Big Kansas City to Host Steve Case, National Entrepreneurs, October 8-10

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kansas City will host Steve Case and socially conscious entrepreneurs from across the U.S. during Silicon Prairie News' Big Kansas City conference, October 8-10.  Case's visit on October 9 is part of his "Rise of the Rest" tour spotlighting entrepreneurial Midwestern cities. He will present one Kansas City startup with a $100,000 prize at The Big Happy, hosted by KCnext.

"The Fortune 500 companies of tomorrow are the startups of today," said Steve Case. "Many of them are being born in traditional tech hotbeds like Silicon Valley, but many are also growing in the rest of America. I am thrilled to lead this effort and to visit these five great cities. Moreover, I am eager to meet and learn from the startups powering this movement we call the Rise of the Rest."

Case will visit the Kansas City Startup Village, EyeVerify, Think Big Partners, MindMixer and the Kauffman Foundation before hosting a fireside chat and pitch competition with these 10 local startups:

• Briefcase: Tools to help students get jobs
• DayReel: Personal household appointment hub
• FitBark: Fueling the doggie mobile health revolution
• Keyzio, Inc.: Online real estate brokerage
• Leap.it: Visual search collaboration platform for consumers and publishers
• PayIt: Mobile app platform for simplifying government payments
• ShotTracker: Wearable tech for basketball
• Sink Cycle: Sanitize stuff on-the-go
• Venture360: Invest, manage, and collaborate in private equity with 360° transparency
• VeriQuik: Automated background checks for the dating & sharing economy

"We're excited Steve Case is shining a spotlight on Kansas City," said Ryan Weber, president of KCnext. "KC has a legacy of technological innovation thanks to homegrown companies like Cerner, Garmin and Sprint, but our star is definitely on the rise thanks to more recent projects like Google Fiber and Cisco's Smart+Connected communities initiative. Being endorsed by Steve Case is another validation of the great things happening here."

The Rise of the Rest Road Tour is an effort spearheaded by Case to catalyze entrepreneurship in more places and celebrate its progress by recognizing the critical role that startups play in growing our economy, driving innovation, and fostering community development.  More information is available at www.riseoftherest.com and by following #riseofrest on Twitter and Instagram.  Members of the public can register here to attend the pitch competition, which will take place at 4:00 p.m. on October 9.

"Big Kansas City is not only an amazing celebration of the city, but it brings together entrepreneurs and doers across the region and the nation," said Regan Carrizales, CEO, Silicon Prairie News.  "With a fantastic caliber of speakers, we're excited to showcase the progress of the community and provide inspiration for the next steps to connecting the innovative minds in the region."

About Silicon Prairie News

Silicon Prairie News is a digital media company dedicated to altering the landscape of entrepreneurship across the Midwest. Entrepreneurs thrive in a supportive community, and through coverage and connection, SPN strengthens those communities.  www.siliconprairienews.com

About KCnext

KCnext – The Technology Council of Greater Kansas City serves as the regional advocate for the tech industry, supporting and growing the existing base of technology firms, as well as recruiting and attracting technology companies.  An industry-focused affiliate of the Kansas City Area Development Council, KCnext is funded and supported by more than 80 organizations and played an integral part in securing the Google Fiber project for KC. www.kcnext.com

About Greater Kansas City

Home to 2.5 million people, the Kansas City region offers the benefits of more than 50 unique communities and 18 counties in Kansas and Missouri.  As "America's Creative Crossroads," the region's distinctive qualities come from a confluence of artistry and technology innovation.  Google selected the Kansas City metro for the roll-out of its Google Fiber service, which provides internet speeds at up to one gigabit per second.  www.thinkKC.com 

SOURCE KCnext