The team at VU Scholarships left it all on the stage Friday, walking away as champions in the Gamechangers & Champions bracket bash — a high-intensity pitch competition running parallel to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in Wichita.

High-Energy Event Showcases Kansas’ Top Startups, Awards Prize Winners, and Connects Founders and Investors

Monday’s pitch competition announcement served up sweet news for more than a dozen Kansas startups as local founders learned they’re advancing in the Gamechangers & Champions “Bracket Bash for Innovators and Angels” — a tournament-style event set to end with a $20,000 grand prize.

Kansas Innovators Edge Closer to $20,000 Prize from WSU’s Barton School of Business

Entrepreneurs will battle each other with pitch ideas Friday between game days of the NCAA Tournament in Wichita.

Nearly three dozen Sunflower State startups are vying for $20,000 in prize money — and courting the attention of investors — as they advance to the second round of an innovative, state-backed pitch competition set amid the excitement of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Leading Innovators Advance Toward $20,000 Prize from the Barton School of Business, Chance to Gain Investors

Unique Accelerator Helps Entrepreneurs Identify Scalable Solutions, Grow Revenue

A new, high-energy pitch competition is expected to help startup founders collide with angel investors and innovation leaders from across Kansas — all set against the excitement of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament this spring.

NXTUS, Kansas Department of Commerce bringing state-wide startups together with investors, innovation resources, in Wichita between first rounds of NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament

"I thought, You are going to have to give up a lot of what your friends are doing if you want to do this."  -Conor Adler on his commitment.

Conor Adler had his final interview with NXTUS CEO Mary Beth Jarvis during her layover in Chicago at a coffee shop near O'Hare airport. A few weeks later, Adler left the suburbs of Chicago to help build the Wichita — and Kansas — startup and innovation scene at NXTUS, a hard career pivot from his early days after college.

Editors and reporters selected the Wichita Business Journal's first Power 50, made up of 50 influential leaders who had the most impact on business in Wichita over the past year. The Power 50 celebrates the business community's innovators and decision-makers. Meet the 2024 class.

NXTUS, in partnership with Empower, Create Campaign and NXTUS' investment arm Accelerate Venture Partners, hosted a new event series called Capital Conversation centered around fostering inclusive investment for diverse and historically underrepresented entrepreneurs.

Wichita's startup potential was on full display as six emerging businesses competed in a pitch competition Friday to conclude Wichita Startup Week.

NXTUS Inc., in partnership with the Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center (NWKS Innovation Center), NetWork Kansas, and Grow Hays, announces the launch of its newest program, the Childcare Entrepreneur Growth Cohort.

Global Startups Present Technology Tools; Four to Partner with Kansas Banks

NXTUS Partners with The Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center, NetWork Kansas, and Grow Hays to Support Childcare Providers & Drive Regional Economic Impact

Companies working to improve Kansans’ health and community growth momentum across the state just completed an eight-week competition in hopes of developing collaborative relationships to scale alongside new regional partners.

Leading Organizations Announce Projects and Collaborations in Wake of NXTUS Program