Engage, embrace and laugh at Big Kansas City this week

Miss out on Big Kansas City—um, that’s not an option! Although I say this as Silicon Prairie News’ Kansas City community builder, it comes from my experience as a two-time attendee of The Big Series. Since my first Big Omaha, I have developed friendships that are a part of my support system, expanded my network…

About the author: Regan Carrizales is the Silicon Prairie News community builder in Kansas City.


Miss out on Big Kansas City—um, that’s not an option! Although I say this as Silicon Prairie News’ Kansas City community builder, it comes from my experience as a two-time attendee of The Big Series. Since my first Big Omaha, I have developed friendships that are a part of my support system, expanded my network of individuals—from both coasts and throughout the region—and inspired and elevated my level of thinking about how we build an entrepreneurial ecosystem throughout the region. I can’t imagine not being a part of that conversation at the inaugural Big Kansas City.

The startup community here has incredible momentum and is rapidly growing—we know this, and soon Big Kansas City will share this with the region and the nation. What is most exciting is that the inaugural Big Kansas City is an opportunity to help accelerate the momentum that is building and growing our companies and community.

Our local community has stepped up in a BIG way to incorporate all the unique and varied aspects of the ecosystem and demonstrate to all the eyes watching what constitutes the heart and soul of this community. The national scene has been intrigued by what is happening in Kansas City—the inaugural Big Kansas City is our opportunity to pull back the curtain and say, “Hey, you can and we are building great companies here, and by the way, we have this amazing startup scene that makes it a lot of fun too.” Let’s make this the best first-year Big Series event yet!

Big Kansas City gives us an opportunity to be in a physical space and connect with people in an intentional way. It is all about being present—being there, being engaged, connecting with people you normally wouldn’t connect with. So as soon as you receive that meeting reminder at 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday for our Opening Party at 8, I encourage you to do a few things:

  • Engage – Big Kansas City will play host to individuals from across the country, so leave your BFF behind and go up and say “hi” to those unfamiliar faces, it could be your next co-founder.
  • Embrace – Once you have reached your travel destination, the only way you can fully embrace the person you are meeting is to drop your bags and give them a hug. At Big Kansas City, metaphorically (or literally) drop your bags and give a hug—play 20 questions!
  • Laugh – Simple: laugh. Have fun. There is a season for everything and we have all been working hard, so its important to laugh and know that we are all in this together.

For me, Big Omaha and Big Des Moines opened my eyes to what was happening here in the place that I call home. I wanted to be a part of the startup community and the leap to Silicon Prairie News has been the most rewarding work in which I’ve been involved. I hope Big Kansas City does for each of you what the other events did for me—I hope it inspires you to just start—make your dreams a reality which in turn, adds to the ecosystem of this KC startup community.

What are you waiting for?!

 

Credits: Photo by Malone & Co. / Big Omaha


Regan Carrizales is the Silicon Prairie News community builder in Kansas City. She comes to Silicon Prairie News with a unique background in the non-profit and local government sectors. With small town Kansas roots, she is in love with everything Heartland. Regan also believes in the critical role that “community” plays – it is how progress is made – and is most passionate about supporting the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Find Carrizales on Twitter, @regslc.

This story is part of the AIM Archive

This story is part of the AIM Institute Archive on Silicon Prairie News. AIM gifted SPN to the Nebraska Journalism Trust in January 2023. Learn more about SPN’s origin »

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