This week, events on the Prairie make traction in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids region with Cowtown to Boomtown. The two-day series includes the Entrepreneurial Development Center’s Networking Event on Tuesday and Startup Stories Breakfast, a keynote luncheon with Tom Chapman from the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Startup Drinks and the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Vineyard Dinner on Wednesday. A Boomtown pass can be purchased for $36 and will grant admission to all of these events.
On Thursday, the Innovation Conference in Kansas City and TechBrew in Des Moines help round out the week.
Details from the event websites are below, followed by links to sites where you can learn more. Find more upcoming events on our event page, siliconprairienews.com/events, and submit an event for consideration to info@siliconprairienews.com.
Tuesday, 4:30-6:30 p.m. – Entrepreneurial Development Center (EDC) Networking Event
Hiawatha, Iowa – MobileDemand (1501 Boyson Square)
Thanks to our sponsor
Join the EDC and client MobileDemand for an evening of networking with area entrepreneurs, business/community leaders, vendors and investors at MobileDemand’s new state-of-the-art office. Enjoy complimentary appetizers and beverages while meeting some of the area’s recently recognized Fastest Growing Companies. Register above or by calling 319-369-4955. Free, and open to the public.
Learn more at cowtowntoboomtown.eventbrite.com
Wednesday 7:30-9 a.m. – Startup Stories Breakfast*
Iowa City, Iowa – University of Iowa, Tippie College of Business (101 Jessup Hall)
Start the morning with inspiring stories from a number of successful Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area entrepreneurs including Breads From Anna, Dibzees.com and Corvida Medical. They’ll share their startup stories, lessons learned, what they have found helpful and missing in our entrepreneurial ecosystem. After we hear from our local stars, Tom Chapman will give a 25-minute condensed version of his lunch keynote presentation.
Registration is $10 and includes a light breakfast.
Learn more at cowtowntoboomtown.eventbrite.com
Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. – Tom Chapman Keynote Luncheon*
Cedar Rapids, Iowa – Theatre Cedar Rapids (102 3rd Street Southeast)
Tom Chapman will present a keynote address at noon to share the secrets of Omaha’s success in building and supporting the city’s growing entrepreneurial and creative communities through a renewed focus by the Omaha Chamber on organic business growth and the development of venture and angel funds, innovation centers, technology transfer programs, entrepreneurial news hubs and a connected community of entrepreneurs. Join us at 11:30 AM for an informal lunch in the lounge, followed by the keynote.
Registration is $15 and includes lunch.
Learn more at cowtowntoboomtown.eventbrite.com
Wednesday, 5-7 p.m. – Startup Drinks
Swisher, Iowa – Cedar Ridge Winery (1441 Marak Road Northwest)
Startup Drinks provides entrepreneurs and the people who support them a chance to gather around a table to have a drink and discuss what we’re working on, what we need help with and what we can do for each other. Come talk entrepreneurship in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids region, share your crazy ideas, find collaborators and meet other like-minded folks. Everyone and everyone is invited! Free, and open to the public.
Learn more at cowtowntoboomtown.eventbrite.com
Wednesday, 7-9 p.m. – Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Vineyard Dinner*
Swisher, Iowa – Cedar Ridge Winery (1441 Marak Road Northwest)
A casual dinner and celebration of the day’s events with entrepreneurs and business leaders at one of the area’s most beautiful, homegrown entrepreneurial venues, Cedar Ridge Winery (nestled in majestic vineyards half-way between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City). Handmade wood-fired pizza, appetizers & locally-crafted, award-winning wines and spirits. Prior to dinner, Jeff Quint, Cedar Ridge Winery owner and master winemaker, will share the company’s story and provide a private tour of their facilities and vineyards. (Dinner included.) Come meet local entrepreneurs and your neighbors and chat informally with Tom Chapman and his team from Omaha.
Learn more at cowtowntoboomtown.eventbrite.com
Thursday, 8 a.m. – Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce: Innovation Conference 2011
Kansas City, Mo. – H&R Block (One H&R Block Way)
Revitalize your team at The Chamber’s 2011 Innovation Conference scheduled for July 14 at H&R Block World Headquarters. We can help you inspire great ideas from those around you and learn how to turn those concepts into reality.
Our high-energy, resource-packed, full-day conference begins with a keynote from Dennis Bushnell, Chief Scientist for NASA’s Langley Research Center. He’ll discuss the concept of IDEATION, the creation & evaluation of ideas.
Breakout sessions will follow two tracks: building a regional culture of innovation and success stories from local innovators at every stage of business. We’ll also have a mid-day keynote covering Kansas City’s rich history of innovation and a closing keynote addressing the future of innovation in our region.
Learn more at kcchamber.com
Thursday, 5-7 p.m. – TAI TechBrew Event
Des Moines – Dos Rios (316 Court Avenue)
Join us for the Technology Association of Iowa’s TechBrew event, an informal gathering of entrepreneurs, technologists, business people and funders getting together to talk over a beer (social lubrication). Cocktails and networking will begin promptly at 5 pm!
Learn more at technologyiowa.org
*Purchase the Boomtown Pass and get admission to all of these events for just $36 (including breakfast, lunch, dinner and two social hours)
