate leaders and other innovators, we hope to provide a backstory to the stories you read.
This month’s conversation will feature:

• Joe Reardon, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
• Toby Rush, CEO of EyeVerify
• Darcy Howe, Managing Director of the KC Rise Fund
• Joni Cobb, CEO of Pipeline Entrepreneurial Fellowship
• Herb Sih, Think Big Partners
• Kate Hodel, Special Projects with KCSourceLink

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 the reporter’s notebook.
Innovation Exchange is a chance to learn the story behind the story via fireside chats with the newsmakers that catalyzed headlines.
This event is part of 1Week KC. For more information check out: www.1weekkc.com

Creating Interactions for the Google Assistant
When: June 21, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Google Fiber Space
AI was a big part of the announcements at Google I/O. If you watched the keynote or any of the sessions, you probably heard someone mention the Google Assistant or Actions on Google. Whether you have or haven’t, we’re going to discuss how to make a simple voice interaction for the Assistant and look at some deeper use cases for the platform.
Both technical and non-technical attendees can build Google Assistant apps! The title of this event is intentionally not “Developing for the Google Assistant” because a basic interaction takes no code. API.ai is one of the most common conversational language processing platforms used when creating applications and interactions for the Google Assistant.
Feel free to look at API.ai and Actions on Google before the meetup. Attendees are more than welcome to present any applications they’ve built for the Google Assistant or any other AI platform for imaginary bonus points.
Schedule:

• Networking at 6:00
• Event starts at 6:30

– Creating Interactions for the Google Assistant
– Lightning talks: short discussions/presentations on anything from the audience
There will be pizza, swag, and giveaways, so don’t miss it!
What are my parking options at the event?
Parking is limited and first come first serve at the Google Fiber Space – 1814 Westport Road. Street parking is available on nearby side streets (Bell St, Genessee St, Wyoming St) as well on Westport Road. We ask you do not park in the church lot to the East, adjacent lot to the Google Fiber parking space. Thanks!

KC Roundtable Breakfast
When: June 22, 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Where: Eggtc.
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 Budget Series: Financial Models with Dan Schmidt, EBCFO
When: June 22, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Enterprise Center in Johnson County
The Budget Series exposes entrepreneurs to the process of understanding their books, choosing and monitoring key financial performance indicators and creating financial projections.

GUILDit
When: June 22, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Where: Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
GUILDit is 1 Million Cups for the artist community. Wach and listen as two artists present their business and crafts, and join the audience in offering comments, feedback, and ideas which will help the artist take their business to the next level.

Verge KC
When: June 22, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where: You don’t have to be in Silicon Valley to build the next big thing. In fact, you can do it right here in Kansas City. Verge KC brings entrepreneurs, investors, and community builders together for networking and fun. Listen to a few of KC’s hottest startups pitch to a panel of sharks while drinking a craft cocktail or local beer.
This event is part of 1Week KC. For more information check out: www.1weekkc.com

Entrepreneur Day at the K
When: June 23, 4:30 p.m.– 10:00 p.m.
Where: Kauffman Stadium
Join Kansas City’s startup and entrepreneur community (and a few national guests) at the K for a classic tailgate party and baseball game. In addition to the tailgate and game, your ticket includes early admission to watch the Big Slick Celebrity Softball Tournament.
Get ready to have some fun as we cheer the Royals onto victory!
– Includes pre-game tailgate (4-6pm)
– Free food, cash bar
– Big Slick game starts @ 5pm!
This event is part of 1Week KC. For more information check out: www.1weekkc.com

Maker Faire Kansas City 2017
When: June 24 – 25
Where: Union Station
Maker Faire Kansas City celebrates things people create themselves — from new technology and electronic gizmos to urban farming and “slow-made” foods to homemade clothes, quilts and sculptures. This family-friendly event demonstrates what and how people are inventing, making and creating. It brings together Makers, Crafters, Inventors, Hackers, Scientists and Artists for a faire full of fun and inspiration. Come see what others are making and be inspired to tap into your own creativity!

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

2017 Sprint Accelerator Program Demo Day
When: June 27, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Where: National World War I Museum and Memorial
To celebrate our 2017 corporate accelerator program, we are excited for you to see what our companies have accomplished! Come hear from the seven companies in this year’s class and have a chance to meet the founders.
9:00am – Doors Open with light coffee & breakfast
9:30am – 10:30am – Demo Day Presentations
10:30am-11:00am – Reception in Lobby to meet the founders
*There is very limited seating, so be sure to sign up to reserve your seat. We hope you can make it!

TechHire KC Tech Sector Meetup
When: June 28, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30  p.m.
Where: Think Big Partners
Find out how the TechHire initiative can impact your organization, how you can participate with subsidized placements, and discover how you can influence programming, training and curriculum to better meet your workforce needs. During these meetups, we will explore those topics and dive deeper into the region’s 5-year outlook, sector best practices, labor trends, and curriculum/instructional design in I.T. in Kansas City.
This meetup is for tech-sector employers looking to hire or shape the workforce pipeline. All events take place from 12-1:30 (lunch provided) at Think Big Partners, 1712 Main Street, 2nd Floor.
Think Big Partners serves as the Tech Sector Intermediary on behalf of FEC and the TechHire initiative in Kansas City.

2017 Mid-Year Economic Forecast
When: June 29, 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Where: KC Chamber’s Board Room, Union Station
Join us for an opportunity to hear how the economy – both here and abroad is fairing under the new administration. Our expert presenters will be Phil Sanders, CEO and CIO of Waddell & Reed Financial; Derek Hamilton, Senior Vice President and Global Economist of Ivy Investment Management Company and Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company; and Frank Lenk, Director of Research Services with Mid-America Regional Council.
Parking is available in the four story parking garage west of Union Station.