Events Preview: Chat with Victor Hwang, Municipal Innovation
December 13, 2016 | Meghan LeVota
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.
Weekly Events Preview
Innovation Exchange
When: Dec. 14, 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Think Big Coworking
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 reporters’ notebooks. Think of Innovation Exchange as a chance to open a news organization’s notepad for a view into its sources’ rich backstories. Startland News editor Bobby Burch will explore breaking news in Kansas City entrepreneurship via a fireside chat with the newsmakers that catalyzed the headlines. This month, Bobby will be talking with Kauffman’s vice president of entrepreneurship Victor Hwang, KCK’s Chief Knowledge Officer Alan Howze and KCMO’s innovation analyst Kate Garman.
Innovation Partnership Program Demo Day
When: Dec. 13, 5:00 p.m. — 7:00 p.m.
Where: Sprint Accelerator
You’re invited to join Mayor James & City Manager Troy Schulte for Kansas City’s inaugural Innovation Partnership Program Demo Day. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to hear lightning presentations by the seven partners selected in 2016 to pilot a service within City Hall!
Poe Man’s Challenge
When: Dec. 13, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Think Big Coworking
Poe Man’s Challenge is an event that bridges at-risk youth and tech entrepreneurs in a competition to see which team can present their company the best in a “Shark Tank”-like setting. A number of Dontari’s teammates will be there, along with a Harlem Globetrotter and various tech luminaries.
Digital Health Innovation Forum
When: Dec. 14, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Sprint Accelerator
Over the past year, the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute (KCALSI) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City have convened broad workgroups on opportunities in health IT, population health, and how we transition from a fee-for-service to outcomes-based health reimbursement models. While these two efforts began with specific and discrete objectives, there has been some significant overlap in the ensuing discussion and big ideas about the opportunities for better community health in Kansas City.
Among our speakers will be:
Keith Gary, Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute
John Spertus, Health Outcomes Sciences, Co-Chair of KCALSI Health IT Outcomes Workgroup
Karen Johnson, Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueKC Blue Ribbon Panel
Questions?
Contact: John Fitzpatrick, Health Consultant, KC Digital Drive: jfitzpatrick@kcdigitaldrive.org
TechrIoT KC: An Internet of Things community
When: Dec. 14, 7:00 p.m.
Where: IBM
TechrIoT is a Kansas City-based community of Internet of Things (IoT) entrepreneurs, executives, manufacturers, investors, engineers, suppliers and academics. Together, we’re collaborating to enhance speed to market for innovative new IoT products and services and convening Kansas City’s ecosystem of resources for ground-breaking companies.
Ongoing events
Don’t miss out on the events that happen every week at the same time, in the same place.
Code for America Hack Night
Mondays from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Sprint Accelerator
Coworking Wednesdays
Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 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
KC Roundtable Breakfast
When: Dec. 22, 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Where: Eggct
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!

2016 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Mental health startup Start Talking goes mobile, scores $150K in tax credits
Depression affects about one out of every 10 Americans, including at one time Start Talking founder Mark Nolte. While a rough time in his life, Nolte’s struggle with depression in 2010 eventually led him to launch a venture that’s more easily connecting people with the help they need. Lenexa-based Start Talking offers patients a psychotherapy…
Video: KC women in tech talk challenges, engagement
While Kansas City ranks as a top locale for ladies in technology, there’s still work to be done to create more gender diversity in the industry. This video — created in collaboration with Kansas City Public Television and videographer Brad Austin — explores some of the challenges that women face in a male-dominated field and how to engage more women…
3 local businessmen named EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year
Three Kansas City area businesspeople recently snagged one of the most prestigious awards for entrepreneurs. EY announced Monday the winners of the Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 for the central Midwest, which included three businessmen from the Kansas City metro area. Those receiving the commendation included: Jody Brazil, CEO of FireMon; Matthew Perry, President of…
Women flex their tech muscles at KC conference
Framed by a LEGO guitar and robotic vehicle, Rheanne Walton and Emma Howard anxiously review notes at their podium as dozens of technology experts await their pitch. The middle-school students are visiting the Kansas City Developers Conference to share the story of their all-girl robotics team, MindSTEM, and how it competes in the FIRST LEGO…
