Opinion Stories
What’s a ‘smart city’ and why should KC care?
Aaron Deacon, managing director of KC Digital Drive, was instrumental in forming the Kansas City area’s Digital Playbook in 2012, which aimed to capitalize on the opportunity afforded by Google Fiber. His organization works on tech projects to boost Kansas City’s economy and is hosting a fundraising bash to further that mission. Smart phones. Smart…
The WTF series: ‘Rockstar developer’
On a daily basis, Ben Kittrell translates the jargon-filled world of technology for clients of his tech consultancy. The Words that Frustrate (WTF) series aims to offer readers some clarity in an industry dominated by techies’ confusing argot. Every time I’m in a meeting with a client, someone uses a word or acronym that cues…
Schukman: 5 ways social entrepreneurs inspire teamwork
Social entrepreneurs are excellent at rallying people around a mission. For example, Life Equals is a Kansas City-based company that energizes its employees around the idea of bringing nutrition to malnourished children all over the world. It does something powerful to people when they know they are working for a cause greater than themselves, and…
Kittrell: 5 frustrations for non-technical founders
You’ve got a great idea for an app — the kind that keeps you up at night. But you’ve never worked on a software project before and have no idea what you’re in for. Sound familiar? Here’s a list of common frustrations I see from my non-technical clients. 1. Scope creep No, it’s not a…
Schukman: Authenticity is the ultimate currency for millennials
The facts are in. Millennials prefer cause based products, are willing to pay more for them, and demonstrate strong brand loyalty to companies who weave social good into their stories. On the surface, these stats should be enough for any company to dive head first into branding themselves as social entrepreneurs. But, cause-based marketing is…
