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

    Josh Guffey and Hailee Bland Walsh, Fit Truk KC

    A test of Fit Truk’s core strength: People assume it’s a franchise, mobile gym owner says

    By Tommy Felts | December 2, 2021

    One of Hailee Bland Walsh’s biggest affirmations came in the form of a question: Is Fit Truk a franchise?  “As someone who has built businesses from the ground up, that is very validating and a huge compliment,” said Bland Walsh, co-founder of the fully-equipped outdoor gym truck, as well as the owner of City Gym…

    Alex Krause Matlack, director, Entrepreneurship Scholars, UMKC

    Demo Day: UMKC E-Scholars partners with KC Arts Institute for more authentic entrepreneurial representation, director says

    By Tommy Felts | November 30, 2021

    Art and entrepreneurship so often go hand-in-hand, noted Alex Krause Matlack.  “Many artists will inevitably become entrepreneurs because they can create their own brand or business to showcase their craft,” explained Krause Matlack, the director of Entrepreneurship Scholars (E-Scholars) at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. “This semester, E-Scholars has a new partnership with Kansas City…

    Luke and Paul Harwerth, TwinSauce

    ‘Just dudes who dance and we’re not ashamed of it’: Twin influencers chassé their way to 100K+ TikTok followers

    By Tommy Felts | November 30, 2021

    Paul and Luke Harwerth were born in “the-middle-of-nowhere” Nebraska, they said half-jokingly, yet the rise of YouTube in the early 2000s allowed them to fully explore their passions despite perceived geographic challenges.  “We didn’t start dancing until I saw ‘High School Musical,’ and then I was like, ‘I want to do that!’” Luke shared, laughing…

    ThinkPod

    Why an interactive digital business card could replace LinkedIn for startup, small business leaders

    By Tommy Felts | November 30, 2021

    People want to get their foot in the door, Jess Phillips said, laying out her plan for a newly launched social media platform that opens professional connections with an insightful twist: an interactive digital business card offering data on who visits and why.  Free of the awkward sales pitches and forced conversations that often come…