- Scott Mize
- Website:
scottmize.com - Position:
Silicon Valley Venture Development Executive - Contact:
Topic - Lessons Learned from Kansas City Entrepreneurs You May Not Have Heard Of
Moderator: Scott Mize, Silicon Valley Venture Development Executive;
Panelists: Adam Coomes, Zaarly, Infegy; Tyler Prochnow, Think Big Partners; Joe Zwillenberg, Westport Flea Market, Joe Joe's Catering; Jene' Popper Hong, Business Transition Specialists
You've seen their businesses. You've dined in their establishments. You've utilized their services. But what's the story behind many of the Kansas City businesses that you pass by everyday? Where did they come from? How did they get started? And most importantly, how did they become successful?
Many people have heard Neal Patterson's story, Joyce Hall's story, and even Henry Bloch's story. But what about the hidden stories of entrepreneurial success that you've never heard before? There are hundreds of Kansas City entrepreneurs who have been there, done that, and can inspire you to build your dream up to their level of success. Trust us when we say that some of their lessons may surprise you...
In this session, participants will:
- Gain insight, advice, and wisdom from some of Kansas City's own entrepreneurs
- Hear personal stories from entrepreneurs of KC and learn how to get to their levels of success
- Find out what it takes to launch a business venture in the Kansas City area from people who have experienced it firsthand
- Learn how to apply the speakers' stories into your business life
Bio
Scott is an entrepreneur, advisor, and speaker in the field of high technology. He has nearly 20 years of experience in the information technology, new media and Internet industries, and nearly ten years in the nanotechnology field. He currently provides business and venture development services to early-stage technology companies and established corporations. Recent clients include FEI Company, Kemesa, Silverstone Solutions, Atomistix (now Quantumwise), Materials Design, Nanostellar, Nano Science and Technology Institute and Small Times Media.
Scott was President of Foresight Nanotech Institute, the leading nanotechnology think tank. Prior to joining Foresight, he co-founded a nanotechnology tools company focused on creating a breakthrough imaging and metrology instrument. Scott provided management services to Technanogy, a nanomaterials company which merged with Nanotechnologies, Inc. (now NovaCentrix). He also served as an advisor to Accelrys, the leading nanotechnology software company, Business Image Group, a media asset solutions company, Clean Edge, a clean technology market research firm and Natural Logic, an environmental performance consulting firm.
He served as a principal in Double Impact, a venture catalyst firm, providing business development, capital advisory and strategy services to early-stage wireless, Internet, information technology, and new media companies. Scott co-founded and served as CEO of Zelos!, an early publisher of personal learning products on CD-ROM, which was acquired by Charter Communications (NASDAQ: CHTR). He served as Apple Computer's Multimedia Content Evangelist (NASDAQ: AAPL) and was a Product Manager in the Information Services Group at Lotus Development Corporation (acquired by IBM, NYSE: IBM). Scott also served as director of software development for a hand-held computer manufacturer and co-founded a microcomputer software company.
He is a founder of the Young Entrepreneurs Organization (now Entrepreneurs' Organization) and the San Francisco Multimedia Development Group. Scott attended Harvard College and co-founded the Association of Collegiate Entrepreneurs. He served on the board of the founding conference for the International Space University. He has spoken at over fifty industry conferences in the information technology, new media and nanotechnology fields.
