What’s your highlight of the Midwest?
The question in the title was one of three that I asked 17 attendees at last Friday's Highlight Midwest in Des Moines. The other questions: who are you, where are you from, and who from the conference would you like to have lunch with next week?
The last question was unexpected by most, and a few times I was asked to "come back in five minutes." Some of the attendees had just arrived, so it was a bit unfair for them, but most just had to make up their mind: which of the 100-plus attendees do I choose?
While I wasn't guaranteed any of the lunches would take place, it was fun hearing people toss out names of interesting people -- for me, that was my highlight of the conference.
Organized by Rob Jensen, the Des Moines representative of the Hightlight Midwest team, the second year the conference put on to spotlight and support entrepreneurs and startups in the Midwest was a success. With the event held at the colorful Des Moines Social Club, Des Moines had the most representation and I'm pretty sure Kansas City and Omaha tied for second. There was also quite a few attendees that came from outside of Des Moines in Iowa, including a sponsor from Cedar Falls, MyEntre.Net. In total, Rob estimates over 130 came out for the day-long conference.
Check out my interview with Rob to hear more about the attendees and presentations at this year's conference as well as the organizations that were involved:
COMMENTS
Great job on the montage!
Also - thanks again to Rob for putting on the event!
Awesome clips! I especially loved the first one with everyone's answers.
It's great to hear that so many people enjoyed the event. We've all got Rob Jensen and the other organizers/sponsors to thank for that!
Sorry I could not see you at the Highlight Midwest Friday but saw many of you at Impromptu Studio's Movement Bash party. Nice to see many of my friends featured in these video. Also nice to know Geoff Wood is in my town. Will be getting to know him.
Great work - Danny! I should have held the camera so we can get your face in front of it once or twice, too.
@John - feel free to shoot me a note and let's grab coffee sometime.
Thanks for the compliments on the video. It was fun shooting and editing it. So many good people at the event.
Mike, I agree -- a big thanks to Rob for the time he put into planning and running the event. The people of Des Moines were a great host.
And I hope some of these lunches really do happen.
Nice video Danny!
@Geoff - lunch with me? anytime! ;)
@Andy - let me know if you find a reason for a third-ever trip to DSM, otherwise I'll et you know next time I'm in Omaha around lunchtime. ;)
Thank you for the write and video! It was an amazing day and really brings some awareness to just some of the amazing people launching their businesses in the Midwest.
Highlight Midwest is still evolving and hopefully we will know more about the next steps soon. Part of our focus is on building community around entrepreneurship, and because of that it was the community that makes each Highlight a success. From the community, I want to give a special thanks to Alexander (@Alexanderdsm), Josh (@Admavericks) and Lacy (@SmartKindling) for all their help planning this event and building on what was started last year.