Countdown to ICT: Our Favorite Ideas

There are only 11 days until the ICT Unconference, and we are excitedly finishing preparations. It looks like you have been busy as well adding your breakout session ideas into IdeaScale. We thought we’d look through them all and post a few of our favorites to get you thinking and prepare you for the day.

Our Favorite ICT Unconference Breakout Topics (So Far):

1. Linking Entrepreneurs with Talent

How do entrepreneurs find the talent they need to create next-generation products and services? What resources do they use in trying to find IT specialists, web designers and other key talent? And how do job seekers interested in working for a start-up find these entrepreneurs?

2. Starting a Entrepreneurship/business incubator center in Wichita

Entrepreneurs need a space to meet, collaborate, network, develop and work on their business ideas in an environment that encourages and accelerates the process. What/where is the ideal location for this space? Is there enough interest to get this type of space started within our community?

3. The Impostor Syndrome - When you don't feel you're good enough!

As entrepreneurs, we all know the feeling. Those moments when we don't think we're good enough, that we are over our heads with the project we have started. Or, that we have bitten off more than we can chew. This session will be enlightening and encouraging to all those who attend. We will be pleasantly surprised to learn that we all experience those feelings. And, we will learn from one another how to come through it with success.

4. Guppy Tank
Have something like this ICT Unconference (or "Shark Tank") once a month in Wichita? Business leaders could sit down and take on (support) a Kansas idea or project? And/or commit time to help mentor great ideas. Could be done at the Wichita Chamber downtown. What a great way to help build our town and state! Only top five ideas each month.

If you are attending the ICT Unconference, you will be able to vote on these, and many other, great session ideas. Do you have an idea for a session topic? Tell us about it!

Don’t have your ticket to ICT Unconference yet? What are you waiting for? Go get it now!

Win a Ticket to ICT Unconference!

By now, you’ve heard all about the ICT Unconference and we’ve given you lots of great reasons to attend. The Unconference is the first event of its kind in Wichita, and you’ve probably noticed that this isn’t your typical conference.  As a matter of fact, we are turning to you, the Wichita entrepreneur community, to ask for ideas and topics to cover as sessions during the Unconference on April 22.  That’s right – you submit an idea through the idea scale platform and it may become an entire session topic during ICT!

We have received some very interesting submissions so far:

Building the Wichita Community by growing the youth
How Do I Build a Team for My New Business
Hiring vs. Contracting
I'm Ready to Launch - Where Do I Find the Funding?
How to tell your startup story effectively
How do we get more people from out of town to try the Midwest? 

We are still looking for more great ideas from you!

Submit your idea to ICT Unconference now through April 11, and you will be entered to win a ticket to ICT (up to a $139.00 value!).  So what are you waiting for?  Submit your topic idea to ICT Unconference and enter for you chance to join us at the event on April 22.

SUBMIT HERE!

Be sure to follow @ICTUnconference on Twitter for more updates!

3Q4: Steve Radley, ICT Unconference Sponsor/Mentor

Welcome to the second in our “3Q4” series, where we ask three questions of Ambassadors and Mentors of ICT Unconference. If you missed our first 3Q4 Kenton Hansen, go check it out now. We’re excited to introduce you to Steve Radley, an ICT Sponsor and Ambassador.

A resident of Wichita, Steve began his career in the private sector as the 28th employee of a business startup technology company, Brite Voice Systems in Wichita. The company grew from $6 million to more than $175 million during the nine years Steve worked for Brite. Since then, Steve has co-owned two businesses including a manufactured housing dealership that was sold to the largest manufacturer in the country, Champion Enterprises. Currently, Steve Radley is the President and CEO of the Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship DBA NetWork Kansas. Since the launch in March of 2006, NetWork Kansas has created a resource partner network of more than five hundred (500) partners and launched multiple loan programs and a venture fund that have provided loans and investments of more than $13 million to 350 plus businesses with total capital deployed exceeding $168 million. As you can see, Radley is champion of entrepreneurship and brings a wealth of knowledge to the Unconference.

Steve’s 3Qs

Q1. Why do you think Wichita is a great candidate to host an Unconference like this? What does this conference mean to Wichita?

A conversation has started in Wichita about how to create an environment more conducive to entrepreneurs. The Wichita Metro Chamber has included it in their strategic plan, Wichita State is actively engaged, and entrepreneurs in Wichita are becoming more connected. The Unconference will help continue to build this important foundation.

Q2. What gets you most excited about this conference? Any predictions?

I'm excited about meeting entrepreneurs I've never met and strengthening the relationships with partners we already have. My prediction is that I will learn from both and others will have the same experience.

Q3. Why should entrepreneurs attend? What's your advice for those on the fence about coming?

Simple, you have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. In one day, entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to learn from people who have been where they are at, get connected to potential resources that can help, and in the end, mitigate the risk of their venture.

Bonus! Here's a recent post from Steve on cultivating an entrepreneurial culture.

Meet Steve Radley and all of our Unconference ambassadors at ICT Unconference on April 22. Get your tickets today!

A special “thank you” to NetWork Kansas, Quantum Expositions International and Intrust Bank. Without your support, ICT Unconference would not be possible.

3Q4: Kenton Hansen, ICT Unconference Ambassador

Welcome to the first in our “3Q4” series. In this blog series, we’ll be asking three questions of Ambassadors and Mentors of ICT Unconference. Everyone in this series is a champion of entrepreneurship and innovation in Wichita, Kan., including our first guest, Kenton Hansen.

Wichita native Kenton Hansen is the founder of Wichita’s first creative coworking space, the Labor Party. The space brings together many of Wichita’s entrepreneurs and innovators like startups, designers, developers and writers. Hansen also has his hands in several startup and tech companies, both as an advisor and as a member of the team. As you can see, Hansen is a perfect Ambassador to the unconference that is all about bringing Wichita’s entrepreneurs, investors and innovators together.

Q1. What does the ICT Unconference mean to Wichita?

It means that the people in Wichita are ready to talk about how to make our city a better place. It means that while we may live in the "biggest small town," there are some who are ready to try something new and untested.

Q2. Any predictions about how the Unconference will be received or how companies will be impacted?

I've had a lot of people contact me once they knew that I was involved, asking if they should attend. I have said, in every case, yes. I think people will meet new investors, new mentors and new entrepreneurs. I think people will learn about ideas, solutions, problems, and possibilities they didn't know existed in Wichita.

Q3. What kinds of interactions are you hoping to experience or see during the Unconference?

I am most excited for the chance to understand a new point of view. I survey the environment and draw conclusions, but I think there are enough people with unique experiences that I will walk away with a completely new perspective.

Meet Kenton Hansen and all of our unconference Ambassadors at ICT Unconference on April 22. Get your tickets today!