The week ahead might just be the busiest week of events we’ve seen in a long while, and moreover, it’s filled with a handful of quality startup-focused events. We’re, of course, very excited about the first event on this week’s calendar, the Silicon Prairie News – Kansas City Launch Party, and we hope to see many familiar and new faces at McFadden’s on Tuesday night.
You’ll find the listing of this week’s events below, each with links to the venue website and address as well as a the site to learn more, which follows the description taken from the event website. If you have an event to add to our event page, siliconprairienews.com/events, email us at info@siliconprairienews.com.
Tuesday, Mar. 1, 5:30-8:30 p.m. – Silicon Prairie News – Kansas City Launch Party
Kansas City – McFadden’s Sports Saloon (1330 Grand Boulevard)
Come out and meet the current Silicon Prairie News team as well as our new team of Kansas City contributors. We expect to see friends – new and old – from the Kansas City area as well startup and tech enthusiasts from across the region. Vehicles will be leaving from Des Moines and Omaha and if you’d like to ride along, leave a comment below.
Learn more and RSVP on Facebook.com
Wednesday Mar. 2, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. – TED 2011 Simulcast
Des Moines – Greater Des Moines Partnership (700 Locust Street, #100)
Come join thought leaders from around Des Moines to watch a live stream of the 2011 TED conference. This year’s theme is “The Rediscovery of Wonder” and will feature talks from Bill Gates, Indra Nooyi, Bill Ford, Salman Khan, and the artist known as JR.
Learn more and RSVP at ted.com/tedx/events
Wednesday, Mar. 2, 5:30 p.m. – Dwolla Meetup
West Des Moines – Cabaret West Glen (560 S Prairie View Drive)
Progress doesn’t sleep at Dwolla. It’s time for another Meetup!
- New stuff to talk about
- Cool new developments to share
- Cool new demonstrations
- New team members to show off
- Meet retailers / merchants who are using Dwolla
- Meet developers who are building stuff with it
We would like to also invite a few new companies to partake in the second half to share something about their company:
- Startup Weekend
- ScoreYard
- Uppward
Will be giving a talk as well.
Learn more and RSVP on Meetup.com
Thursday, Mar. 3, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Greater Omaha Young Professionals 2011 Young Professionals Summit
Omaha – Qwest Center (455 North 10th Street)
From I to We: Changing the Conversation is the theme of the Summit. Young professionals will learn how to collaboratively contribute to Omaha. Imagine what can be accomplished together!
On the agenda is time to discuss, with your peers and local business leaders, community issues that affect Greater Omaha’s young professionals. Be enlightened by interesting speakers presenting topics YOU care about. Get involved in the community — breakout sessions and interactive discovery activities will get you thinking and engaged.
Learn more at omahayoungprofessionals.org
Thursday, Mar. 3, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Pitch & Grow III Eastern Iowa
Cedar Rapids – The Hotel at Kirkwood Center (7725 Kirkwood Boulevard Southwest)
The Technology Association of Iowa and the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center present Pitch & Grow III Eastern Iowa.
Entrepreneurs will pitch their business to a supportive group of peer CEOs, CIOs, business development experts, industry professionals and business-savvy people. In return, they have a unique opportunity to receive constructive feedback on areas such as fundraising, value proposition, business plan, management team, sales/marketing/support and building strategy.
Learn more at technologyiowa.com
Thursday, Mar. 3, 5-7 p.m. – TechBrew Cedar Valley
Cedar Falls – Voodoo Lounge (314 Main Street)
Join Technology Association of Iowa for TechBrew Cedar Valley, an informal gathering of entrepreneurs, technologists, business people and funders getting together to talk over a beer. Cocktails and networking will begin promptly at 5 p.m. – the first drink is on Technology Association of Iowa.
Learn more at technologyiowa.org
Friday, Mar. 4, 7:30 a.m. – Central Iowa Bloggers, aka #CIB
West Des Moines – Panera on University (6740 University Ave)
Central Iowa Bloggers is a group of bloggers that meet the first Friday of every month at Panera Bread in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Learn more at centraliowabloggers.com
Friday, Mar. 4 – Sunday, Mar. 6 – Startup Weekend Des Moines
Des Moines – Des Moines Amplified, Greater Des Moines Partnership building (700 Locust Street)
Startup Weekend is an intense 54 hour event which focuses on building a web or mobile application which could form the basis of a credible business over the course of a weekend. The weekend brings together people with different skillsets – primarily software developers, graphics designers and business people – to build applications and develop a commercial case around them.
Learn more and register at dsm.startupweekend.org