Techweek KC returning with big LaunchKC, Techstars, BetaBlox demo days
February 28, 2018 | Startland News Staff
One of Kansas City’s biggest conference series for entrepreneurs is returning in October alongside some of KC’s most premier accelerator programs, said Amanda Signorelli, CEO of Techweek KC.
Demo days for Techstars KC and BetaBlox will join LaunchKC as signature events during the Oct. 8-12 conference, she said.
“Combined with the nationally recognized LaunchKC competition that awards $500,000 in non-dilutive grants after a live pitch competition, Techweek KC 2018 will attract and showcase more tech talent and emerging entrepreneurs this year than any other event in the country,” Signorelli said.
Chicago-based Techweek first came to the Kansas City market in 2015, she said, noting organizers are focused now on offering more and better technical content, education and training in the realm of innovation and technology.
An ongoing partnership with Kansas City’s Big Data Summit should help Techweek toward that goal.
“Bringing the biggest names in big data and data analytics to Kansas City within the scope and reach of Techweek is an awesome opportunity for our community,” said Don Peterson, founder of the Big Data Summit and the Kansas City Big Data Meetup.
In addition to big data, Techweek’s 2018 tracks focus on healthcare technology, venture capital, IoT/smart cities, virtual reality and augmented reality, digital media/marketing, public policy in tech, minority entrepreneurship/inclusion, and cryptocurrency/blockchain.
“Combined with the educational and networking opportunities, speaker panels, interactive workshops, a hiring fair, nationally recognized keynote speakers and an expanded expo with over 100 booths, we expect this year’s conference to be the best yet,” Signorelli said.
Featured Business

2018 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Tees to NFTs: Why the designer behind one of KC’s most iconic young brands is testing the waters of crypto
Blockchain’s rise is sending a wave of change crashing over far-ranging industries — and a Kansas City-based design and branding studio is ready to hang ten, its founder said. “I saw it as an emerging market of opportunity,” Ocean and Sea’s Brendan O’Shaughnessy told Startland News, detailing the popular design firm and clothing brand’s nose dive…
Yelp for DEI: New tech gives public a tool to share discrimination concerns in real-time, empowers companies to monitor, improve
Aishah Augusta-Parham’s tech platform has a goal rooted in impact: help business owners become more mindful of diversity, equity, inclusion efforts in their day-to-day operations — better ensuring their customers do business with companies and brands that embody shared values. “We are the Yelp of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Augusta-Parham said, detailing the mission behind…
Dough-re-mi: Choir teacher’s pop-up pie hustle bakes her second verse from scratch
On any given weekday, Ann Lewis Marzette can be found in the classroom, teaching and training students in the Kearney Middle School choir. But when the clock strikes 3 p.m., she trades sheet music and scales for mixing bowls and measuring cups, embracing a side hustle that has her singing dough-re-mi — while customers serenade…
Return on investment: Why the co-founder of tech giant Dropbox just donated $500K to Blue Valley schools
Blue Valley schools, teachers, and students are expected to benefit greatly from a newly announced fund launched by the homegrown Johnson County tech entrepreneur who later co-founded the cloud storage giant Dropbox. Arash Ferdowsi, a 2004 graduate of Blue Valley Northwest High School, has put up $500,000 to launch the Arash Ferdowsi Fund, which benefits…
