Join Wichita Startup Week, Startup Grind, and the Wichita Independent Business Association for a teaser of what to expect the week of Oct. 10.
Janice Perkins will coach you how to make your first impression count either for yourself or your business. But pay attention, there will be a quiz. If feeling brave, participants will have the opportunity to give their pitch to a trained pannel for the chance of some sweet WIBA member prizes!
Come for the education but stay for the toast to a successful 2022 Wichita Startup Week.
The Kansas Leadership Center recently did a deep dive into successful entreprenrueral communities across rural Kansas. What did those communities have and what can we learn from them? Hear from Shaun Rojas on the findings of Kansas Leadership Center.
Simplicity is a universally beneficial characteristic. We often take complexity for granted, but we can do better with understanding, intention, and diligence.
The Garages are a rotating line-up of the city’s up-and-coming retail concepts. We provide the space, mentorship, and dedicated resources; you provide the must-see qualities that will grow your idea into a thriving street-level business.
Monday October 10, 2022 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Groover Event Space343 St Francis Ave, Wichita, KS 67202
Tara is the principal and founder of Mountain Lily Studios, a commercial interior design firm in Denver, Colorado. As an accomplished and award-winning designer, Tara brings a unique and holistic approach to how our environments can support the well-being of the inhabitants. Her passion for designing creative and functional spaces that positively impact people and the environment, drives her to help companies build strong communities and create positive change.
Let’s toast to another successful Wichita Startup Week powered by Koch Industries. Join us to meet other people in the space and to take time to appreciate the finer things. The first 150 guests will get two drink tickets.
Monday October 10, 2022 5:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
Brickyard129 N. ROCK ISLAND ROAD, WICHITA, KS 67202
Claudia Yaujar-Amaro owner of AB&C BilingualResources, LLC a bilingual marketing company and founder of Planeta VenusOnline a Spanish Media website that includes radio, newspaper and digital content.
Rob DeSantis cofounded Ariba (which went public and was acquired by SAP) as well as seed stage company, Arkestro (which KDT is currently invested in). He was also an early angel investor in LinkedIn, and has invested, founded and advised many other companies as well.
Rob's dynamic experience spans every stage from founder to investor to mentor, now back to seed-stage founder again. He will engage the audience and has made himself available to answer a wide range of situational questions.
About Rob Rob co-founded Ariba, Inc. and led its field sales and operations team, helping the company expand from zero to $250 million in four years with positive cash flow after eight months of operation. Eventually, Ariba became the fastest growing software company in the history of the software industry. In 1999, while Rob lived in Holland setting up international operations and customers, Ariba went public and was cited as one of the top 10 IPO’s of all time reaching a $42 billion market cap nine months after the IPO. Rob retired from Ariba as the EVP and CMO in late 2000 where he architected key relationships with companies like Dell, Microsoft, Bank of America and American Express.
Since 2001, he has developed a portfolio of companies primarily in the world of technology and has helped several to achieve billion-dollar outcomes. In 2003, Rob invested alongside Sequoia Capital in LinkedIn and was an early board member. In 2007 he became one of the largest personal investors in Bloom Energy and currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the CEO and his team. Additional companies he has participated in include Sugar Publishing, Hiq Labs, Aeye Inc. and Agiloft Software where he is also a Senior Advisor to the CEO and management team.
Rob obtained a Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Rhode Island.
Tuesday October 11, 2022 11:00am - 11:45am CDT
Groover Event Space343 St Francis Ave, Wichita, KS 67202
Cutting-edge innovations are half the equation. What's missing? Getting others onboard. Here's how to motivate your leads to join your endeavor and sell on your behalf.
How developing a digital mindset can increase efficiency, enhance the customer experience, and improve decision making to help de-risk and scale your business.
Thinking digital means you are always on the lookout for ways to improve your business with digital tools. Leading Digital moves your organization to strategically using data and technology to grow your bottom line. But don’t be misled, thinking and leading digital both are about talent first, technology second.
Ti’Juana Hardwell is the owner of Mamarazzi Communications, a strategic marketing and communications company. In 2020 she was named one of the “Women Who Lead in Marketing & Communications” by the Wichita Business Journal.
Alejo is a community advancement advocate. Spark Community Business Academy is a member of the Rising Tide Capital Program network. It is a 12-week program led by Create Campaign to provide diverse entrepreneurs with access to Spark’s curriculum and Rising Tide Capital’s national mentorship program. Alejo will speak to the program, Martin Pringle’s sponsorship, and have a few graduates join a mini panel.
See one of Wichita’s hottest startups — Ringorang. The team will open their doors over the lunch hour for the community to see what working at a startup is like.
Wednesday October 12, 2022 12:00pm - 12:45pm CDT
Ringorang220 W. Douglas Ave., Ste 400, Wichita, KS
Campfire is a 12-week tech startup course based on the Y Combinator Startup Course at Stanford University. The course is held weekly at Groover Labs with experienced mentors at your side helping guide the way.
Please join us for a flagship event during Wichita Startup Week to celebrate the first-ever cohort and enterprise partners for the NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series!
This program bridges the knowledge and access gaps between early-stage businesses around Kansas and the larger organizations they want to collaborate with and sell to, as part of NXTUS’s overall effort to connect entrepreneurs with customers to help them grow companies of significance.
We will enjoy food and drink on Cargill’s beautiful patio and celebrate the 20 growth-minded Kansas startups and nine community-minded enterprise partners who led the way during this program, which was launched this year as part of the ICT Entrepreneurship Coalition, alongside Wichita State University and supported by the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
2022 NXSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series Participants: 2UAuto, Air Capital Press, Fair Market Health, HyperBorean, MatchSavings, InnovaPrep, Ringorang, Legacy of Negasi, More than a Meal, Nomad Laser Cleaning, PlantTea Therapy, PLOT, Quicc, Soya, Spyder, The Tee Box Group, The Thread: Women’s Leadership Collective, True Compass, Viaanix, Wichita Shredding.
Neelima Parasker, Founder and CEO of SnapIT Solutions shares how an innovative, regenerative IT workforce development model has helped fill hi-tech workforce gaps and solve challenges for companies seeking IT talent across the heartland and rapidly growing throughout the US.
LaShonda is a passionate leader focused on inclusivity and equity in communities and organizations. LaShonda often hears people say they don’t know where to start when it comes to the topics of inclusion, equity, and diversity. She will discuss the importance of starting with ourselves and leaning into the discomfort, vulnerabilities, and curiosity. Inclusive practices for leaders in early stages or mature roles in their career.
Submit your company for a chance to compete in the Wichita Startup Week Pitch Competition! Finalists will get 1:1 pitch help from local investors/mentors and get the opportunity to pitch at our live event.
To apply for the pitch competition, fill out this form: https://form.jotform.com/221210868280148
Thursday October 13, 2022 5:30pm - 7:30pm CDT
Groover Event Space343 St Francis Ave, Wichita, KS 67202
Dr. Eric C. Mota, faculty in entrepreneurship at Wichita State University and former Deloitte Senior Executive, shares how innovative countries, regions and cities use entrepreneurship and brand strategies to leverage investments, tourism and talent.
Calling all founders. Get with other founders in the community who are rolling up their sleeves and moving Wichita's economy forward. The purpose of the meeting is to introduce new founders to existing quarterly ecosystem sessions that will take place after Startup Week.
Friday October 14, 2022 10:00am - 10:45am CDT
Groover Event Space343 St Francis Ave, Wichita, KS 67202
