KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Aug. 18, 2014 – From Aug. 25-27, “Knight News Challenge Summer” will gather over 100 innovators and entrepreneurs from across the country to connect and share lessons on building successful news and information projects as a way to strengthen communities. An initiative of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, this year’s event is being held in Kansas City, and is being hosted by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, to introduce participants to the city’s budding startup and entrepreneurial scene and engage with local innovators.
The annual event brings together winners of the Knight News Challenge, an innovation contest that funds breakthrough ideas in news and information. Participants will attend two days of networking and workshops focused on building business and entrepreneurial skills to improve their projects.
Kansas City Mayor Sly James will kick off this year’s event at an evening reception on Aug. 25. Other featured speakers include Asim Pasha, local business leader and co-founder and co-CEO of Sporting Innovations, a technology company. Several local entrepreneurs are also being invited to the reception to network with News Challenge winners.
“We’ve learned that providing innovators with opportunities to connect and strengthen their network of supporters and collaborators is essential to accelerating and evolving a project, and ultimately to its overall success,” said John Bracken, Knight Foundation’s director of journalism and media innovation. “At the same time, exploring strong, emerging entrepreneurial hubs like Kansas City allows innovators to expand their options and tap into the potential of different communities.”
As part of the gathering, News Challenge winners will further take part in two days of workshops that will be led by prominent experts. Topics will include building better business models, marketing, branding, sales and storytelling.
Members of the media interested in attending the event should email Anusha Alikhan, Knight Foundation director of communications, [email protected]. Follow @knightfdn on Twitter for news and updates.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. We believe that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org
About the Kauffman Foundation
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private, nonpartisan foundation that aims to foster economic independence by advancing educational achievement and entrepreneurial success. Founded by late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman, the Foundation is based in Kansas City, Mo., and has approximately $2 billion in assets. For more information, visit www.kauffman.org, and follow the Foundation on www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn.
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CONTACTS:
Anusha Alikhan, Director of Communications, Knight Foundation, 305-908-2677, [email protected]