About NXTUS
We help entrepreneurs grow companies of significance by connecting a community of mentors, capital for startups and customers to support growth.
The Why
At NXTUS, Inc, we are a catalyst for the region’s startup ecosystem. We serve as a nexus for entrepreneurs, investors, corporate partners, and the community at large, and we help achieve a thriving ‘next us’ by growing startups, strengthening innovation culture and building support systems.
Based in Wichita, we collaborate with other entrepreneur support organizations, government agencies, economic development groups, corporate innovators, and, most of all, founders and investors to positively impact and advance the economy, culture and vitality in the Heartland.
NXTUS currently manages Accelerate Venture Partners, a fast-growing regional Angel investor syndicate, NXTSTAGE Startup Programs, aimed at connecting startups to mature businesses and regional partners looking to become customers for their technologies and AVP Insights, a free monthly education series presenting wisdom and resources for our investors and community.
One of our core values is to make sure the face of entrepreneurship reflects the make-up of our community. Diversity plays a huge role in the success of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. For our region to thrive, we want and need as many entrepreneurs as we can get. We are an inclusion organization, committed to providing customized support to all who have an idea and want to make it grow.
Background
In 2014, a group of experienced entrepreneurs came together with a vision to reinvigorate the entrepreneurial spirit of Wichita. Thus, an organization then called e2e was launched in 2016, with the support of many passionate individuals and corporate sponsors. Here are some history and program highlights:
An initial e2e Accelerator class, launched in 2016 was made up of Appointment Launch, Buddy Brands, Knoxx / Alyss Analytics, KingFit, Reverie Roasters, and Tru-Building.
LaunchPrep, launched in the Spring of 2017 as a partnership between the Wichita State University Center for Entrepreneurship and NXTUS, is a 90-day mentor driven accelerator program for early stage entrepreneurs.
In 2018, Accelerate Venture Partners was formed to broaden the base of angel-stage capital investment in the region. By the end of 2019, AVP had become one of the fastest-growing angel syndicates in the U.S.
In January 2020, e2e became NXTUS, continuing its vital work to support founders and their young, growing companies. NXTUS launched NXTSTAGE startup programs and a new era of community-wide innovation began.
Later that year, the first NXTSTAGE startup programs launched with a focus on Community Health & Vibrancy and Financial Technology (FinTech). Founders from across the globe came to Wichita to connect with and pitch to local companies and organizations.
In 2022, NXTUS doubled their program offerings with two new ways to support founders. The NXTSTAGE Customer Traction Cohort was developed to provide customized coaching and workshops to help Kansas startups accelerate their customer-acquisition journey. In addition, the NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series was developed to close knowledge and access gaps to create customer pathways between early-stage companies in Kansas and larger enterprises.
By the end of 2023, NXTUS had helped more than 1,500 startups connect with community assets and mobilized more than $7.5 million in capital to help early-stage ventures succeed.