Digital Sandbox KC: Summer in the Sand Returns for Fourth Year

For some, summer means oceans and palm trees. For Kansas City area startups, Summer in the Sand means a chance to learn from the experts about the hottest topics in entrepreneurship.

Sponsored for the fourth year by Digital Sandbox KC, this year’s edition of Summer in the Sand features:

• June 8: How to Pitch to the Sandbox
• July 6: Makerspaces: “Like a Gym for People Who Build Stuff”
• Aug. 3: Equity and Crowdfunding: How the New Rules Affect You
• Sept. 7: Regional Funding for Early-Stage Companies

All sessions run from 2:30-4:00 p.m.  The four events are held in conjunction with “CoWorking Wednesdays” at the Sprint Accelerator, a partner of Digital Sandbox KC.  Registration is open and required for admission. 

“Every year, Summer in the Sand offers opportunities for entrepreneurs to network with each other and learn from some of the best in the industry,” said Jeff Shackelford, director of the Digital Sandbox KC. “We tailor the content to the needs of the startups we are working with and what we see as the hot topics in the community.”

“We, at the Sprint Accelerator are thrilled to partner with Digital Sandbox’s Summer in the Sand series as part of our Coworking Wednesdays for the second summer,” said Ari Kern, community and programs manager for the Sprint Accelerator. “Last year, the Summer in the Sand series attracted more than 200 people to our space to encourage learning, valuable connections and collaboration among this KC startup ecosystem, which is one of our main goals.”  

Digital Sandbox KC’s mission is to help launch new businesses and assist them in securing add-on funding.  Launched in February 2013, the highly successful proof-of-concept program has worked with more than 300 entrepreneurs and early-stage companies across the metro area.  Results so far:

•          64 proof-of-concept funded for area startups

•          27 new businesses created

•          247 jobs created

•          $22.7 million in follow-on funding

Digital Sandbox KC is an unprecedented partnership among private companies, universities, entrepreneurial support organizations and government agencies across the Kansas City region designed to spur the creation of high growth companies.  Digital Sandbox KC provides proof-of-concept resources including market validation, prototyping and beta testing support for development of digital technologies within new and existing businesses.

Applications for Digital Sandbox KC are taken on a rolling basis. The Sandbox funding may cover expenses for project consultants, legal support, equipment and other market validation, prototyping and beta testing needs. For more information about Digital Sandbox KC, go to www.digitalsandboxkc.com.