GEW hopes to spark innovation, connections among entrepreneurs

Global Entrepreneurship Week is about helping businesses that start in Kansas City stay in Kansas City, Jenny Miller said.

And it’s for more than the traditional “startup” crowd, the network builder at KCSourceLink said.

“GEWKC connects people who may not identify as ‘entrepreneurs’ – those who may think of themselves as makers, creators, freelancers, artists, business owners – with the spark, networks and support they need to start and grow businesses,” Miller said.

Now in its 10th year, the collaborative event series includes open-sourced content from dozens of community partners. The Nov. 13-17 schedule is expected to feature a record number of GEWKC events, she said.

Founded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in 2008, GEW celebrates innovators and job creators in more than 160 countries.

Kansas City organizers are gearing up for thousands of maker and entrepreneur participants. The GEWKC event in 2016 garnered more than 12,000 attendees, said Nathan Kurtz, senior program officer in entrepreneurship at the Kauffman Foundation.

“We anticipate this year to be even bigger as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the event,” Kurtz said in a release. “Whether you’re guiding a startup, trying to grow your existing business or just have a big idea you want to turn into a reality, this week is for you.

GEWKC is headquartered at Plexpod Westport Commons with events split into four tracks: business growth, business services, makers and creators, and youth entrepreneurship. Offering the community a basecamp of connectivity for the week, most GEW events will take place at Plexpod, although the calendar also includes other locations.

The full schedule of events can be found here. With more than 100 events on the calendar, check out some highlighted events below:

Monday, Nov. 13

GEW Kickoff Breakfast — 7:30 a.m. at Plexpod Westport Commons

CommunityAmerica Credit Union presents Innovate or Perish: Fostering Innovation in Established Companies — 10 a.m. at Plexpod Westport Commons

Multicultural Business happy hour — 5:30 p.m. at WeWork Corrigan Station

Venture Lounge — 6 p.m. at Plexpod Westport Commons

Tuesday, Nov. 14

Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It … and Why the Rest Don’t with Verne Harnish — 8:30 a.m. at Plexpod Westport Commons

Made in the Midwest: Inside the Minds of Midwest, Early Stage Venture Capital Investors  — 4 p.m. at Plexpod Westport Commons

Inventors Center of Kansas City presents Pitch Tank – Product Invention Show & Tell — 6:30 p.m. at Union Station

Wednesday, Nov. 15

Modern Mindfulness for busy people — 2 p.m. at Plexpod Westport Commons

AltCap Your Biz Competition: Winner Announcement and Happy Hour — 4 p.m. at Plexpod Westport Commons

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s ESHIP Playbook: Hack Your Ecosystem — 5:30 p.m. at Plexpod Westport Commons

Thursday, Nov. 16

Importance of Mindset for Youth Entrepreneurship — 8 a.m. at Rockhurst High School

1 Million Cups—Kansas City: Where Are They Now? — Noon at Plexpod Westport Commons

GEW 10th Anniversary Reunion — 5 p.m. at Plexpod Westport Commons

The Lean Lab’s Launch[ED] Day: Futureland — 5:30 p.m. at The Guild Kansas City

Friday, Nov. 17

NOVELDAY 2017 — Noon at Plexpod Westport Commons

Prison or ESHIP, hosted by Kyle J. Smith — Noon at Plexpod Westport Commons