GEWKC will once again crowdsource breakout sessions (created and submitted by you and free and open to the public) on topics of critical importance to entrepreneurs, ecosystem builders and community stakeholders.

Anyone can submit a session for consideration to this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week in Kansas City—business owners with been-there-done-that experience and insights; business-building organizations who help entrepreneurs reach their next milestones; policy influencers and makers with updates on how entrepreneurship is supported in Kansas City; corporate leaders with information on how entrepreneurs and small business owners can better work with them; leaders who can share how entrepreneurship has helped build dreams, lives and communities.

All GEWKC sessions are free and open to the public.

This year, the GEWKC planning committee will consider sessions in two formats*:

Short Format: 60-minute total session with no more than 30-40 minutes of presentation and leaving at least 20 minutes of discussion, hands on workshop, Q&A or networking.

Long Format: 90-minute total session with at least 20-minutes for a facilitated discussion or hands-on workshop and 10-minutes of Q&A.

* Other formats will be considered, but please reflect the value added to the audience when creating an alternative format.

To maximize the impact and relevance of each session, applicants may be asked to work with one another to combine proposals into a single session. This will allow GEWKC to include as many voices and perspectives as possible.

Those sessions curated into GEWKC base camp will be allotted space and AV equipment to execute their session.

Sessions must follow the GEWKC format listed above.

The GEWKC committee will assign sessions to timeslots.

The GEWKC planning committee may reach out for additional insights into your curriculum. They may also ask session hosts to collaborate with other hosts to develop a more comprehensive session.

To increase your chances of your session being selected for GEWKC, we strongly suggest that you:

Share practical, actionable information that helps participants to start businesses, scale/grow businesses or engage with the entrepreneurial community.

Go in-depth rather than staying broad. Sessions that skim the surface usually draw fewer attendees and less favorable feedback.

Consider the diversity of your presenters (race, ethnicity, gender) as well as the communities and industries they are affiliated with (rural/urban market, small/large asset size, financing sector).

Include presenters from two or more organizations with multiple perspectives. For example, when preparing a session about how to access capital, consider including a borrower, partner organization or community representative.

The GEWKC planning committee will work diligently to select a solid mix of strong event proposals offering value to a range of audiences and levels of experience.

We do our best to accommodate as many strong proposals as we can. As stated above, we may do this by asking people who propose related topics to combine their ideas into a single session.

Below are three sample session descriptions to help you craft your GEWKC session and proposal.

*Titles are important! They are the first introduction people get to your session and often the only part of your session that is immediately visible in GEWKC promotions and printed materials. Mystery is fun, but getting specific lets people know what your session is about.

Which of KC’s 240+ Nonprofit Resources Can Help Your Business?

Hosted by KCSourceLink

So, you want to start or grow your business, but you’re not sure who can help or what step to take next. This session will show you how to leverage and connect with Kansas City’s amazing entrepreneur network of hundreds of organizations, experts, coaches, events and more to help your business (or nonprofit or business idea) reach the next level.

How to Access Alternative Financing

Hosted by AltCap

Learn how alternative financing can help you start and grow your small business. We will dispel some of the lending and finance myths and prepare you to become finance ready. We will also explore best practices and help you prepare to realize your dream.

Comeback KC Ventures Demo Day

Hosted by Kansas City Digital Drive

The Comeback KC Ventures program is designed to highlight new solutions that have emerged in response to COVID-19 and to support entrepreneurs as they develop these solutions into products, service lines and businesses. Our first Demo Day will allow early participants in the program a chance to show off what they have been working on.