GEWKC 2023 Insiders’ Guide: How to Make the Most of Global Entrepreneurship Week – KC
Ready to connect, learn and grow? Global Entrepreneurship Week – Kansas City is the place to be! Nov. 13-19, business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs and peeps who support KC small business will gather for classes, workshops, panels and networking events galore. It’s all things entrepreneurship, and it’s all FREE.
GEWKC is open to everyone – so even if you’re interested but wouldn’t dream of calling yourself an entrepreneur? C’mon over! You’ll meet folks ranging from investors to educators, seasoned business people to scrappy startup starters. There’s something for everyone, and everyone is welcome.
No matter who you are or why you’re interested in GEWKC, you’ll get more out of the festivities if you prepare just a tiny bit beforehand. Here’s what we suggest.
Sign up, schedule out and check in.
GEWKC will fly by! So get your calendar in shape. First step? Register (for free!) and build your agenda from more than 110 sessions. In-person base camp is Nov. 15-17 at Plexpod Westport at Park 39. When you arrive, pick up your badge. It features a scannable QR code that will take you straight to the agenda on the GEWKC platform. There, you can sign up or log in to pick your sessions.
If you sign up, build your agenda and check in to at least one GEWKC session, you can get a free lunch starting 11:30 a.m. Nov. 15 at Plexpod Westport at Park 39 from food popup Devoured sponsored by H&R Block. Only the first 100 will get the deal, so supplies are limited. See? Only good things can happen from signing up and building your agenda.
It’s important to register for the sessions you’d like to attend so hosts can engage with you and send you materials. All sessions are crowdsourced from the KC entrepreneurial ecosystem. If it’s a topic related to entrepreneurship, there’s a session for it!
All sessions are organized by track. So …
Know your track.
This year, GEWKC content is broken into three tracks:
It’s a good idea to know which track best fits your needs, but you’re always welcome to attend whatever sessions appeal to you. Not sure where to start? Ask the KCSourceLink folks at the registration desk. Or snag anyone in a red GEWKC shirt and ask for suggestions. Fellow attendees will have opinions, too!
In a session, and it’s just not what you need right now? No worries. It’s totally cool to walk out and find a different session. After all, GEWKC is a choose your own adventure.
With more than 110 sessions, it can be hard to pick what you want to attend. That’s why we recommend creating your personal agenda ahead of time. Plus, you don’t want to miss the main events. …
Mark these headline sessions in your schedule now.
Be there or be square!
Sharing Your Startup Story: Networking Happy Hour with Spark KC and Startland News: Monday, Nov. 13, 3 – 5 p.m.
GEWKC Kickoff Event: LaunchKC 2023 Grant Winners: Tuesday, Nov. 14, 4 – 8 p.m.
Resources for Artist Entrepreneurs | Anna Fiorella of ArtsKC: Tuesday, Nov. 14, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Virtual Games and Networking | Zac Jarrard of Jarrard Consulting: Tuesday, Nov. 14, 6 – 7 p.m.
1 Million Cups Kansas City: Wednesday, Nov. 15: breakfast and networking 8 – 9 a.m., presentations 9 – 10 a.m.
Business and Nonprofit Help at the Library | Hadiza Sa-Aadu of Kansas City Public Library and Kelly Head of Mid-Continent Public Library: Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2 – 3 p.m.
Everyone Makes Legal Mistakes, but You Don’t Have to | Husch Blackwell: Wednesday, Nov. 15, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Breakfast and Networking Sponsored by Kansas City G.I.F.T.: Thursday, Nov. 16, 8 – 10 a.m.
Managing a Successful Venture Capital Raise | Chris Rehkamp of Technology Venture Studio: Thursday, Nov. 16, 12 – 1:30 p.m.
Social Venturing and the Future of Community Development | Dean Blevins of Nazarene Theological Seminary: Thursday, Nov. 16, 2 – 3:30 p.m.
Your Biz Pitch Competition | AltCap: Thursday, Nov. 16, 3 – 6 p.m.
Breakfast and Networking Sponsored by Pipeline Entrepreneurs: Friday, Nov. 17, 8 – 9 a.m.
Girls Just Wanna Have FUNding | Lauren Conaway of InnovateHer: Friday, Nov. 17, 2 – 4 p.m.
Capital Connections Happy Hour | Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce: Friday, Nov. 17, 4 – 6 p.m.
But no matter what sessions you attend, don’t arrive empty handed …
Bring it.
And by “it,” we mean those necessities that will ensure you’re comfortable and able to capture all the big ideas flying at you. Make the most of GEWKC and bring:
- Business cards: Trust us, you’re going to meet so many different people! Bring at least 50 business cards so you can follow up with your new connections.
- Your digital GEW agenda: Make sure you’ve signed up or logged in and built your agenda at com/sched. Register for the sessions you want to attend so you don’t miss a thing. And when you attend a session, check in on your digital agenda. You just need your phone!
- Your phone: Yes, you’ll want to check in on your agenda. But you’ll also want to hit social media so you can share what you learn! Tag #GEWKC as you empower your network and the people who aren’t able to attend.
- A notebook and pen: Be prepared when inspiration strikes!
- Comfortable footwear: Unlike previous years, GEWKC 2023 base camp is located all at one spot: Plexpod Westport at Park 39 (Nov. 15-17). So while you might not be doing tons of walking, you’ll still be standing and mingling, and no one is at their best when their feet hurt, right?
Notice that this list doesn’t include “buckets of money.” GEWKC events are free!
At the end of the week, when GEWKC is over? It isn’t really over …
Keep up the momentum!
#GEWKC is a powerful idea generator and spirit lifter upper. It’s that shot in the arm that all business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs need. But don’t let your enthusiasm fizzle.
Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is a 24/7/365 party. That means there’s always an organization, program or mentor to help you meet your goals. A great place to start is with a free Personal Action Plan. This customized to-do list outlines the resources that can help you meet your specific goals. You’ll keep your post-GEWKC momentum going and your business growing.
You’ll also want to keep an eye on the KCSourceLink Calendar. This one-stop shop includes all the free or low-cost events, classes and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs in the KC metro. Wanna learn more about business plans, identify a networking group or sign up for an accounting class? Finding a workshop is another effective way to keep your GEWKC vibe strong!
