An Out-Of-This-World Experience

An Unconference is a unique learning and collaboration environment, where its success is completely dependent on the participation of its attendees. So where in the world do you find a keynote speaker who can measure up? We looked outside of this word (literally) to Space Entrepreneur and CEO of Katasi, Scott Tibbitts. Curious about his keynote message? Here’s a sneak preview:

This is the story of creating a space company from scratch. This crazy entrepreneurial story started with an invention made of hardware store parts, which NASA said they could use on their spacecraft. That led to a crazy journey of becoming the world’s leading supplier of mechanisms for spacecraft, and also let to perils with becoming a "rockstar" space company – their growth almost killed them. By itself, it’s a very good story with plenty of take-aways – taking chances, following intuition, challenges of growth, dealing with success, the highs and lows of becoming an iconic company in an industry.

Scott will also discuss:

- The challenges entrepreneurs face as a company grows, how your genes wire you for entrepreneurial success, but the same genes create blind spots that can cause a company to fail;
- "Escaping the entrepreneurs prison" where Scott talks honestly about the demons he had to wrestle with as they grew;
- Recognizing the importance of intuitive "Nudges";
- In entrepreneurship where you’re taking a road less travelled, that you have a choice of A or B. And how the one that seems crazy, is the one that leads to great things. 

Trust us, this is a keynote session you don’t want to miss. If you haven’t purchased your ICT Unconference tickets yet, hurry! They are selling fast.

Have an idea for a session topic? Submit it here!

We love our amazing sponsors, including: Wichita State University Center for Entrepreneurship, Wichita Technology Corporation and Allen, Gibbs & Houlik, L.C. CPAs and Advisors.

10 Reasons to Attend the ICT Unconference

The ICT Unconference is quickly approaching. If you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, or maybe you’re on the fence about whether to attend, we thought we’d put together 10 reasons to attend the ICT Unconference.

1. Freedom to pick the tough topics. 

Unlike a lot of pre-planned conferences, you don’t get a lot of say in the topics the speakers choose, which means they tell you what they want to tell you, not what you want to hear. The Unconference is YOUR chance to ask these professionals questions you wished you knew the answers to. Don’t be shy! Chances are if you have the question, others do too.

2. You can be more relaxed and have fun. 

Feel encouraged to be creative with the session topics you suggest. Because the Unconference format and tone are set by attendees, why not make if fun? If the session is light and full of laughter and enjoyment, odds are, people will be more relaxed and you may get more out of it.

3. It will inspire you

Unless you sit in the parking lot, you won’t be able to avoid new ideas. The format itself lends to brainstorming and creatively solving problems, so our hope is that a few of these ideas will inspire you to do more and be more in your own business.

4. You will make better, deeper connections

Something magical happens when people get together and get honest – barriers come down, problems get solved and relationships grow. If business to you has felt more like going it alone, and you’re looking for something different, you are in for a real treat.

5. It will give you space to think about your business

Sometimes working day in and day out on the work of your company, doesn’t give you time or space to work on your business. The Unconference provides space to reflect on your past year, the decisions you’ve made, and the choices in front of you. Who knows? Maybe you’ll see things with a fresh eye.

6. You will view your business through the lens of other types of businesses

Hear ideas and challenges outside of your own industry and you’re sure to hear the applications within yours. Things that work for a different business, may just work for yours and help you differentiate.

7. Opportunity for partnerships

Meeting people from your entrepreneurial community not only inspires but it creates an opportunity to build potential business partnerships and other collaborative connections.

8. You will learn from others’ experiences

Wise people learn from the mistakes of others so they do not repeat them. When people share and open up about their own challenges and how they solved them, this is information gold. Lock it in and learn from it.

9. Recharge your creative tank

Sometimes work can feel like…well, work. If you’ve been missing out on the fun and fulfillment of being an entrepreneur, maybe you’re in need of a recharge. There’s nothing like being in a room of like-minded people to get your engines revved up again. Join us and refill.

10. Get 1-on-1 mentorship with some of Wichita’s most respected entrepreneurs and business leaders
 

Are you an entrepreneur looking for feedback or mentorship? We’ve lined up some of city’s most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders for 1-on-1 Mentor sessions.


Sound intriguing? Get your ICT Unconference tickets now!
Unconference sessions are being submitted now. Submit yours!
Sign up for the Mentor Program with local business executives.

ICT Unconference is grateful to our sponsors, including Martin Pringle Law Firm.

What to Expect at ICT Unconference

ICT Unconference will be the first event of its kind to hit the Wichita area in April, but it’s not the first to create collisions in the Midwest. Last October, iKC: The Unconference brought people from all walks of entrepreneurial life to Kansas City. The unconference format shook things up and helped innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors create lasting connections. Here’s what iKC attendees had to say about their unconference experience and what advice they have for those attending the Wichita ICT Unconference.

The amount and quality of #collisiondensitykc @iKC2013 was awesome! Fireworks in my head, still. Thank you @thinkbigKC @kcchamber #KC

— Bek (@noda3k) October 4, 2013

The Unconference Experience

iKC attendee and CEO of LightBridge, DJ Good, called the unconference experience “unique, worthwhile and exciting.” When comparing the unconference format to other conferences, Good said, “It’s hard to explain the difference and the dynamics of an unconference. It cannot be adequately described with words. You have to attend an unconference to fully understand one.”

For many iKC attendees, it was the interactive component of the unconference that made the experience really stand out.

“The biggest advantage to the unconference format was that attendees were able to tailor the experience to fit their unique challenges and interests,” said Catalina Campos, marketing and communications strategist for Surmount Studios.

“I liked that it wasn’t just one person on a stage sharing their experience to the participants,” said Rigo Neri, co-founder and chief product officer of Instin, “but instead it was every participant sharing their own experience.”

In comparison to other conferences, Neri said “it’s a more open and comfortable experience than other conferences. [The unconference format] encourages the networking aspect by having sessions that are a full-length Q&A instead of just five minutes in the end.”

The Unconference was quite possibly the most valuable conference I've ever attended. Thanks @iKC2013! #ikc2013

— Mike Bosch (@mikesbosch) October 3, 2013

More Bang for Your Buck

At an unconference, the content is not determined by some mysterious committee. The agenda is determined by attendees, giving unconference participants the chance to determine how valuable the experience will be.

As Good puts it, “If you get the right audience, you can most certainly get more information and value [than a regular conference], all while participating.”

Unconference attendees are more likely to get the information they are looking for, since they are the ones ultimately designing the agenda.

“I felt that the panel of participants and the leadership in each [session] were top-notch,” Campos said. “I got a lot of valuable information and contacts from the unconference.”

Advice for Unconference First-Timers

Although it’s hard to prepare for the unexpected, iKC attendees had a few words of advice for unconference newbies.

“If you don’t like the [session] you’re in, don’t be ashamed to leave and join another one,” Campos said. “It's much better for you to be surrounded with the people and topics you're interested in than to stay in a room that won't be constructive to you or your business.”

Good reminds unconference rookies to “keep an open mind at an unconference as everything is unplanned.”

Ultimately, the unconference experience is what you make it, so Neri advises unconference attendees “to not be shy, to ask questions and to share your own experience.”

Can’t wait for your own unconference experience? Get your tickets to ICT Unconference today!

ICT Unconference Coming to Wichita April 22nd - For Entrepreneurs, Innovators and Community Leaders

ICT Unconference, Wichita’s first official unconference, is April 22^nd at the Wichita Marriott. Presented by Wichita Technology Corporation and Quantum Expositions, the event’s mission is to bring together entrepreneurs, innovators and businesses in an effort to grow and strengthen Greater Wichita’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The unconference model is open-format, which allows for attendee-driven discussion and collaboration. Attendees submit and vote on topics prior to the event via the ICT website. This format allows each session to be relevant and engaging for those participating.

Trish Brasted, President & CEO of Wichita Technology Corporation, explained: “Unconferences are being conducted with great success in progressive cities across the nation. The timing is perfect for bringing the unconference model to Wichita. We are excited to bring entrepreneurs, innovators and community leaders under one roof, to increase Wichita’s entrepreneurial innovation collaboration.”

Community members are showing their support for this event as they share the vision for strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem and bringing startups and businesses together.

“Our firm is excited about sponsoring this event because it continues a strong tradition of the entrepreneurial spirit in our community. Wichita has been the starting place for so many great companies and we think the ICT Unconference is a great way to keep that creative energy alive and well,” according to Richard Stevens, attorney with Martin Pringle Law Firm and Ambassador for the ICT Unconference.

Along with the unconference format, the event will include expert speakers on entrepreneurship, as well as a professional mentoring program where entrepreneurs can discuss their ideas and get immediate feedback and advice from some of the area’s top entrepreneurs, business executives and leaders.

“Part of the value of the ICT Unconference is the unique opportunity for attendees to meet 1-on-1 with an experienced mentor for a time slot of 20 minutes. Those who sign-up and are accepted into the mentor program will receive feedback, guidance, and advice from experienced entrepreneurs who have been there and done that!” said Bob Loudermilk, founder of Quantum Expositions and one of the organizers of the unconference.

Participating mentors for ICT Unconference include:  

•       Trish Brasted, President and CEO, Wichita Technology Corporation

•       Luke Catlin, Cofounder & CTO, Flourish, Inc.

•       Frank Choriego, Business Coach & Entrepreneur, Family Heritage/Torchmark

•       Jonathan George, CEO, Evomail

•       James Mock, President, 360ideas

•       Gary Oborny, Chairman & CEO, Occidental Management, Inc.

•       Beth Tully, CEO and Owner, Cocoa Dolce Artisan Chocolates

•       Josh Umbehr, MD, CEO, AtlasMD

•       Devin Walker, CEO and Founder, Printpop.com

In addition to mentors, ICT Unconference Ambassadors play a crucial role in facilitating meaningful interactions and innovative thinking between attendees during the sessions.

ICT Ambassadors include:

•       Wayne E. Bell, District Director, Wichita District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration

•       Suzy Finn, Executive Director, Young Professionals of Wichita

•       Kenton Hansen, Founder, Labor Party

•       Lou Heldman, Interim Director, WSU Center for Entrepreneurship

•       Brandi Koskie, Editorial Strategist, Evomail 

•       Gary Oborny, Chairman & CEO, Occidental Management, Inc.

•       Steve Radley, President and CEO, NetWork Kansas

•       Richard Stevens, Attorney, Martin Pringle Law Firm

•       Sean Weaver, Executive Vice President, Assurance Services at Allen, Gibbs & Houlik, L.C.

•       Stefan White, Director of Strategery at Centrix Innovations

The emcee for the event is Derrick Nielsen, Vice President, Organizational Development and Family Business Services at Allen, Gibbs & Houlik, L.C.

ICT Unconference is currently looking for entrepreneurs, area leaders and companies who want to be involved in the event. Complete information (including sponsorship opportunities, submitting session topics, applying for the mentor program, or purchasing tickets) can be found at www.ICTunconference.com.

Click here to download a PDF of the media release.