An attendee rides Yahoo!’s Flickr Bike at last year’s Big Omaha. One of our top priorities as event planners is to make the sponsors apart of the conference space in addition to the printed materials. We want to associate our conference’s memorable experience with the companies that sponsor it. Photos by Malone and Company.
Big Omaha year two is about to go down. Big Omaha year one was a success. How did all this come to be?
When the short story is told, it starts in the summer of 2008 when Jeff Slobotski challenged himself and Silicon Prairie News co-founder Dusty Davidson to set a date, find a venue and book speakers in order to hold a first-class, unforgettable event.
Thanks to our sponsor
In May 2009, the event was held at KANEKO with more than 400 in attendance to hear from a robust lineup of nationally known entrepreneurial and creative thought leaders.
When the long version of that same story is told, it details the stages of planning, recounts the methods of promotion, mentions the names of volunteers and staff members, and reflects on the importance of sponsors.
It’s the latter that this post will focus on. I have an awesome list of companies and organizations to tell you about. It’s because of our sponsors that we’re able to produce an event like none other – from providing breakfast, lunch and continuous beverages and snacks to the interactive art installations throughout the space. And most importantly, the incredible speakers we’re able to bring in to present in one of the nation’s most unique venues for a conference, KANEKO.
Without further ado, here’s the list of companies that have lent their support this year to make this event possible. An individual post highlighting the work of the Kauffman Foundation will be published in the coming days.
Please help us thank our sponors with a comment below or a shout out on Twitter.
An IT membership organization, the AIM Institute is driven by providing creative applications of information technology to its business, community and educational partners.
Learn more at aiminstitute.org and find them on Twitter: @AIM_Institute
Microsoft BizSpark is a program specifically for technology startups that offers all the software and development tools you’ll need to accelerate your business for no upfront cost.
Learn more at microsoft.com/bizspark and find them on Twitter: @BizSpark
Hayneedle.com is home to 200-plus online specialty stores, each dedicated to a single product line with a deep and varied selection of products unparalleled at retail and other online stores.
Learn more at hayneedle.com and find them on Twitter: @Hayneedle
Founded by civic and community leaders aiming to enhance technology and innovation in our community, Scott Technology Center is a multi-faceted technology incubator providing facilities and services for entrepreneurial emerging businesses.
Learn more at scott-technology.com and find them on Twitter: @ScottTechCenter
UNeMed Corporation develops inventions that arise from research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and commercializes those innovations by licensing technology and facilitating startup companies.
Learn more at unemed.com and find them on Twitter: @UNeMed
PayPal X, PayPal’s open payments platform, offers a versatile and easy way to integrate payment functionality directly into any product or service.
Learn more at x.com and find them on Twitter: @PayPalX
Yahoo! attracts hundreds of millions of users every month through its innovative technology and engaging content and services, making it one of the most visited Internet destinations and world-class online media company.
Learn more at pressroom.yahoo.com and find them on Twitter: @Yahoo
Since its inception, the Rimington Trophy, which is awarded annually to the Most Outstanding Center in NCAA Division I-A College Football, has raised over $1.6 million for its benefactor, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Learn more at rimingtontrophy.com and find them on Twitter: @RimingtonTrophy
We also have these individuals, companies and organizations to thank for their support:
We encourage you to click on their names and vist their websites to learn more, and to be extra sweet, send a tweet of thanks their way.
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Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, @OmahaChamber
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Borsheim’s, @Borsheims
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Heartland Technology Alliance, @HeartlandTech5
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BairdHolm, @BairdHolm
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Jim and Karen Linder
And last, but certainly not least, we have a great group of folks who are assisting us with in-kind support, whether it’s the printing of our rad T-shirts, providing furniture for the stage or vehicles to transport our speakers. We’re honored to have their involvement!
We’d like to thank:
Omaha Steaks for hosting a V.I.P. dinner Friday night
Confurrent for an Android app of might
Storenvy for T-shirt printing that is super nice
Scooter’s Coffeehouse for coffee you’ll want twice
Malone & Company for photography that’s very cool
Performance Volkswagen for vehicles that make you drool
Ninth Division for an iPhone app that’s sweet
Allen Furniture for places to sit and rest your feet
Plum Root Technology for wifi that won’t bust
ButtonBiz.com for Big Omaha buttons that are a must
Oxide Design for a conference identity that’s second to none
And KANEKO for providing the space where we have lots of fun
