• A Great Place to Start...
  • Knowledge & Networking
  • Ideas into Inventions
  • Connecting Creativity Since 2004

Have an invention idea but need help? Join us for monthly meet-ups & special events to get the help you need.

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About ICKC

The Inventors Center of Kansas City (ICKC) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing inventors and product developers networks, resources & tools to develop ideas into viable products. We help first-time inventors bring their ideas to fruition, serving as a source of education and a guide to entrepreneurial success. We provide a learning forum for inventor/entrepreneurs and those in allied fields. We help guide inventors through the idea development process from validation, evaluation, competitive analysis, business planning, funding, prototyping, patenting, marketing, distribution and licensing.

We believe some of our country’s most valuable resources are:

  • new inventions,
  • new technology
  • the unique individuals that create them.

ICKC hosts a monthly inventor meet-up at historic Union Station in downtown Kansas City, 30 West Pershing Road.  Our meet-ups are held the third Tuesday of each month with attendance of 60 to 80 people and boasts a large member-base throughout the region.

Road Map to Invention!

Download our “Concept to Commercialization” flow chart and identify where you are and where to go.

Click Here to Download Invention Flow Chart

Subscribe to ICKC e-News

Events

September Meeting

A Successful Inventor speaks and with Q & A on Crowdfunding, Patenting, Manufacturing, fulfillment from home, Shopify and Amazon!

There will also be Chris’s Invention Showcase and the Lightbulb Moment Video

October Meeting

Edison Nation Representative speaks about how to enter their competition, getting Grants and funding from them.

Also a Very Successful Inventor Speaker Speaks about Amazon, QVC, getting in and keeping in nationwide retail chains.

There will also be Chris’s Invention Showcase and the Lightbulb Moment Video

November Meeting

Successful Shark Tank winner speaks about being In front of the camera and behind the scenes at Shark tank, plus her product development and making a deal with sharks and licensors.

There will also be Chris’s Invention Showcase and the Lightbulb Moment Video

There are no upcoming events at this time

2019 Speakers

January 2019

Thomas Randy Pierce – Topic- Finding a reputable designer and consultant for your product

Audience – tell about their products, where they are in the process and who they’ve used to move their products forward
For more Entrepreneur activities/meetings visit https://www.kcsourcelink.com/calendar

February 2019 – Meeting cancelled due to snow storm

March 2019

Colin Elwell (Lawrence) – Developed a utility-patent-pending topper with a proprietary connector to the keg. His topper sells retail or in liquor stores. www.draftpak.com

Joe Crane joe@smartideasonline.com – Joe markets his products to solely on Amazon, no website. Expertise ranges from the inventors perspective of coming up with an idea, sourcing from China and making large order deliveries to place on Amazon.
For more Entrepreneur activities/meetings visit https://www.kcsourcelink.com/calendar

April 2019

Larry Muck – www.NearZeroLLC.com Years of experience in helping inventors transform their ideas into products and production with optimum efficiency working to keep all sources for products within the United States.

Mary Moeller – www.campgroundcommander.com Topic: Creating and vetting ideas and products before successfully bringing them to market.
For more Entrepreneur activities/meetings visit https://www.kcsourcelink.com/calendar

May 2019

The Shark Off – www.thesharkoff.com Shark repellent surfer jewelry

Groove Washer www.grovewasher.com Steve Chase a talks about the Groove Washer now in the markets all over.
For more Entrepreneur activities/meetings visit https://www.kcsourcelink.com/calendar

June 2019

Peak Energy Technology – www.peakenergytech.com Product to recycle electricity saving up to 25% on electricity bill
For more Entrepreneur activities/meetings visit https://www.kcsourcelink.com/calendar

July 2019

Modus Light – www.moduslight.com Manufacturing and sourcing company working with smaller companies, start ups and larger companies and have 15 core manufacturing plants

John Meyer – product liability; upc codes; packaging for Shipping
For more Entrepreneur activities/meetings visit https://www.kcsourcelink.com/calendar

Submit your #GEWKC idea for a workshop, panel, presentation etc., by August 18. https://www.kcsourcelink.com

August 2019

Midwest Regional US Patent & Trademark Representative
For more Entrepreneur activities/meetings visit https://www.kcsourcelink.com/calendar

September 2019

Sally Williams Technology Development and Commercialization Consultant MO SBDC – Topic: Market Analysis – Product value Proposition & Product Differentiation Analysis https://info.umkc.edu/sbtdc | williamssall@umkc.edu

Jack Harwell – Business Advisor SBDC Kansas – Topic – Business Production Strategy Analysis – Financial Analysis, Make or license analysis & SBIR application assistance jharwel1@jccc.edu | 913-469-2464

October 2019

November 2019 – Global Entrepreneurship Week!

Panel Discussion of Specialists
For more Entrepreneur activities/meetings visit https://www.kcsourcelink.com/calendar

Become a Member

Join the ICKC community today! Membership is only $30 ($55 value) for the full 2019 calendar year. In addition to enjoying free admission to regular Monthly Meet-Ups, you also benefit from Member Only discounts to Special Engagements. Your donation and participation help to make ICKC one of the premier groups in the country.

$30per year

Member

  • Free admission to regular Monthly Meet-Ups
  • Discounts to Special Engagements
    • Donate Now

Become a Mentor

$50per year

Bronze

  • Name Listed on Website
  • Name Listed on Welcome Sign
    • Donate Now

$100per year

Silver

  • NAME LISTED ON WEBSITE
  • NAME LISTED ON WELCOME SIGN
  • NAME LISTED AT THE REGISTRATION TABLE
    • Donate Now

$250per year

Gold

  • NAME LISTED ON WEBSITE
  • NAME LISTED ON WELCOME SIGN
  • NAME LISTED AT REGISTRATION TABLE
  • MAY INVITE 1 GUEST PER MEETING
    • Donate Now

$500per year

Diamond

  • NAME LISTED ON WEBSITE
  • NAME LISTED ON WELCOME SIGN
  • NAME LISTED AT REGISTRATION TABLE
  • MAY INVITE 2 GUEST PER MEETING
  • RECEIVES 2 MEMBERSHIP CARDS
    • Donate Now

Current Mentors

Bronze Mentors

Christian Corley
Marc Price
Chris Shankland
Jodi Sifers
Paul Steinke
Eric Strautman
Claudia Toomin

Silver Mentors

Woodrow Boles
Keith Bowman
Wilbur Caldwell
Don Dickey
Brian Hagger
Rev Billy Hupp
Billy Hupp SR
Maynard Nelson
John Meyer
Mark Ross
John Seise
Robin Westlin

Gold Mentors

Sarah Balhuizen
Chuck Dolbeare
Steve Pope

Diamond Mentors

Rich Brull
Bob Coulston
Randy Pierce

Be Our Speaker

Be Our Speaker

Do you have an invention that needs resources or review?

Do you have an invention that is already becoming a success?

Do you have experiences and insights that can help and inspire others?

Have an Invention? Present at Our Inventor Meet-Ups…

You can present your story, perspectives and products at one of our upcoming meetings or events. Help to educate, motivate and inform our audience, in KC and abroad.

Each monthly meet-up showcases 2 speakers, one inventor and a headline keynote.

Our Inventor presenters are pursuing their invention ideas and providing something fresh for the consumer market. By presenting your idea, you create awareness, discover resources and collect valuable feedback from potential customers and qualified providers.

Our keynotes dive into more detail and discussion on their pursuits, revealing honest observations beneficial to every-stage product creators and entrepreneurs.

To apply to present at an upcoming meet-up or event, please contact us.

Each speaker will be allowed up to 15 minutes for presentation and 10 minutes for audience Q & A.
Inventions must be protected (patent, patent pending or provisional) and will be featured in our newsletter the following month.

Contact Us

Inventors Center of Kansas City
PO Box 410343
Kansas City, MO, 64141

ickc@inventorscenterofkansascity.org

Our Board

ICKC Board and Committee Members

Our board of directors and committee chairs are comprised of a talented and knowledgeable cross section of inventors, entrepreneurs and service providers. Through their volunteer efforts, these individuals will be listening, planning and leading the continued goal to provide inventors and Kansas City with one of the best inventor groups and resources in the Country. In fact, in 2018, the Inventors Center of Kansas City was given the prestigious award of “Premier Inventors Organization in the US”.

ICKC Board meetings are the first Tuesday of each month and are by invitation only. If you are interested in being a part of ICKC leadership, to help with a committee or to be a part of the advisory board, please contact us and let us know how you’d like to serve. Our board is self-electing each November and all positions are volunteer 2-year terms.

Board of Directors Positions

President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Member Retention, Social Media and Web Production.

Committees

Maker Faire, Secure Monthly Speakers, Email Notifications, Special Events, Sponsorship, General Meeting Help

Presidents Emeritus

CJ Boylan – Founder | Steve Pope | Carrie Jeske | Curt McMillan | Christian Corley | Mary Moeller | John Meyer

Current Board

President – John Meyer

Vice President – Randy Pierce

Secretary – Jodi Sifers

Treasurer – Don Dickey

Website Coordinator – Brian Long

Social Media – Eric Strautman and Matthew Heiman

Membership Education and Retention – Aaron Mitchell

Board Member – Jordon Root

Board Member – Kenya Mesler

Board Member – John Mesler

Premiere Meet-Up Sponsor: KC PROTO

KC Proto helps startups, small businesses and agencies create physical products.

LEARN MORE ABOUT KC PROTO

Inventors Center of Kansas City
PO Box 410343
Kansas City, MO, 64141

Road Map to Invention!

Download our “Concept to Commercialization” flow chart and identify where you are and where to go.

Click Here to Download Invention Flow Chart