Techweek KC taps into thirst for community at Boulevard kickoff party (Photos)

October 9, 2018  |  Tommy Felts

kickoff party

Revelers networking Monday night at a kickoff party for Techweek Kansas City were so lost in conversation that they frequently had to be reminded of the open bar available to them at Boulevard Beer Hall.

Jermaine Reed, KC Mayoral Tech Forum, Techweek KC

Jermaine Reed, KC Mayoral Tech Forum, Techweek KC

The evening event capped the first day of Techweek KC programming, which ran the gamut from a KC Mayoral Tech Forum and smart city innovation conversations to the opening of a Big Data track and Demo Day for KCMO’s Innovation Partnership Program.

Click here for a full event schedule for Techweek KC.

Click here to purchase tickets to Techweek.

The success of events like Techweek — and entrepreneurship in Kansas City in general — are thanks to hard work, not luck, said Jessica Palm, managing director of TeamKC at the Kansas City Area Development Council.

“Throughout this week, you’ll see incredible skills of individuals who call Kansas City home, of people who are visiting here and doing tremendous things all over the world,” Palm told the crowd at the kickoff party. “Kansas City is the place to be for tech — whether it’s a top city for really specific technology or the place to begin a career or create a startup.”

Tuesday’s programming dives deeper into blockchain technology, cryptocurrency and other FinTech topics, according to Techweek KC’s schedule, followed Wednesday by a track intentionally focused on diversity and inclusion in tech.

Thursday is dedicated to Techstars Kansas City programming and Demo Day, with LaunchKC and its grants competition rounding out the week Friday.

Check out the gallery from Techweek KC’s kickoff party below.

startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

Did you enjoy this post? Show your support by becoming a member or buying us a coffee.

2018 Startups to Watch

    stats here

    Related Posts on Startland News

    PHKC planning to open its retail incubator in mid-May; here’s a first look inside the east side space

    By Tommy Felts | March 26, 2024

    A new space for entrepreneurs to test-run their retail businesses is envisioned as a 12- to 16-month stepping stone to their own permanent storefronts or locations, said Dan Smith, and the resource could be open as soon as this spring. “We’re preparing entrepreneurs to open their own brick and mortars on the east side,” said…

    Chingu founders, Mean Mule partner for KC’s first soju — a Korean nod to vodka, distilled with culture

    By Tommy Felts | March 26, 2024

    Serial foodpreneurs Keeyoung Kim and David Son are launching the Midwest’s first locally distilled premium soju — a pays homage to the traditions of soju, but embraces a new era of cocktail culture. Through a partnership with Mean Mule Distilling Co., the first release of Chingu Soju will be just 15-20 cases of the product. …

    WeCode KC, high school partner to launch cybersecurity program for students 

    By Tommy Felts | March 23, 2024

    A new program from an expanding Kansas City nonprofit plans to expose high school students to job readiness and life skills that prepare them for careers in cybersecurity, right out of high school.  WeCode KC, which promotes tech education and creating sustainable career pathways, recently announced a partnership with KIPP Legacy High School to introduce…

    WeWork closing Corrigan Station, once a core hub for Kansas City’s startup community

    By Tommy Felts | March 22, 2024

    Coworking giant WeWork on Thursday confirmed the planned closure of its Corrigan Station location in Kansas City — a space once closely intertwined with the local startup scene and its flourishing culture of innovation. “As part of WeWork’s strategic restructuring efforts, we have made the difficult decision to end our operations at Corrigan Station,” a…