Top 10 Tips for Building a Stand-Out Tech Portfolio in Kansas City

Kansas City's tech scene is straight fire right now! It's growing faster than the national average and contributing almost 10% to our regional economy, which is pretty dang sweet.

The Digital Sandbox KC report just dropped, showing how they've awarded funding to over 200 companies that went on to raise $243 million in additional capital.

That's major!

Companies like Garmin, Cerner, and T-Mobile are tech titans here, but the startup grind is where it's at. Fintech and cybersecurity are thriving - we've got blooom (a $1B fintech company), ZOLOZ (part of Alibaba's), and a stacked cybersecurity workforce prepping for huge job growth.

Not to mention, the KC Tech Council report shows our tech talent is on the rise, with a growing pool of young guns ready to make waves.

If you want your portfolio to stand out, tap into these trending sectors and showcase how you're pushing boundaries. The hustle here values innovation, so let your creativity shine through in those projects!

Cerner is killing it in the healthcare tech game here in Kansas City.

With like 29,000 workers worldwide and a $23 billion market cap, they're a total powerhouse. Their electronic health record (EHR) systems have transformed how hospitals and clinics handle patient data, giving docs real-time insights and making everything run smoother.

For all you tech whiz kids trying to break into the KC scene, highlighting projects involving Cerner's cutting-edge tech is a major flex.

The healthcare IT market is projected to hit $795.9 billion by 2030, growing at a crazy 16.3% annual rate.

By showcasing your skills with Cerner's solutions, you're aligning yourself with one of the hottest industries out there. Here are some areas you could focus on:

• Integrating EHR systems: Enable seamless data sharing by working with Electronic Health Record systems.
• Cloud platforms: Build cloud platforms for easier access to healthcare data.
• Mobile apps: Develop apps for remote patient monitoring, enhancing connectivity.
• AI and machine learning: Use these technologies for predictive analytics in healthcare.

With a portfolio that highlights your expertise in these areas, you'll be a valuable asset to any healthcare tech company.

As Dr. David Feinberg, Cerner's former CEO, once said,

"Healthcare is one of the most complex and data-intensive industries in the world, and technology is the key to unlocking its full potential."

By collaborating with local healthcare organizations and tapping into Cerner's resources, you'll gain invaluable experience and insights that'll make your portfolio absolutely fire.

If you wanna stand out with your portfolio, you gotta take some inspo from the big dogs at VMLY&R.

These guys are straight-up killin' it in the digital marketing game, earning mad respect like being named a Leader in Gartner's 2022 Magic Quadrant for Global Marketing Agencies.

Here's how you can channel their design genius into your own portfolio:

1. Storytelling: VMLY&R is all about spinning stories that hit you right in the feels. Weave a dope narrative through your portfolio that showcases your skills, experiences, and achievements in a way that keeps people hooked.
2. User Experience (UX) Obsession: These cats prioritize making everything smooth and user-friendly. Make sure your portfolio looks fly but also works like a dream, so people can easily navigate and lap up your greatness.
3. Data-Driven Designs: VMLY&R uses data to drive their design decisions like a boss. Sprinkle in some data vizzes, metrics, and analytics to back up the impact and effectiveness of your work.

To really nail that VMLY&R aesthetic, keep these design principles in mind:

• Clean and Minimalist: VMLY&R's designs are all about that clean, minimalist vibe that lets the content shine. Adopt a similar approach to keep your portfolio looking fresh and uncluttered.
• Consistent Branding: These guys have their brand identity on lock across all their materials. Develop a cohesive brand identity for your portfolio, with a killer logo, color palette, and typography game.
• Responsive Design: As digital marketing masters, VMLY&R knows the importance of responsive design for optimal experiences across devices. Make sure your portfolio looks fire on all screens, from desktop to mobile.

By channeling VMLY&R's design strats and principles, your tech portfolio will be an absolute showstopper that'll have potential employers and clients drooling.

As Mark Tutssel, VMLY&R's Global Chief Creative Officer, says,

"Design is not just about making things look pretty; it's about solving problems and creating meaningful experiences."

Embrace that mindset, and you'll crush the competition in Kansas City's tech scene, no doubt.

Check this out - Kansas City has been a major player in the comms tech game, thanks to none other than Sprint Corporation.

These guys were total trailblazers, building the first all-digital fiber-optic network in the US and pushing the boundaries of what's possible. For any of us aspiring tech pros in KC, understanding Sprint's impact and aligning our portfolios with their cutting-edge communication solutions could be a game-changer.

Sprint's fingerprints are all over the comms tech world.

They were pioneers in 4G LTE, supercharging mobile data speeds and making our connected world a reality. Their wireless expertise and network infrastructure basically set the bar for the entire industry.

By tapping into Sprint's achievements, we can showcase our skills in areas like network optimization, developing killer mobile apps that leverage their platforms, and creating IoT solutions that mesh with their protocols for connected devices.

One prime example of Sprint's forward-thinking approach is their commitment to network virtualization.

By embracing software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV), they paved the way for more agile and cost-effective network deployments.

Projects that demonstrate an understanding of these cutting-edge technologies can position us as visionaries aligned with Sprint's vision.

It's not just about the tech - Sprint also emphasized creating user-friendly solutions and prioritizing customer experience.

By incorporating user experience (UX) best practices into our comms tech projects, we can showcase our ability to craft solutions that are not only technically robust but also intuitive and accessible for end-users.

As a tech powerhouse in KC, Sprint's influence extended beyond just communication tech, setting the standard for innovation and user-focused design.

Tech's future is built on open source, and Kansas City's Garmin is showing us how it's done. These guys aren't just making cool GPS gadgets - they're dropping open-source projects left and right.

Want to boost your portfolio and skills? Check out their Developer PomodoroPro Start app that helps devs stay focused, or geek out on some health data analysis tools for their wearables.

Getting involved is a no-brainer - you'll be learning from the best while proving you can hack it in a real team setting.

But open source is more than just a resume booster.

It's how the whole industry moves forward. Big names like Red Hat have shown that nearly every modern codebase has open-source DNA, and 90% of tech leaders agree it accelerates innovation.

By contributing to Garmin's projects, you're not just prepping for your dream job - you're helping shape the tech of tomorrow.

So, how do you get in on the action? Start by scoping out Garmin's GitHub for projects that spark your interest.

Read up on the guidelines, then jump into the convos and start asking questions. Before long, you'll be proposing fixes, building new features, and getting feedback from seasoned pros.

It's hands-on experience you can't get in a classroom, and it'll make your portfolio stand out.

Securing an internship at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City can be a game-changer for young tech heads! These guys are all about paid summer internships where you get to flex your creative muscles on real projects.

It's a crash course in innovation, straight from the veterans. You'll be working alongside industry legends, picking up skills to level up your portfolio. But what really sets Hallmark apart is their focus on storytelling, according to this graphic design intern's experience.

They'll teach you to craft narratives that connect with people on an emotional level, blending tech and creativity in a way that resonates.

If you're tryna level up that tech portfolio and make it stand out in the Kansas City scene, you gotta tap into the startup network. This city is poppin' with innovative startups, and KC Collective is the place to be.

These founders are all about collaborating and helping each other grow, so why not get in on that action?

First things first, do your research on the startups that vibe with your skills and interests.

Then, get out there and start networking at events like KCSourceLink's meetups or join groups on Meetup.

Once you've made those connections, don't be shy about asking for testimonials. These startup peeps have seen your work firsthand, and their stamp of approval can really elevate your portfolio.

Just remember, when you're asking for testimonials, make it easy for them.

Give them a template or some guidance on what you'd like them to highlight. And always show your appreciation – offer to return the favor or hook them up with a referral.

Building a solid network is a two-way street. With testimonials from these KC startups in your arsenal, your portfolio will be straight fire, and you'll be one step closer to landing that dream tech gig.

Attending dope tech events like SHARE Kansas City 2024 and Techweek KC is a must for young guns looking to level up their portfolios and make connections in the KC tech scene.

Techweek KC, going down in April 2024, is a prime chance to dive into the local tech landscape. With over 100 expert-led sessions and networking opportunities, you can:

• Discover What's Poppin': Get the scoop on the latest innovations, infuse fire into your portfolio projects.
• Network Like a Boss: Techweek KC's lineup is stacked with industry heavyweights. giving you a golden ticket to rub elbows and forge connections that could lead to mentorship, collabs, or even job offers.
• Level Up Your Skills: From hands-on workshops to mind-expanding seminars, the event offers a buffet of learning experiences to sharpen your existing skills and pick up new ones.

But don't sleep on the other dope events happening year-round, like meetups, hackathons, and conferences.

According to the number crunchers at EventBrite, 76% of pros say networking is clutch for career success. These events aren't just for face-to-face vibes, but also a stage to showcase your work and get feedback from seasoned vets.

Like the OG Gary Vaynerchuk said,

"The smarter you work and the more opportunities you expose yourself to, the luckier you'll become."

By strategically hitting up events like Techweek KC, you can expand your knowledge, sharpen your skills, and build relationships that'll take your tech portfolio – and career – to new heights.

When it comes to tech these days, having that user-friendly touch is key for creating dope digital experiences that people actually vibe with. As future tech bosses in Kansas City, we gotta show we got those UX (user experience) skills on lock, and what better way than by taking notes from the big dogs like DST Systems? These finance tech kings are known for their innovative and slick solutions, making them the perfect inspo for leveling up our portfolio designs.

DST Systems keeps it real when it comes to UX design by following a few major principles:

• Simplicity: Cutting through the clutter to make interfaces clear and easy to navigate, so users don't get a headache trying to figure stuff out.
• Consistency: Keeping that visual and functional flow consistent across apps and platforms, so it feels familiar and predictable for users.
• Accessibility: Making sure their products work for everyone, no matter their abilities or needs.

According to this study from Nielsen Norman Group, every dollar spent on UX design pays off with a $100 boost in revenue and productivity.

That's some serious ROI, proving how crucial it is to bring that user-friendly flavor to our work.

"Good design is good business." - Thomas J. Watson Jr., former IBM CEO

To really kill it, we should also look into incorporating user research methods like creating personas, testing usability, and trying out different prototypes.

By documenting that process in our portfolios, we'll be flexing our commitment to solutions that truly resonate with users, setting us apart from the pack for sure.

Kansas City's Innovation Center is the spot for tech heads like us to level up our portfolios and skills. It's like a home base where coders, developers, and entrepreneurs come together to collab and make some serious tech magic happen.

One of their standout offerings is the mentorship program – you get paired up with industry vets who drop knowledge bombs on everything from mastering the latest tech trends to building a killer portfolio that'll make you stand out from the pack.

But that's just the start.

The Innovation Center hooks you up with coding bootcamps and workshops that'll take your tech game to new heights. We're talking intensive training where you'll learn all the hottest coding languages, frameworks, and tools to create jaw-dropping projects for your portfolio.

And let's not forget about their networking events – it's like a tech talent mixer where you can rub elbows with potential employers, find collab partners, and connect with like-minded techies.

Over 70% of folks landed internships or jobs through these networking seshes.

The Innovation Center's support system is on another level too. You get access to co-working spaces where you can grind with your squad, state-of-the-art tech tools to make your projects pop, and workshops to help you slay those soft skills like public speaking, interviewing, and personal branding.

One former student even said,

"The Innovation Center's holistic approach to tech education transformed my career trajectory. From polishing my technical skills to nurturing networking opportunities, I gained the confidence to showcase my abilities and secure a dream job."

Sounds like a winning formula to me!