KC Tech Council: ‘No Coast’ aims to prove landlocked doesn’t mean limited for local tech industry
January 24, 2019 | Elyssa Bezner
Kansas City has been “punching above its weight” since the days of covered wagons, said Ryan Weber, noting the tech industry specifically has an impact of almost $11 billion a year on KC’s local economy.
“Nationally, our profile has risen so much,” said Weber, president of the KC Tech Council which works to support the region’s tech industry. “There’s so much noise on the coasts but because we’re here in the middle of the country, we’re really dominating and being recognized as a tech hub here in middle America. [It’s a] great opportunity for us to really own that space.”
Kansas City’s greatest asset is its central location, he said, citing the sentiment as the basis for the KC Tech Council’s upcoming, inaugural ‘No Coast’ event which will celebrate the metro’s considerable tech talent annually.
Click here to learn more about the KC Tech Council.
“[Kansas City is] not put into a bucket of identity based on what coasts we’re on — we can play both sides, and that’s a huge advantage,” he added. “Our economy has become way more tech-focused and [No Coast] is going to be a great opportunity to celebrate an industry that’s quickly becoming the most impactful and important in our region.”
Click here to nominate KC’s tech leaders for No Coast. The deadline for nominations is Jan. 29.
The awards are expected to include: a Tech Champion of the Year specifically relating to policy, Outstanding Contributor to Tech for a company developing a product that advanced the tech industry in some way, and a Tech Educator of the Year for a dedicated educator that trains the future tech workforce, said Weber.
“I’m surprised that we haven’t had anything like this before, so we’re excited to finally deliver and grow an event that can truly be a once a year celebration of technology in this city,” he said.
No Coast — hosted at the Abbott Event Space — is expected to be entirely family-friendly with a casual feel, he added, noting the KC Tech Council consulted a focus group to ensure the structure of the event is different from other KC events, he added.
“We hope to make our attendees feel comfortable to bring kids, nieces, nephews, you name it, because there’s going to be a great opportunity for them to experience the tech that’s created in Kansas City and be inspired,” said Weber.
No Coast’s keynote speaker is expected to be announced in the following week, he said.
Click here to read about the KC Tech Council’s support of a STEM education bill.
2019 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Harvesting KCMO’s urban-to-rural development wins means taking down silos, EDCKC leader says
Editor’s note: The following is part of an ongoing feature series exploring impacts of initiatives within the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City through a paid partnership with EDCKC. [divide] Kansas City’s growth isn’t just shaped by skyline-changing projects, said Heather Brown, describing a simple formula — and delicate balance — that keeps the region building upon its…
Roo-Up with pulled pork or bite into Big Salvy: Ding Dong Dogs debuts at KC Streetcar’s mouthwatering last stop
Matt McLain longed for the hot dogs he grew up eating as a young baseball fan in Chicago. His just-off-the-roller, quick-serve hot dog restaurant near UMKC and the extended KC Streetcar line squirts a dinger of nostalgia in an emerging destination known for elevated fare. It’s an opportunity McLain relishes, the Ding Dong Dogs owner…
Beach volleyball heavyweights, Olympians hitting KC sand for George Brett showdown
Serial entrepreneur Lance Windholz hopes a high-profile weekend beach volleyball tournament — showcasing 24 professional players, including seven Olympians — will encourage more Kansas City athletes and enthusiasts to dig the sport he loves. The George Brett 4v4 Volleyball Showdown arrives Saturday, Sept. 13, at Shawnee Mission Beach Volleyball. Two amateur teams are set to compete…
KC-built AI command center helps businesses gain superpowers without losing their tech stack
First envisioned as an AI-powered agent built to streamline operations at Kansas City-based Plexpod’s coworking spaces, Intuidy has evolved into its own operating system; one that is transforming the way companies operate, co-founder Grayson Smith said. Vantage — Intuidy’s flagship platform launched in early 2024 with the help of Smith’s brother, Gentry — is a…