KC Outpost at SXSW: LaunchKC sparking interest in Kansas City-fueled Next-Gen tech talk
March 7, 2019 | Startland News Staff
LaunchKC has landed in Austin for SXSW and is planting a flag in the ground for Kansas City this weekend, said Drew Solomon.
Now in its fifth year as an industry focused accelerator for tech startups, LaunchKC attracts hundreds of entrepreneurs each year to apply and compete for $500,000 in grants, and the opportunity to build their businesses in Kansas City. LaunchKC is a civic engine in the Kansas City startup space. LaunchKC is an initiative of the Downtown Council and the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri.
Set for Sunday at the popular bar Maggie Mae’s in Austin, KC Outpost returns with presentations featuring expert speakers from Virgin Hyperloop One, Garmin, FishTech Group, Mastercard and other high-profile organizations, said Solomon, chair of the LaunchKC program.
“KC Outpost provides the platform to promote the LaunchKC program and the Kansas City community as a destination for entrepreneurs and tech companies,” he added. “We continue to demonstrate why Kansas City is a great place to start and grow your next venture.”
Experts at the day-long event are expected to discuss tech-driven solutions for cities, including high-speed transportation, smart city technology, cybersecurity innovations and talent attraction — all pressing issues at home, as well as across the country, KC organizers said.
Click here for more info on Outpost KC.
“Kansas City is an established hub for tech talent with a strong entrepreneurial legacy and vibrant start up culture,” said Tim Cowden, CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC). “This event is a showcase for innovations being tested and rolled out in KC, including hyperloop, cybersecurity and smart city technologies.”
Organized by LaunchKC, KCADC, the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the program is set to include:
- 9 a.m. — How “smart city” programs are transforming American cities — Bob Bennett, chief information officer, City of Kansas City, Missouri; Ruthbea Clarke Yesner, vice president of Smart Cities, International Data Corporation (IDC); Gordon Feller, founder, Meeting of the Minds; and Miguel Gamiño Jr., EVP, head of Global Cities, Mastercard.
- 10 a.m. — New ways to attract (and keep) talented tech workers — Sara Slocum, recruiting team leader, Garmin Ltd.; Molly Weaver, talent acquisition director, Children’s Mercy Hospital; and Jessica Palm, vice president, lead executive, Team KC: Life + Talent, KCADC.
- 11 a.m. — Fireside chat: Fostering diversity and inclusion in 2019 and beyond – Dell Gines, senior community development advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City; and Rodney Sampson, chairman and CEO, Opportunity Hub.
- Noon — U.S. whiskey rebounds; demo and tasting — Ryan Maybee, co-founder, J. Rieger & Co.
- 1 p.m. — Cybersecurity: Critical issues to watch in 2019 — Eric Foster, COO, CYDERES/Fishtech Group; Chris Lalonde, COO, Wickr; and Jason Zann, vice president, head of platform, RiskIQ.
- 2 p.m. — Will hyperloop transform the way we travel? — Diana Zhou, director of project strategy, Virgin Hyperloop One; Drew Thompson, director, Black & Veatch; Ryan Weber, president, KC Tech Council; and Christine Murray, senior vice president, managing director, Fenaroli & Associates.
- 4:30 p.m. — Top five finalists from the “Startup of the Year” competition pitch — Contenders attempt to win a fast-track opportunity to the Startup of the Year fall event and a $1,000 prize from LaunchKC.
To track Kansas City’s journey at SXSW, follow along at #SXSWKC
Featured Business
2019 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Lenexa-based Aloe soothes health insurance enrollment pains with human touch
A patient’s “wow” moment shouldn’t be when he or she opens a medical bill and discovers procedures that unexpectedly aren’t covered by insurance, said Andrew Belt, co-founder of Aloe. “People are frustrated — frustrated because they don’t understand how their coverage works or what’s included, and it doesn’t seem like anyone they talk to understands,”…
LendingStandard plans innovation upgrade with $2.5M investment from Flyover Capital
An investment in innovation has landed Kansas City-based LendingStandard $2.5 million in investment funds following the close of a Series A funding round led by Flyover Capital, CEO Andy Kallenbach said. “These are folks that are well-known in Kansas City and have had software businesses in the past, and that’s a really rare combination,” Kallenbach…
Don’t just play the game: MECA Challenge urges students to innovate ‘school of the future’
Challenging Kansas City students to envision “the school of the future” will usher in a paradigm shift wherein teens can see themselves as customers of school, said Katie Kimbrell optimistically. “[Students] don’t even think, ‘Oh, I could rethink this whole thing that I’m experiencing,’ and choose — or even demand — something different,” said Kimbrell,…
KCultivator Q&A: Kyle J Smith talks serious work, socks with sandals, pickled pig brains
Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The KCultivator Series is sponsored by WeWork Corrigan Station, a modern twist on Kansas City office space. A place to live, work, and play — three ingredients for a new life, said Kyle J. Smith, founder…