Think Big Partners

Our Blog Has Moved

2014-05-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Thank you for visiting the Think Big Partners Blog. In an effort to simplify, we’ve moved this blog in-house to www.thinkbigpartners.com/blog. Feel free to read through our posts here, or join us over on the new blog for the latest news, thought leadership and great advice for entrepreneurs. Thanks for visiting!

Sincerely,

Think Big Partners

Think Big Partners Announces Sarah Snyder as Newest Partner

2014-03-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

It’s a core belief at Think Big that entrepreneur is not so much a title, but a spirit. It’s a pulse that courses through the veins of a growing company. We know that behind every great company are people who embody this spirit, people who embrace change, face the unknown and are willing to try new things. We’re lucky enough to have a team of these people, and we’re happy to announce that we’ve named one fearless entrepreneur on our team, Sarah Snyder, as partner.

Prior to 2010, Sarah, an event planner at the time, had aspirations of planning the Oscars and working on Disney parades. But it wasn’t until an entrepreneurship conference put on by Think Big that she found her direction. Her passion is events that change people; events that teach them and empower them.

“I decided right there that I wanted to make a difference with the events I planned. I began as a volunteer for Think Big, and found myself working full-time not long after,” said Sarah.

During her early days at Think Big, Sarah’s major accomplishment was starting the Think Big Coworking community. What started as just “space to fill” has blossomed into an active, engaged and close-nit coworking environment. In her new role as Partner, Sarah will continue the momentum she helped start and has big plans for developing the community further.

When asked about what “partner” means to her, she said that partners take care of each other.

“Partners help round out the thought process, fit together and create a whole perspective,” she said. In her day-to-day partner role, Sarah will continue to grow parts of the Think Big business regionally and nationally. While her major focus is on strategic partnerships, she will continue to manage the Think Big Coworking space.

Because she’s been a part of Think Big since the beginning, she’s seen a lot of changes and forward progress.

“A lot of things we’ve been dreaming about are finally starting to become a reality. The potential for growth and success feels very close. My passion for Think Big comes from creating jobs in KC, and as cheesy as it sounds, I think we can change the world – one job at a time.”

2014 is going to be a big year for Think Big. Stay tuned for some big announcements from Sarah and the rest of the Think Big team this Spring/Summer.

Contact Sarah if you are interested in partnering with Think Big at sarah.snyder@thinkbigpartners.com.

Wisdom

2013-12-07T17:05:00.000-06:00

From the desk of Herb Sih, Managing Partner, Think Big Partners

“The years teach much which the days never know.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson

The changing of seasons is one of Mother Nature’s greatest inventions. As autumn leaves fall and tree branches begin to bare, it is a natural time to reflect on the year that has passed. It is often during this time, and the natural tendency to slow down as the weather becomes colder, that some of life’s greatest revelations become self-evident.

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” - Soren Kierkegaard

Every year, we start winding down Think Big Partners activities during November, forcing many critical decisions to be reckoned with in December. These decisions will shape our business, both operationally (day to day) and longer term in pursuit of our vision of economic prosperity for our community and country, based on successful entrepreneurship and its many proven rewards. By helping entrepreneurs build profitable companies, bridging the gaps between innovation and commercialization of good ideas worth doing, or maximizing economic growth opportunities for cities based on their rich, unique history of industrial success, we contemplate lessons learned and ways we can work smarter in the future.

The process of winding down doesn’t mean we stop working. Work is sometimes an illusion. Being busy doesn’t always mean getting things done. Activity should not be confused with progress, and should not be measured by the number of emails sent, meetings attended or arbitrary tasks checked off your list as completed. But the act of taking things off your list…that is very different. This is, in fact, a productive activity beyond measure. To be truly productive and be able to live a smarter life going forward, we must be willing to release ourselves from our self-imposed obligations of the past.

“It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.” - Henry David Thoreau

If you take the time to examine things, you often can learn more than you bargained for. It has been said that the truth is already know, it just has to be revealed. Take the time to look for these revelations.

Reflecting on the past year, we think we see things in our world of running a hybrid technology focused business incubator, startup accelerator and collaborative coworking space for entrepreneurs a bit more clearly than ever before. Perhaps it is because we have crossed Malcolm Gladwell’s proverbial “10,000 hours” mark of experience for true mastery. Maybe it is because entrepreneurship and innovation seem to be “the new black”, and everywhere you look there are opportunities ripe for observation. Or maybe it is simply because we now look at things just a bit differently, based on our newfound experience and quiet lessons learned along the way. Some of these lessons were quite obvious. Some were very subtle. A few were even painful. But no matter how we arrived at these revelations, all were invaluable.

With these lessons, we see things clearer than ever before.

"The only source of knowledge is experience.” - Albert Einstein

We originally launched Think Big Partners in October 2010. But truth be told, we actually started in spring of 2009. It seems like a long 4 years since that time.

Back in May 2009, Tyler Prochnow and I took “B” office space and decided to re-learn all the things we hated about starting a business that we had forgotten about over the previous 10 years. Things like waiting for the cable guy to show up in their 4 hour window. Ordering a VoIP phone and not being able to properly hook it up for weeks. The isolation of working nearly alone, where you lack feedback for your ideas and contact with talented, diverse people that can give it to you. We had to tap back into our past forgotten experiences to gain the knowledge we were look for.

In 2009, Tyler had just come off the successful sale of Kansas City’s arena league football team (he was the original founder and pulled off a near miracle getting them to launch on time), and I had just sold my interest in a call center that I helped launch. Tyler had been practicing law for the bulk of his adult life, and I had been in the investment space for more than a decade, concurrent to some my career as an entrepreneur. Tyler had won awards and recognition as an outstanding attorney, and I had received recognition for being a co-founder of an Inc. 500 company in the marketing space. And while we had 2 very different backgrounds, we had one common experience. This experience was that it was really, REALLY hard to successfully take a good idea and turn it into a sustainable business.

Good ideas are a dime a dozen. That is not to say that it is easy to launch a new venture, but what gets really hard is taking a new venture from bright, shiny enthusiastic object stage to grind it out, not so fun when you miss dinner but must get it done stage. Getting your first 10 customers and your first real taste of revenue is where it gets tricky. And that is the part that we love the most, as we always seem to enjoy a good challenge, especially one that we can keep score in.

Our collective experiences, along with those of our immensely talented team members and partners, have equipped us for the next chapter in our book. We are very excited knowing exactly what we need to do, what we need to build and how we are going to execute this game plan. We are grateful for the partnerships we have created, both public and private, that will empower us to be very powerful allies for our entrepreneurs, startups, ideas, commercialization partners, big and small companies, investment partners, communities and country as we go into the new year.

These realizations have all come as the result of slowing down, to see things a bit more clearly, and to tune into the wisdom that is all around if you just pay attention. We are thankful for the wisdom we have gained, and more so for the opportunity to do something with it in 2014.

Stay tuned…and thanks for reading.

“Good thoughts are no better than good dreams ... unless they be executed.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Deadline Approaching: Think Big Accelerator Application Window Closes December 6th

2013-11-25T07:00:00.000-06:00

The application window for the next class of Think Big Accelerator companies will close on December 6th 2013. As our search for entrepreneurs with passion for taking big ideas and turning them into profitable and scalable companies continues, I sat down with Accelerator Director Blake Miller who addresses some of the most commonly asked questions of potential applicants.

Should entrepreneurs wait until closer to the deadline to the December 6th deadline to submit their ideas in hopes of improving their chances?

“I definitely encourage entrepreneurs first and foremost to apply when they believe they are ready to build and or grow their business. With that said, we've been evaluating applications and arranging first interviews with founding teams as applications have come in."

What do you tell entrepreneurs who are apprehensive of signing up based on the stage of development they're at?

“We encourage entrepreneurs to have a product they have launched or can launch within the next 180 days. We provide the most value when bringing products to market or developing a strategy to do so. We have had great success in helping refine a company’s product-market fit beyond a first prototype, getting a first marquee or name brand customer, helping new apps achieve their first 50,000 downloads or propelling a company towards their first 100k in revenue.”

What is Think Big's view on submitting multiple ideas?

“We believe at this stage in a business life cycle the founders should be most passionate about building one business. Although we recognize that there are outliers, we've found that the best businesses are built with focus and passion. Founders should also have a very firm grasp on the problem that they are solving, and the solution they are creating. Having domain expertise is invaluable and often the difference between a good idea that has no market, and a great idea that has 10 customers ready to buy the day you launch.”

Should entrepreneurs only submit ideas that they think "fit" Think Big Partners?

“There are definitely businesses that we provide more value in than others. If you have a question as to whether we may be a fit, please email or tweet us! We especially like AgTech, Financial Technology, Consumer Technology, Process Technology and Health Care Technology. We also have a strong background in building apps and mobile platforms.”

If you have a big idea that is ready to launch and grow, we want to meet you. The application window for the next Think Big Accelerator closes on December 6th, 2013. Interested entrepreneurs are encouraged to learn more about the Think Big Accelerator model by contacting us via email or visiting thinkbigpartners.com/accelerator.

Are you ready to take the next step in growing your startup? If so apply for the Think Big Accelerator before it’s too late.

Change

2013-11-03T09:58:00.001-06:00

“The only thing that is constant is change.” - Hereclitus

The great Greek philosopher Hereclitus is credited with this profound quote about change. Never before has this axiom been more important or relevant for Think Big Partners, or in our opinion, the world of entrepreneurship in general.

A recent report by Babson and Baruch Colleges reveals a very thought-provoking statistic: The percentage of adults involved in startups in 2012 hit a staggering 13%. This is a record high since Babson began tracking entrepreneurship statistics since 1999.

Looking further at this trend, 56% of adults said they were able to start a business, a confidence level higher than in many other advanced innovation-driven economies. Changes in perspective, attitudes and opportunities have led to more entrepreneur activity than ever before.

Beyond this shift in thinking, even more changes have occurred in the world, to include in Kansas City, our home town which we love.

When we started Think Big Partners in 2010, there was one formal business incubator program and really no active accelerator program in Kansas City. Today, there are at least six accelerator programs focusing on early stage startups, maybe even more. And if we were to start counting the number of coworking spaces that have sprouted up, the entrepreneur related activity level becomes even greater.

Back in 2010, an accelerator was radical, innovative and was a departure from the more traditional business incubator model. Today, there are hundreds, perhaps even over a thousand, of accelerator programs in the world. And likely this number is still growing for a bit longer.

The “entrepreneurial ecosystem” is sometimes a strange place. This ecosystem doesn’t always follow conventional wisdom. Hard work is admirable but results are really the only thing that ultimately matter. Commitment is not measured by focusing on your original business plan, but instead by focusing on creating solutions to the original problems which inspired your plan from the beginning. A lack of early formal organization often yields better ecosystem structure later on, even if it doesn’t always feel good at the time. We tell people unfamiliar with the space to accept the disorganized mess that entrepreneurship appears to be, because the big bang theory of successful entrepreneur ecosystems seems to work.

Brad Feld, partner at Foundry Group and co-founder of TechStars, has some great theories about this phenomena and talks about startup communities. In talking with Brad (who is a great entrepreneur, wise visionary and fantastic human being), we have listened to his thoughts on how startup communities develop and agree with his underlying beliefs. We believe in Brad’s “Boulder Thesis.” We have seen firsthand, the results of a long-term view led by passionate, motivated entrepreneurs that were willing to take action at a sprinter’s pace but knowing it might be a marathon distance. We love Kansas City’s inclusivity that now exists and see groups collaborating more than ever before for the benefit of the community, the entrepreneurs and each collaborator's organization.

Brad’s last point in his “Boulder Thesis” is about creating substantive activities and events in support of the startup community. Think Big Partners is proud that we have been part of the startup and entrepreneur ecosystem for four years now.

We are proud of our original event, Think Big Kansas City, which drew 400+ attendees from nine states, that has now morphed into iKC, in partnership with The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Our goal was to begin the conversations among all regional stakeholders, and then continue these conversations based on Tony Hsieh’s “collision density” belief system. We have read the book, Triumph of the City, that inspired Tony to take action and have worked to put this belief system into Kansas City (and a few other cities too, that have asked for our help).

We have conducted innovation focused events such as The Gigabit Challenge, the Google Fiber-inspired innovation challenge, to Hackovate Health, an open innovation competition in partnership with H&R Block to solve health care innovation problems. Hackovate Health drew applications from all around the world resulting in 10 finalists from different countries presenting their ideas in Kansas City on a very snowy day in 2013. The goal was to foster entrepreneurial activities that focused more closely on product-market fit, or even more specifically, finding solutions matched to problems that had commercialization partners on board from inception.

Lastly, we launched our first accelerator program in fall 2012, which has produced companies that have gone on to raise additional capital, win national awards, get invited to participate in other national level opportunities and generate substantial revenue as they bring their solution to the marketplace. We needed to stress-test our accelerator belief systems against actual accelerator experience and our own experiences as entrepreneurs building companies to develop our best model to help early-stage entrepreneurs and innovation partners.

With all this behind us, we now look in the mirror and realize the one constant truth: the only constant is change. Maybe it is time for us to look at ourselves more closely.

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” ― Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy’s quote inspires us to evaluate the world we live in. We are proud of the density of accelerators, the vibrant conversations and the signs of real economic success that now exist not just in Kansas City, but in the Midwest region. We now look at the role we have played and feel we have accomplished part of our original mission to ask provocative questions, encourage new conversations and challenge the status quo surrounding entrepreneurship.

We launched multiple experiments to test assumptions we made. Sometimes we were right. Sometimes we were wrong. Often times, we weren’t even right about what we were getting wrong – at least at first.

Think Big Partners has always focused on accelerating entrepreneurs, ideas and innovation. We want people who “think big” and who can act as partners in success.

We are professionals at helping teams build, launch and scale. In our profession, we have seen the startup statistics play out that point to the fact that teams (versus solo founders) win. Solo founders take 3.6 times longer to reach scale stage and are 2.3 times less likely to pivot, compared to co-founding teams.

Teams that are business-heavy are 6.2 times more likely to successfully scale with sales-driven startups than with startups that are product-centric and don’t have these capabilities. Technical teams are critically important, too. Tech-heavy founding teams are 3.3 times more likely to scale than their counterparts that don’t have this experience. Balanced teams that have one business founder and one technical founder raise 30% more money, have 2.9 times more user growth and are 19% less likely to scale prematurely than teams that only have one type of founder in the equation.

We realize that many of our most impactful engagements, the role that we play best and the gap that we feel exists most in today’s marketplace, is being more substantive in a “late, early-stage” companies success. This stage is where you need strong technical partners who know how to commercialize technologies (from pilot to full scale production), can combine proof of concept with innovation partnering, and cover blind spots and missing roles along the way to building out an entrepreneur’s permanent team. This role requires talent, discipline, execution, network resources and sometimes capital. Most of all, this role requires time and focus.

We like being part of that team.

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

We still see much work to do, but also feel good about the environment in which we live today. Traditional accelerator programs (90 days, 6%-8% equity for $18k-$24k investment) are more widespread than ever before, but there is not enough follow on resources to help those companies once they graduate. We will be part of a founder’s team that needs more substantive help after they have graduated from a good accelerator program or weren’t well suited for an accelerator program to begin with for certain reasons.

Think Big Partners has been playing this “graduate” role for many companies for almost 2 years. We are especially excited to focus on entrepreneurs and innovation pathways that realize they have more substantive needs based on their company’s life stage, complexity of their idea or the need for speed without sacrificing precision and execution.

We are excited to see how best we can help these types of “later, early-stage” companies and our innovation/commercialization partners going into 2014.

“Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” ― Steve Jobs, Apple

Good luck to all the entrepreneurs trying to change the world. We love your efforts, passion and enthusiasm. We hope you will solve real problems with your solutions – and with more support than ever before. The world can be a wonderfully small, productive place when we all work together to help build startup communities that thrive due to collision density and produce results based on the right collaboration of effective resources, deployed at the right time, being available for the right people.

We don’t think this is a crazy idea. We think this idea is essential, critical and timely for the world we live in today.

“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.” ― Wayne W. Dyer

Change. It truly is a great thing.

In Case You Missed It! iKC: The Unconference Closing Party Recap

2013-10-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

After the innovative unconference that is iKC, attendees headed over to the Alamo Drafthouse for the best part: the Closing Party by Google Fiber!

As everyone took their first sips of liquid courage and snacked on delicious appetizers, the Closing Party kicked off with the Open Mic Awards. Attendees awarded each other things like who travelled the farthest for iKC to who tweeted the most about the unconference. Winners walked away with great prizes like Chiefs tickets, bowling games, Boulevard Brewing Company swag and a Garmin watch.

After the prizes were handed out, collisions didn’t stop even though iKC was technically over. Closing Party attendees kept having meaningful conversations and interacting, just like they had been at the unconference. Party-goers snacked, sipped and continued to enjoy each other’s company, forging even more connections to create a better Kansas City.

Andrew Stanley, entrepreneur and founder of VolunteerMark, attended both iKC and the Closing Party – and he was not disappointed.

“The Closing Party was an awesome event,” Stanley said. “I had a really good time and met some really great people. I look forward to attending again next year.”

But the Closing Party wasn’t over yet! An unconference party isn’t made up of just delicious snacks, drinks and mingling. After party-goers had taken their fill, the Closing Party ended with a bang as we revealed the world premiere of the Tech Trek, a documentary made with and about Google Glass.

Thanks to support from Hallmark and Sprint, the Tech Trek took Closing Party attendees on a 30 minute journey from Kansas City to Silicon Valley and back to KC. The documentary took note of the good and bad of Google Glass, including commentary on the many reactions people had to the new technology. The Tech Trek made all of us think more about what the Glass technology means for not just the tech industry, but the implications for tech in Kansas City.

In a day filled with collisions and innovation on behalf of the great city we call home, we couldn’t think of a more perfect ending to the Closing Party for iKC2013: the Unconference.

iKC 2013: The Unconference Fosters Collisions

2013-10-09T16:17:00.000-05:00

The decision to make iKC 2013 into an Unconference was done with one central goal in mind; to increase Kansas City's collision density. Over 250 attendees filed into H&R Block’s World Headquarters to tackle the issue head on by creating unlikely collisions in a conventional setting.

What took place throughout the day can only be described as special & unique. After a brief welcome from Jason Houseworth, President of Global Digital and Product Management at H&R Block, the iKC 2013 Ambassadors, and Ed Wilson, Partner at Husch Blackwell, our own Herb Sih took to the stage along with event staff, Sarah Snyder and Christine Murray, to lead the live agenda creation.

The Unconference format allowed attendees to put their day into their own hands simply by voicing their opinion on ideas for topic submissions.

From there, attendees swarmed into the common area to vote on ideas and create the final agenda.

The final product was an amalgamation of ideas and questions posed by iKC 2013 attendees. A conference agenda truly unlike anything else; created for the people, by the people.

Attendees engaged in sessions that mattered most to them; resulting in mutually beneficial collisions and conversations for both individuals and the collective group.

Thanks to #ikc2013 organizers, learned a ton and shared some knowledge too. Kudos! @iKC2013 @thinkbigKC @RyanWeberKC
— Corey Mohn (@coreymohn) October 3, 2013

The design of the Unconference format proved to be just as beneficial to fostering collisions as the sessions were. In fact, many conversations often extended past the end of a session and continued into the hallways.

By the delayed end of session 4 it was clear that the goal of iKC 2013 was reached. Not only a high quantity of collisions took place, but collisions were extremely high quality as well. In proper Unconference fashion, the collisions continued on over to the closing party at the Alamo Drafthouse.

The Unconference was quite possibly the most valuable conference I've ever attended. Thanks @iKC2013! #ikc2013
— Mike Bosch (@mikesbosch) October 3, 2013

We are very proud of the success of iKC 2013 and want to thank our partners with The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce for the hard work and dedication they put into the unconference. We can't forget our gracious sponsors, and most importantly our team of volunteers, ambassadors, and UnMentors who made iKC 2013: The Unconference the valuable experience that it was.

11 Things to Know Before iKC 2013

2013-10-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

iKC: The Unconference is right around the corner! We’re ramping up for what promises to be a day full of unexpected collisions with unimaginable outcomes. In order for you to prepare for the unexpected, we’ve put together a list of everything you need to know so you can make the best of iKC 2013:

Check-in starts at 8:00am. Check-in at H&R Block World Headquarters on the first floor (and come early to guarantee your free t-shirt!).
Welcome presentations will begin at 8:45am. From there, the day will be divided into 4 sessions (to be determined the morning of the unconference).
The agenda will be voted on and created live from 9:30am-10:30am. This hour may seem a little chaotic, but it allows plenty of opportunity for collisions and conversations to happen! Attendees will be able to submit ideas for session topics as they arrive and register.
Free parking is available in the Annex Garage off 13th & Grand (but you must print a parking voucher beforehand!).
Attendees can make the unconference whatever they want it to be. We suggest having an open mind and to be prepared to discuss, learn and contribute to conversations happening.
Attendees have the opportunity to get facetime with some of the leaders of Kansas City by applying for the UnMentor Program. Apply here.
Dress casual!
Walk over to Alamo (1400 Main) after the last iKC session for the Closing Session, brought to you by Google Fiber.
Your iKC ticket doubles as your free pass to the world premiere of Tech Trek at 6:30pm at the Alamo Drafthouse during the Closing Session.
You have the chance to participate in the Open Mic Awards and personally recognize and award another iKC attendee on their participation and ideas during the Closing Session.
And never forget the 4 (un)written rules of the unconference:

Whenever it starts is the right time. Whenever it is over, it is over.
The people who come are the right people.
Whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened.
If you are not learning or contributing, it is your responsibility to use your own two feet to find someplace where you are.

iKC 2013: The Unconference wouldn’t be possible with our great sponsors. A big thanks to H&R Block, Husch Blackwell, Garmin, Mazuma, Sprint, Red Bull and Google Fiber. We can wait for iKC 2013 and hope you’re just as anxious as we are!

Thank You, Think Big: A Farewell Blog

2013-10-01T11:30:00.000-05:00

Three and a half years ago, I didn’t quite know what I was getting myself into. As a recent college graduate, I knew I wanted to go into copywriting, but I wasn’t sure where to begin. So, I took an internship with Think Big Partners as a copywriter, producing blogs and evergreen content for the new company in Kansas City that was “still trying to figure out what it needed to be” in order to serve the Kansas City entrepreneur community. I was completely unaware that I would fall in love with entrepreneurship, startup marketing and perhaps most of all, the people who make it all happen.

It was also three and a half years ago that Herb Sih (the co-founder of Think Big who became much more than a boss, but a partner and mentor) asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up during my initial interview. My response has changed from “creative director” to “marketing director” to “agency president” (and countless other titles) throughout the past few years. The Think Big Partners team (and Inboun team) helped me inch closer and closer to my career goals through countless hours of mentorship, collaboration and team pow-wows, and perhaps more than a few happy hours.

But one thing was always for sure: in order for me to really become “what I wanted to be when I grew up”, I needed to continue to expose myself to different marketing challenges, discover what it’s like to be at a global marketing/advertising agency and take the necessary stepping stones to develop myself professionally.

And so, in order to achieve many of my career goals, I have made the very difficult decision to take my copywriting and marketing expertise from Think Big Partners and Inboun to a global marketing and advertising agency here in Kansas City. I am thrilled about the opportunity to grow myself as a content strategist and marketer, but at the same time, it is always difficult to say goodbye to the role(s) and team that I love so much.

It has been an absolute pleasure helping Think Big Partners grow into the “idea factory” that it is today; not to mention, building Inboun into a one-of-a-kind content marketing agency from the ground up. I couldn’t ask for two better opportunities. I cannot thank my partners, friends and family enough for supporting me throughout the past three and a half years at Think Big Partners and Inboun. But most importantly, I have to thank the Think Big team for putting up with my loud typing, overly-competitive attitude, and Pirates of the Caribbean obsession throughout the past few years. I am not sure if there is another team quite like Think Big Partners out there--it has been amazing surrounding myself with people who are truly changing the world.

And so, my 867^th blog post for Think Big Partners is a farewell blog. I want to personally thank the entire Kansas City startup community (and Silicon Prairie region) for allowing me to be a part of your professional lives. I am sure we will see each other again--and I cannot wait to see the amazing things that you all do in the next few years.

Allison Way

Director of Marketing, Think Big Partners

Content Manager, Inboun

Please keep in touch by emailing me at allisonlway@gmail.com or tweet me at my new professional account @AWayInKC (starting Friday; until then, please use @AllisonThinkBig).

From the desk of Herb Sih -

One the best (and worst things) in working with extremely talented and highly motivated people is knowing that they are“extremely talented and highly motivated people”.

At Think Big Partners, we view “human capital” to be our most precious resource. In working with entrepreneurs, founders, corporate innovation teams, investment funds, communities, cities and more...it is always about the people. And throughout the past 3 years, we have found one very important common denominator to our company’s success - goals. It is all about knowing what goals we are trying to achieve, for ourselves and others.

Think Big Partners is very big into goal setting. In fact, every employee that we hire must write down their personal and professional goals, as we find it very hard to distinguish where one’s passion for work begins and one’s passion for life ends. To us, while work and personal life are distinctly different, it has many of the same traits that define success. We do not live to work, we work to live, but we want to do so with purpose, pride and passion. It is with this attitude, combined with goals, talent and motivation, that I feel someone can truly make a difference in the world. It may sound corny, but we truly seek people who want to be the change they wish to see in the world.

It is with both sadness and joy that Allison leaves us to go on to the next step in her life long journey of the pursuit of personal and professional excellence. With all this said, I am not completely surprised this day has come. Knowing you work with extremely talented and motivated people means accepting the reality that the world is a big place, and for them to make a “dent” (difference) in the world means that sometimes they must leave. But we also believe the world is a very small place. Just because people no longer work for the same company, it doesn’t mean we stop cheering for them. We need the world to be a small place to continue to make a difference in the world…apart but philosophically still together. True, meaningful relationships are based on being partners in each other’s success. That has always been a driving force behind the Think Big Partners brand. We are looking for partners, not employees, vendors or clients. We want to partner in other people’s success while allowing us to be successful for our families. We live that belief every day.

Allison - thanks for being an extremely talented and highly motivated partner. Go make your next “dent” in the world. You have made a dent in ours, and we are grateful. Good luck pursuing your next goal, keep in touch and let’s make sure the world remains a small place as we all continue to try and make a difference.

iKC: The Unconference...No Agenda. No Panels. What Fun!

2013-10-01T10:41:00.000-05:00

Written by Perry Puccetti, iKC Ambassador

Hot, emerging metropolitans with business activity focused on innovation and entrepreneurialism, such as Kansas City, are not overnight sensations. Rather, they are the result of years of investment in time, money and hard work. Here in Kansas City a vibrant and dynamic business ecosystem has been evolving for some time now; one that is sustainable and diverse, representing a unique synthesis of Silicon Valley innovation and Midwest values.

iKC: The Unconference is an open format conference focused on increasing “collision density” in the region. By creating “serendipitous collisions,” which organically introduce innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and connectors to each other to share ideas,great things will happen.

Here in Kansas City, we do not need to ask for anybody’s permission to be successful.

As a venue for peer-to-peer learning, collaboration and creativity, iKC helps serve as part of a broader catalyst by helping to attract, support and sustain the types of resources, and talent, necessary for our healthy business ecosystem; a complex blend of industry, academia and capital investment.

Recent events such as the Forum at the Middle of the Map Festival, Big Kansas City, Tech Cocktail, iKC and many others convene companies of all sizes and sectors to exchange their ideas and spark inspiration. These events also exemplify Kansas City’s evolving business ecosystem and unique approach to business. It is no longer sufficient for one company to lose at the expense of another; we believe that the exchange of ideas, creativity and innovation will lead the way to the future.

Here in Kansas City, we believe that business success is much more symbiotic; I win; you win; we win – we believe in the “New Reality” of “we, versus me.”

It does not matter what kind of business you are in, the size of your business, or where you are in your professional career. You can learn to be a better entrepreneur by attending iKC. Entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley have found that one of the keys to adapting to a constantly changing business environment is to stay flexible – the core focus of our region’s inaugural “unconference.”

As an Unconference, iKC has no agenda and no panels; rather the focus is on the interaction between attendees. Here are a few things that Silicon Valley does very well, that we should embrace:

Trust and credibility. iKC is an opportunity to remove social barriers and turn a random discussion into a business opportunity. Be bold! The rate of innovation increases when success is mutual.

We versus me. You cannot innovate alone. Have the humility to seek out long-term, win-win collaborations with others.

Pay it forward. This phrase says it all. Mentor, share your knowledge, extend your network, share your ideas; your reputation will be the better for it.

Listen. Ask questions and learn from those around you. You cannot hear the next great opportunity knocking if you are doing all the talking.

Start from a position of “yes!” Not all ideas will pan out; however, the fear of failure is the fear of innovation.

iKC: The Unconference is less about inspiration and motivation and more about great ideas, taking action and ultimately, achieving the “New Reality KC.” As Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh has said, “Create the opportunity for meaningful collisions, and then just watch as the best things unfold.”

Come collide with us!

Top 5 Reasons You Need to Be at iKC 2013

2013-09-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

iKC: The Unconference is all about taking great ideas and turning them into action. So why do you need to be at the unconference on October 3?

1. You decide the topics you want to talk about

At an "unconference," attendees submit and vote on ideas ahead of time to decide what the day's agenda will look like.Therefore, what the conference looks like is entirely up to you. Submit your ideas here.

2. Increase collision density in Kansas City

Collision density is the level of collisions made between entrepreneurs, innovators, connectors, and investors in a single area. The higher an area's collision density, the more quickly and efficiently innovative development can occur.

3. This isn't a lecture hall. iKC incorporates the "Law of Two Feet."

Unconference Rule #4 says, "if you're not learning or contributing, it is your responsibility to use your own two feet to find someplace where you are." If the session you're in is not a good fit, we encourage you to go find a conversation that makes more sense for you.

4. Get 1-on-1 mentorship from some of KC's most respected entrepreneurs and business leaders

We're lining up some of the city's most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders for the UnMentor Program. Apply for the UnMentor program and you may have an opportunity for a 20-minute session with one of our UnMentors during the conference.

5. The After Party. No, really.

At 4:15, we'll head to the Alamo Drafthouse for the iKC Closing Session (sponsored by Google Fiber) where you can enjoy free drinks and appetizers. There will also be Open Mic awards where attendees can grab the mic and personally award prizes to a person they think had the most impact on their day.

Plus!

At 6:30 p.m., you'll be one of the first to see The Tech Trek, a

Google Glass-enabled documentary, and learn all about the capabilities of Google Glass from the eyes of KC entrepreneurs.

**This screening is free for iKC attendees. General public tickets will become available if space permits.

Claim your iKC ticket today! We will see you October 3!

Announcing the iKC UnMentors!

2013-09-27T11:49:00.000-05:00

For the second year in a row, we have teamed up with the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce to bring KC an (un)conference unlike any other. iKC: The Unconference is an open format conference to facilitate collisions between innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and connectors.
Unlike any other event in Kansas City, iKC is all about taking great ideas and turning them into action.

This year, we are unleashing our UnMentorship program. If you're an entrepreneur looking for feedback or mentorship, you'll be interested in speaking to one of our UnMentors! During iKC, UnMentors will have open time slots of 20 minutes to meet with budding entrepreneurs (or just grab someone with an UnMentor badge!).

A huge thanks to our iKC UnMentors:

iKC: The Unconference takes place on October 3, 2013 at H&R Block World Headquarters in downtown Kansas City. A big thanks to a few of our new sponsors who have helped make iKC possible: eBeam, Boom Ideanet, City of Kansas City and the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDCKC)! For a full list of our sponsors, click here.

Apply now for the UnMentorship Program at iKC!

Think Big Accelerator in partnership with Microsoft Ventures

2013-09-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

You may already know about Microsoft Ventures which currently has accelerator locations in Tel Aviv, Bangalore and Beijing (and is opening several more soon). But you may not know that Microsoft Ventures is partnering with a selected few established U.S. accelerators to provide immersive programs, mentoring, technical guidance and connections. One of those selected few accelerators is Think Big Accelerator.

Think Big Accelerator in partnership with Microsoft Ventures will be one of only a few partnerships of its kind in the United States. Microsoft Ventures will act as a strategic partner for promising startups in the Think Big Accelerator program focused on business growth, customer development, industrial strength technology and beautiful usable products.

According to Cliff Reeves, who leads the Microsoft Ventures Community team, “Entrepreneurism is a local phenomenon everywhere, and Think Big Partners represents the best of KC as well as startup reach nationally and globally. We’re very pleased to be working with them to find and support great startups.”

The partnership between Think Big Accelerator and Microsoft Ventures will provide accelerator companies access to even more mentors, resources and connections. As Microsoft Ventures is a corporate run partnership with the intent to engage and support a select few independent accelerators per geo, the local Microsoft field office will play an active role in day-to-day support and mentorship of Think Big Partners’ startups as part of this partnership. While the Microsoft BizSpark program will be providing software, support and visibility to the startups, Microsoft Ventures will be providing additional resources through this limited partnership to better enable the startups success on the Microsoft platform while they develop their business as a whole. Along with providing consistent access to Microsoft technical resources and devices, startups engaged in the Think Big Accelerator will have the opportunity to qualify for additional benefits via the BizSpark Plus program where startups qualify for a rich set of offers including Office 365 and Azure.

"We at Think Big Partners are very excited to grow what has already been a great learning relationship with Microsoft,” says Blake Miller, Director of Think Big Accelerator. “The resources that Microsoft adds to our checklist-oriented process will help us get entrepreneurs from idea to first customer faster and even more efficiently."

If you are interested in joining what is sure to be one of the strongest accelerator partnerships in the country, we encourage you to apply for the Think Big Accelerator program. Think Big Accelerator typically invests between $18,000-$50,000. Upon acceptance into the program, you will instantly have access to the benefits and connections that Microsoft brings to the startup world. To learn more or apply to Think Big Accelerator, click here.

It’s Time to Vote for Your Favorite iKC Topics

2013-09-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks to our strong startup community, we have received many different topic ideas in order for us to build the agenda for iKC: The Unconference. A huge thanks to everyone who submitted an idea or a topic--the unconference would not work without you!

But now, it’s time to vote. Starting September 26, voting for your favorite iKC topics will open on the IdeaScale platform. Here’s how it works:

Visit http://ikc.ideascale.com/ to view a list of all iKC topic ideas
Vote for or against topic ideas using the “I agree” and “I disagree” buttons
The most popular ideas or topics will be displayed at iKC: The Unconference on October 3
iKC attendees will then vote or comment on the popular ideas during the opening reception of the unconference
The iKC staff will then build an agenda around the most popular ideas from the morning

A big thanks to our Agenda Creation Sponsor, Husch Blackwell. And of course, to those entrepreneurs, innovators, investors and connectors who have contributed to the IdeaScale platform for iKC to make it an action-oriented day for Kansas City! See you on October 3! Haven’t purchased an iKC ticket yet? Now’s the time to do it! Purchase your ticket here.

Nominate Your Favorite Tweeps to Win Free Tickets to iKC!

2013-09-21T10:28:00.000-05:00

Do you know of a startup or small business that deserves to win a free ticket to iKC, but hasn’t purchased one yet? We want you to nominate them to win a ticket to the unconference!

We’re giving away 2 free tickets to 5 different deserving groups and individuals nominated by our Twitter followers. The contest begins Monday, September 23 and runs until Friday, September 27.

Nominating an innovative organization is as easy as 1, 2, tweet! Follow iKC on Twitter (@iKC2013) and tweet @iKC2013 in 140 characters or less who you think could contribute innovative ideas at iKC and deserves a free ticket to the unconference.

Entrepreneurs are known for their innovative ideas; the goal of iKC is to make meaningful collisions that result in ideas that make an impact on our community as a whole. So be sure to nominate people who not only deserve a ticket, but who can help create collisions and action at iKC 2013!

Nominate the innovators in your life today! Tweet @iKC2013.

iKC Invites You to its Closing Session & Celebration!

2013-09-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

PHOTO CREDIT: ExploreKansasCity.com

From what we’ve learned after planning multiple events for entrepreneurs and innovators, some of the best conversations happen after the event doors close. And that’s precisely why we are inviting all iKC attendees as well as the general public to join us to the iKC Closing Session immediately after the iKC: The Unconference at 4:15pm at the Alamo Drafthouse downtown (sponsored by Google Fiber!).

What can you expect at the Closing Session? More than the typical event closing...

Drinks, Apps and Networking
What’s a closing ceremony without drinks, appetizers and networking? You’ll work up a thirst and a hunger during iKC: The Unconference, so be sure to walk over to the Alamo Drafthouse immediately after iKC for refreshments and power networking.

Open Mic Awards (Brought to you by the City of Kansas City, Missouri)
Did someone stand out to you during iKC? Did someone contribute something to the unconference and you’d like to give them recognition for it? Did you notice that someone stepped out of their comfort zone and participated in the unconference? If so, we want you to recognize that person! The City of Kansas City, Missouri’s Open Mic Awards gives you the opportunity to reward someone for their iKC participation or contribution during the Closing Session. Simply select a gift, step up to the microphone and speak to the crowd about who made a big impact during the unconference. (Oh, and did we mention we have gifts from Boulevard, Indigo Wild, The Kansas City Chiefs, Z Strike and more?)

The Tech Trek Premiere
We are thrilled to announce that the iKC Closing Session will also feature the premiere showing of The Tech Trek, a Google Glass-enabled documentary shot by local Kansas City entrepreneurs. The premiere starts at 6:30pm. Tickets to The Tech Trek premiere are free to iKC attendees and $10.00 for the general public.

As busy entrepreneurs, we understand that sometimes you just don’t have the time to attend a full-day conference. But if you’re anything like us, you also hate missing out on the action. So even if you are unable to attend iKC: The Unconference on October 3, we want to invite you to our iKC Closing Session. And trust us when we say you won’t want to miss out.

A special thanks to Red Bull, our sponsor for Closing Session beverages and DJ. Also, thank you to Google Fiber, our sponsor for the Alamo Drafthouse arcade. To see a full list of event sponsors, click here.

The Entrepreneurial Story of Kansas City’s Solomon Consulting Group

2013-09-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Anyone can be an entrepreneur: File some paperwork, pay for office space and embrace the culture of a startup. But the problem with this simplistic mentality is that there is a big difference between “being” and entrepreneur and actually being and entrepreneur.

The difference is doing things. Here at Think Big, we love companies that are doing real things. One company that is making a name for itself here in Kansas City is Solomon Consulting Group. Solomon Consulting group was just named #3 in Inc. Magazine’s fastest growing companies in Kansas City. To learn more about Solomon Consulting Group’s story, we connected with President and Founder of the organization, Grant Gordon.

Can you tell us about Solomon Consulting Group's beginnings? How did it all start? Do you consider yourself a startup?

Yes, I consider us a startup and entrepreneurial company as we blossomed from really nothing to now almost a team of 30. We are adding jobs and providing opportunities for people each month. I started this firm to focus on the niche area of business intelligence back in 2008, however, it was playing second fiddle as I was wrapping up the sale of Intronic Solutions to Premier Alliance, and didn’t spend much time growing the business. After my 2 year contract at Premier was winding down, I jumped in with both feet and joined Karen Blue and Darci Crow at Solomon and now we are making our mark!

What is your take on life as entrepreneur, specifically as an entrepreneur in Kansas City?

It’s fun, it’s challenging, but I couldn’t ask for a better city to be in to grow a business. I have so many caring people around this town. The toughest part ironically is staying focused in KC. As this is a “small” town, when you have some success, you consistently get requests for coffee, lunches and happy hours to meet with people who want to pitch ideas and talk partnerships. Most have brilliant ideas…but you have to stick to your core competency otherwise your time gets away from you…and time is a resource I can’t get back.

What challenges have you faced with Solomon?

The biggest challenge is typically the ebb and flow of our business. The highs are fantastic – the lows stink! You have to be able to remain level headed through each to see consistently improving results. The biggest challenge is to remember that my “Chapter 2” might be my competition’s “Chapter 12”. You have to challenge yourself – not look around and try compete with others.

What surprises, good or bad, have you encountered given your location?

We are based in South Overland Park. Some would consider us closer to Tulsa than to downtown. I think that we may look to add an office downtown in the future as the startup community is hopping and making the old areas new again! It’s fun to see the growth and the potential of downtown and its surrounding areas – and we need to be in the middle of that!

What advice would you like to pass along to current startups on growth and handling that growth?

Create budgets – stick to budgets – watch your cash flow daily. Grad school never taught me that “too much business can be as damning as no business” if it’s not handled properly. If you are growing faster than you expected, make sure you communicate issues and challenges with your banks, your investors, your clients and your family!

What does it take to become one of Inc. 500?

It’s a fantastic honor to be on the list with amazing firms across our area and the country. To make the list as Kansas’ 3rd fastest growing company was a bit of shock – but testament to Karen and Darci doing an amazing job growing this firm over the last couple of years.

What does such a big accomplishment mean for the company?

Like any achievement, it makes you work harder, not less. We want to make the list again and again…which means we have to grow. I ask everyone to make progress each day in one facet of the business or another. If we all take at least one step forward each day, we will get to the goals we have set ourselves.

What does the future hold for Solomon Consulting Group?

Our collective goal is to expand nationwide with offices in several cities. We want to grow to a firm with over 100 consultants in the next 5 years. We love what we do, and have a ton of fun doing it. Keeping that culture and making this a firm that people want to work for (and clients want to work with) is the main goal for us.

With such a great beginning, one can only anticipate where Solomon Consulting Group will go next. We want to thank Grant for taking time out of his extremely busy schedule to sit down and talk about his entrepreneurial Kansas City business. As any entrepreneur doing things knows, that’s no easy task.

Keep an eye on Solomon Consulting group by following them on Twitter!

Next Think Big Accelerator Registration Window Opens Sept. 16

2013-09-16T13:09:00.000-05:00

With the first Think Big Demo Day in the books, it’s now time to start looking for the next class of entrepreneurs ready build exceptional companies in the Think Big Accelerator. We’re looking for entrepreneurs who have the gusto to take a big idea and turn it into profitable company.

If you think you have what it takes, we want to meet you. The application window for the next Think Big Accelerator opened on September 16, 2013. Interested parties can learn more about the Think Big Accelerator model by contacting us via email or visiting thinkbigpartners.com/accelerator. We’re excited to see what big ideas come out of our next class and what companies join the ranks of past successes.

Do you have what it takes? Apply for the Think Big Accelerator today!

Announcing the iKC Ambassadors

2013-09-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

Unlike any other event in Kansas City, iKC is all about taking great ideas and turning them into action. And that’s also where the iKC Ambassadors come into play. The iKC Ambassadors will not only be in attendance at iKC on October 3, but they will play an integral part in bringing iKC awareness to the community and fostering more collisions and connections both prior to and during the unconference.

A big thanks to our iKC Ambassadors:

Sam Bao, Curator at StartupDigest
Adam Coomes, Kansas City Entrepreneur
Katie Peterson, Director at iStart, Manager in Networks and Innovation at the Kauffman Foundation
Perry Pucetti, President and CEO of Triple-I
Carrie Royce, Founder of Shabby Hats and Prodigy Arcade
Ryan Weber, President of KCNext–The Technology Council of Greater Kansas City

In addition to our Ambassadors, iKC: The Unconference will also feature a 1-on-1 UnMentor program. Current UnMentors include Keith Bae, Pat Doherty, Dr. Julie Edge and Ryan O’Connell. Stay tuned as we announce more UnMentors in the coming weeks. Attendees can sign up to be mentees of the UnMentor program by filling out the online application. In order to apply for the 1-on-1 program with one of our UnMentors, you must purchase an iKC ticket.

iKC: The Unconference takes place on October 3, 2013 at H&R Block World Headquarters in downtown Kansas City. A big thanks to our iKC Location Sponsor, H&R Block and the iKC Agenda Creation Sponsor, Husch Blackwell. A special thanks to our newest sponsors including Centrix Innovations, Kansas City Business Magazine, Adopt-a-Highway, Inboun, CBIZ and Microsoft BizSpark. To see a full list of sponsors, click here.

Get tickets to iKC: The Unconference!

The 3 Best Ways to Prepare for an Unconference

2013-09-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

We’ve all been there: stuck in a room for hours listening to speaker after speaker. We say we are there for work, professional development or networking, but we’re actually just horribly bored and unengaged. You guessed it; we’re at a typical run-of-the-mill conference.

Sure, the concept of a conference is a great one. But too often, traditional conferences are poorly executed. That is where the unconference concept comes into play. What is an unconference, exactly? It’s a lot like a conference, but less structured and more participatory. The attendees have just as much to do with what the agenda looks like as the organizers. While one says he or she is at a conference to network, the unconference is where it actually happens.

An unconference is still a fairly new concept, but it may just be the future of professional development events. With that in mind, and with iKC: The Unconference right around the corner, here are the 3 best ways for you to prepare for your next unconference:

1. Keep an open mind

The unconference model doesn’t work if you walk in with preconceived notions of what should or shouldn’t happen. A true unconference is not a super structured event and therefore, those who attend shouldn’t be either. In other words, keep an open mind throughout the entire unconference--no matter what sessions you attend, speaker you engage with or networking experience you have.

An unconference should also be a safe space where people should feel comfortable to freely share their ideas and receive feedback from others. This way, ideas keep flowing and innovation and connections are allowed to happen (after all, that’s the point!).

2. Be prepared with ideas to share and questions to ask

Now that you’re ready to meet and speak with anyone and everyone at an unconference, you’ve got to have something to say! Don’t be afraid to share your ideas or provide feedback...no idea is a bad idea at an unconference.

For example, if another attendee presents a new product or idea to you, let them know your honest opinion. If someone brings up a topic that you don’t understand, ask him or her to clarify. An unconference is not an event where you let the speaker’s words flow in one ear and out the other. This is your chance to discover new ideas, get feedback and take action on those ideas.

3. Practice your listening skills

We love industry disruptors and innovators, but please don’t be an interrupter! An unconference is a great place for real collisions to happen and relationships to form. Listen carefully to what the speaker or fellow attendee is saying so you can provide thoughtful comments or feedback. An unconference is anything but fluff or saying something just to say something. An unconference is the ideal place of meaningful action – and listening to others lets that occur.

Anyone who’s a quick thinker with an open mind, who also knows when to shut up and when to speak up, is the best kind of unconference attendee. Now that you know what it takes, why not get in on the unconference action?

Don’t be shy; get your tickets for iKC 2013 today!

5 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Do Their Part on 9/11 This Year

2013-09-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe that twelve years ago our nation suffered the tragedy of 9/11--a series of coordinated suicide attacks by al-Qaeda upon the United States on September 11, 2001. And once again, this year on 9/11, our nation will remember those who have fallen by raising the American flag at half mast and participating in volunteer activities and acts of service throughout the community.

Entrepreneurs, we know that you’re busy every single day of the year. Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day and 911 Day are no exception. But if you have an extra 10 minutes in your day on September 11, we encourage you to honor those impacted by the terrorist attacks with any of these 5 easy activities:

1. Educate: We are fortunate enough to live in a country that promotes freedom--and that includes the freedom to choose exactly what we with our lives. Entrepreneurs take the concept of “freedom” to a whole new level by choosing the startup road less traveled. The career path of entrepreneurship is a scary one, and a lot of people do not know how to begin. As an entrepreneur, offer some advice on entrepreneurship on 911 Day to encourage other budding entrepreneurs to embrace freedom. Participate in an educational event, host a lecture, mentor a younger entrepreneur or teach people your area of expertise for just a few minutes on this special day.

2. Create the Right Jobs: If entrepreneurs create the right jobs with a focus on important technical skills, a large abundance of jobs will spring up across the nation and promote the newfound American Dream and an increase in opportunities. In addition, the notion of self-reliance can improve economic sustainability. We, as Americans, enjoy many freedoms including the availability of extremely low prices (from companies such as Wal-Mart). The economic reality of this is that it is not sustainable. By providing more jobs and paying more for everyday goods, we can create a much more sustainable economy.

3. Promote Health: In order to promote a healthy America, entrepreneurs and small business owners must keep their physical health in check on a day-to-day basis and also make it an important matter in the workplace. Eating right, exercising, and getting an adequate amount of sleep benefits the body as well as the mind, allowing entrepreneurs and small business owners more creativity and energy while at work. It's a win-win situation all around. We challenge you, entrepreneurs, on 911 Day, to get out of the office and go for a walk with colleagues, hit up the gym for a jog on the treadmill or attend a yoga class. Free your body and your mind for a just a few minutes.

4. Volunteer: Whether you're a large business or a small startup, all companies should be interested in becoming good corporate citizens. When entrepreneurs and their companies volunteer, they can achieve an enhanced public image with a cohesive and motivated workforce. Volunteer programs also help employees strengthen their leadership and interpersonal skills and increases interaction among different departments.

5. Think Big Beyond Borders: The essence of being a patriotic entrepreneur is to look past the artificial borders of nationality, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and politics in order to address the most critical problems that we face as a global society. When entrepreneurs think beyond these artificial borders, we can promote a positive change in the workforce and in the world. Thinking beyond borders allows more people to achieve their own American Dream.

Entrepreneurs, what will you do on 911 Day? Will you do more than put your flag at half-mast? We encourage all entrepreneurs to Think Big on 9/11/2013 by educating, creating more jobs, promoting health, volunteering, and thinking beyond artificial borders.

From Kate Spade to the Garment District: An Inside Look at Kansas City Fashion Entrepreneurship

2013-09-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

We all remember (and envy) when KC native Kate Spade blew up as a fashion designer in the mid-1990s and made us proud entrepreneurial devotees and Kansas Citians. Why, you ask? Because as a budding fashion entrepreneur, Kate Spade had a dream and she made it happen in one of the most challenging industries in the world (not to mention in Kansas City!).

Fashion entrepreneurship holds a unique market for those involved...and a competitive one at that. This market is just as important as other entrepreneurial ventures. It focuses on developmental clarity, requires experimental vision and is also backed up by a strong network.

And guess what? Fashion entrepreneurship is booming right here in Kansas City.
The term “fashion entrepreneurship” may seem somewhat new, but creative design, innovative business plans and attention-grabbing marketing strategies have been a part of entrepreneurship since the early days of Chanel. (And even before that, especially in Kansas City!)

Our very own Kansas City Fashion Week Executive Director, Teisha Barber, thinks of fashion entrepreneurship as anything from starting a unique clothing line to owning a boutique to being a stylist (with even more subgenres too!). We see all of these genres becoming more and more prevalent here in Kansas City and in our surrounding areas.

Barber shares that there are several local and regional designers making a name for themselves in the industry by traveling around the country and participating in Fashion Weeks. It’s important though, to not overlook Kansas City’s styling history. Barber explains that within Kansas City history, fashion-related businesses are revered:

“According to the Garment District Museum, in the 1940’s, Kansas City's own Garment District was a major fashion hub known for well-made clothing and accessories using quality fabrics, second only to New York. But as the styles changed over the years, the factories began going out of business. People started dressing more casual for work and jeans became very popular in the fashion world. By 1988, all the factories were gone.”

Today, a fashion revival is sweeping Kansas City. Designers and boutiques again populate the city, bringing a new age of fashion to the heart of the Midwest.

With events like Barber’s Kansas City Fashion Week on October 2-6, 2013 at Union Station, how could we not be proud of all of the new blossoming couturiers and designers?

KC Fashion Week's director, Teisha Barber, had a few things to say about the event. According to Barber, the new Kansas City Fashion Week was established in 2010 and has been thriving ever since. Each season, the crowd has grown and Kansas City residents have jumped completely on board. In fact, both show dates for 2013 were declared by the city of Kansas City, enhancing the flourishing expression of designers, stylists, models and photographers to show the public their collections, talent and entrepreneurial drive.

But Kansas City Fashion Week (with presenting designers such as Baldwin Denim, Birdies Panties and many, many others) is just the tip of the iceberg for fashion entrepreneurship in Kansas City. We cannot overlook Fashion on the Fringe, a sub-genre of Kansas City Fringe Festival or the 13th Annual West Eighteenth Street Fashion Show that took place in June.

As each KCFW comes and goes, Kansas City reaches closer and closer to the heart of the fashion industry’s map. Here at Think Big Partners, we are proud to be supporters of Kansas City Fashion Week and will even be hosting an event at KCFW in our parking lot during October’s First Friday (October 4, 2013). After all, we support entrepreneurs in every industry--from technology to fashion. Stay tuned on our calendar for more information!

Just 1 Month Until iKC: The Unconference!

2013-09-03T15:24:00.000-05:00

Kansas City’s newest unconference, iKC, is one month away! Have you purchased your tickets yet? Submitted your ideas? Gotten involved? Now’s the time to do it!

iKC: The Unconference takes place on October 3 at H&R Block World Headquarters. And if you’re anything like us, you simply cannot wait. In order to ease your anticipation, we encourage you to do a little preparation. This year, iKC 2013 will be powered by you, the attendees, through topics submitted through our IdeaScale platform. The ideas that are submitted will then be turned into unique breakout sessions like unpanels, Q&As, short format presentations and more.

Want to get involved with iKC: The Unconference? Partner with us! Join outstanding supporters like H&R Block, Garmin, CommunityAmerica, Google Fiber, Sprint, Inboun, Mazuma Credit Union and Park University.

And be sure to stay tuned to the @iKC2013 Twitter feed for more info about the unconference like new sponsors, speakers and ambassadors.

QUICK LINKS:

Think Big Demo Day Fosters Collisions, Unites Entrepreneurs and Investors

2013-08-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

Just two simple words have the ability to make investors turn their heads and make entrepreneurs’ palms sweat: Demo day. Demo day is the opportunity for startups to get in front of angel investors and venture capitalists and pitch their ideas with the hopes of getting funded, or at the very minimum, making strong connections.

Think Big hosted its very first Demo Day on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at the Think Big Partners loft. You could feel the energy and passion of each entrepreneur as they stood solo on the Demo Day stage in front of 85+ investors, community leaders and startup enthusiasts. And although each 8-minute pitch seemed simple and comfortable enough, what the audience may not have realized is that many of these entrepreneurs had been practicing for weeks to deliver the perfect pitch--after all, that’s what it takes to get funded.

For the eight presenting entrepreneurs, Think Big Demo Day didn’t just take place on August 28. The journey toward Demo Day started when they decided to turn their idea into a business. From there, the entrepreneurs built, grew and launched a new startup right here in Kansas City. Four of the presenting startups went through the Think Big Accelerator program. Many utilized the benefits of Think Big Coworking space. And all were consulted and mentored by Think Big Partners along their startup journey toward Demo Day.

Think Big Demo Day began with a 45 minute networking luncheon and an opportunity for entrepreneurs, startups, community leaders and investors to get acquainted with one another. After lunch, the audience warmed up with energetic opening remarks from Think Big Co-founder and Managing Partner, Herb Sih and a quick 10-minute tour of Think Big Coworking.

By 1:00PM, it was time for the pitches. Polished presentations from Nathan Benjamin (InvenQuery), Jeb Ory (Phone2Action), Parker Hills (Keyzio) and Jeff Alholm (CandyCam) were followed by Q&A sessions from the audience and were then followed by explosive applause.

After a short break, it was Group 2’s chance to pitch. Many audience members frivolously jotted down notes as Scott Tibbits (Katasi), Connor Sweeney (WeeJay), Bryan Richard (Fully) and Pierre Barbeau (Moblico) presented their startup concepts to the crowd. Once again, the room burst into applause after each and every pitch.

By the time Pierre Barbeau stepped down from the stage, the audience was still fully energized and geared up to get some face time with the presenters. Lucky for them, Think Big Demo Day wasn’t over. The chance for investors to entrepreneurs to connect was just beginning. Many decided to stay at Think Big to meet one-on-one with each other while others moved the event down the street to Snow & Company for frozen cocktails, power networking and further beneficial connections.

Although the ultimate goal of Demo Day was to connect entrepreneurs with investors and funding, another goal rose from the gathering of so many passionate and energetic people: an increased number of collisions. As mentioned by Herb Sih during opening remarks, the reason that companies get funded and that more jobs are created is because of increased collision density. The term “collision density” is the level of collisions made between entrepreneurs, investors and connectors in a single area. The higher an area’s collision density is, the more quickly and efficiently innovative development can occur. Increased collision density was just another much anticipated outcome of Think Big Demo Day.

Think Big Partners would like to thank all attendees and presenters, as well as the partners of the Think Big Accelerator who help address the needs of the startup companies: The City of Kansas City, Missouri; Microsoft BizSpark, Twilio, SendGrind. And a special thank you to all mentors and resident advisor, Dr. Julie Edge.

The next round of Think Big Accelerator applications open September 16, 2013. For more information, please visit www.thinkbigpartners.com or call 816-842-5244.

Kansas City Entrepreneurs Embrace Labor Day

2013-08-28T10:21:00.000-05:00

Although all of us celebrate Labor Day by taking a day off of work to enjoy time with friends and family, very few of us know the true meaning behind the end-of-summer holiday. Dating back to 1882 when a group from the Central Labor Union took an unpaid day off, Labor Day’s origin was to celebrate "a workingmen's holiday" and to recognize the social and economic achievements of the modern laborer. Over time, more and more states enacted laws that gave many workers this day off. In 1894, it finally became a national holiday. Labor Day became a tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. It also was recognition for a more balanced outlook to work and a worker's life.

Entrepreneurs across the country should take heed of this day and celebrate! While many entrepreneurs are not able to share one of the benefits of Labor Day legislation, in which the 58 hour work week officially became 40 hours, it should be not be casually brushed aside either.

Being an entrepreneur can have many tremendous benefits, but this career choice is usually not an easy path to economic prosperity. The dream of the 40 hour work week seems fairly idyllic when one is normally working over 70 hours a week. The hours can mount up fast, while other parts of an entrepreneur's life can become unbalanced. So why take a whole 24 hours off just to celebrate Labor Day? We’ll tell you why...

Here at Think Big Partners, we want to challenge every entrepreneur to celebrate this holiday in some meaningful fashion, if for no other reason than trying to achieve some sort of work-life balance. The everyday world of an entrepreneur is hard enough. Be sure to take some time off once in awhile. Your startup, your American Dream, your email box - it all can wait once in awhile!

Happy Labor Day from Thing Big Partners!