16 Startups Stay in the Game, Advance in Gamechangers & Champions 2025 Pitch Competition
Wichita, Kan. – March 17, 2025– NXTUS, Inc., in partnership with the Kansas Department of Commerce, today revealed the 16 Kansas startups advancing in the Gamechangers & Champions 2025 pitch competition, which concludes Friday with the awarding of the $20,000 grand prize, sponsored by the Barton School of Business at Wichita State University.
The competition began with 74 state-wide contenders and narrowed to a second-round pool of 32 last week. These remaining innovators, who offer innovative technologies and solutions in industries ranging from health, sports, and fitness tech to industrial, community, and e-commerce tools, are still in the game competing for cash prizes and the opportunity to catch the eye of potential investors.
Gamechangers and Champions 2025, a "Bracket Bash for Innovators and Angels," is a high-energy event designed to bring together Kansas startups, angel investors, and regional venture capital fund managers, all set against the backdrop of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament hosted in Wichita from March 20-22. The event, taking place on March 21 at the Commerce Club in downtown Wichita, will feature networking opportunities, industry leader speakers, educational sessions, and a high-stakes pitch competition, offering entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their businesses, connect with investors, and compete for prize money to support their startups.
At the start of the event, the Innovative Eight will be revealed, and those startups will share their ‘elevator pitches’ with more than 200 audience members, including investors, other entrepreneurs, and business leaders. Attendees will vote for their favorite pitch to determine the Fan’s Choice award, worth $2,500. Then, venture capital fund managers will coach the eight remaining competitors and narrow the field to the Final Four. These four will deliver their full, five-minute pitches to a panel of distinguished judges, who will crown the $20,000 champion at the event finale.
"Kansas is home to an incredible community of diverse innovators building disruptive startups that are shaping the future of our economy and this is evident through the seventy-four applications from startups across the state," said Romaine Redman, Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer with the Kansas Department of Commerce. "Friday’s event will be a one-of-a-kind ‘pep rally’ for these trailblazers—a dynamic collision point where entrepreneurs and investors from across the state can connect, collaborate, and spark the next wave of Kansas-grown success stories."
The 16 Kansas startups who are advancing to the next round include:
FinMan Fishing, Mark Glade (Hesston)
Marma Health, Victoria Weber (Overland Park)
MD MatchUp, Bob Waddell (Overland Park)
Milton, Miguel Johns (Wichita)
Nitride Global, Mahyar Khosravi (Wichita)
Noonan, Matt Williams (Lenexa)
PLOT, Chris Callen (Lawrence)
ShotTracker, LaDonna Gooden (Olathe)
Sleep Fitter, Liliana Younger (Merriam)
Storytailor, JQ Sirls (Overland Park)
Tacit Technologies, Rye Kennedy (Wichita)
Teddy, Drake Dukes (Pleasanton)
ULOM, Zik Ngwanganga (Kansas City)
VU Scholarships, Andrew Márquez (Kansas City)
Wrax, Frankie Elder-Reedy (Wichita)
Yes! Athletics, Deborah North (Topeka)
In addition to the pitch competition, Gamechangers & Champions 2025 will feature a variety of engaging activities, including:
Opening Networking Session with Startup Grind and WIBA, sponsored by IMA.
Startup Grind Fireside Chat with Graham Krizek, CEO of Voltage Cloud, presented by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Expert-led breakout tracks – Focused educational sessions for both startups and investors, supported by Lange Capital, and Kansas State University.
Business & Basketball Lounge – Thanks to Network Kansas' eGrowth Ventures and AltCap, attendees will have access to networking sessions, complimentary headshots, and the NCAA Tournament games.
Lunch & Snacks – Lunch will be provided for ticket holders sponsored by the Greater Wichita Partnership Opportunity Wichita affiliate, and a second-half snack bar will be available for attendees, sponsored by Hutton.
Keynote remarks, sponsored by Koch, from Kevin Lockett – Former K-State and Kansas City Chiefs player and longtime entrepreneur, who now manages investment firm, Fulcrum Global Capital.
Registration to attend the event will be capped at 200, with tickets going quickly. Investors, entrepreneurs, innovation leaders, and community members are encouraged to register today. Tickets are available here.
This event is made possible by the generous support of the presenting sponsors, NXTUS and the Kansas Department of Commerce, the prize money sponsor, the Barton School of Business at Wichita State University, and our host sponsor, the Commerce Club, along with support from our premier sponsors Koch, Network Kansas, eGrowth Ventures, AltCap, the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Wichita Partnership with the Opportunity Wichita affiliate, Lange Capital, Kansas State University, Plug and Play Topeka, IMA, Hutton, Cargill, the Kansas Chamber, KC Rise, Flyover Capital, and KentAV. Additional event partners include the Wichita Independent Business Association, Startup Grind, SBDC, SBA, the KC Tech Council, Kansas State University’s TDI, Groover Labs, Create Campaign, Flagship.KS Tech, SCKEDD, and Equity2.
For media inquiries, sponsorships, or event registration, visit nxtus.io/gc25 or contact Elleigh at elleigh@nxtus.io or Cory Keller at Cory.Keller@ks.gov.