Gamechangers & Champions - A Bracket Bash for Innovators & Angels, Set for March 21
Wichita, Kan. – February 11, 2025– NXTUS, Inc., in partnership with the Kansas Department of Commerce, today opened pitch competition applications and attendee registrations for Gamechangers & Champions 2025: A Bracket Bash for Innovators and Angels, a high-energy event colliding startups with angel investors and innovation leaders from across Kansas.
Set for Friday, March 21, in downtown Wichita at the Commerce Club, this one-day experience will feature networking, education, and a competitive pitch event—all set against the excitement of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Highlights include the final rounds – from Elite Eight to Champion – of a bracket-style pitch competition open to all startups in Kansas, as well as a keynote presentation by former Kansas State and Kansas City Chiefs standout, Kevin Lockett, a Fulcrum Global Capital partner and long-time champion for great entrepreneurs.
Designed to spark new investments, support early-stage startups, and strengthen Kansas’s innovation ecosystem, Gamechangers & Champions 2025 promises an action-packed day of collaboration.
"Gamechangers & Champions 2025 is poised to be a powerful convergence of innovation, investment, and community. By bringing together startups, angel investors, and ecosystem champions from across Kansas, we are creating a space where groundbreaking ideas can thrive, partnerships can spark, and the future of our state’s innovation ecosystem can be shaped,” said Romaine Redman, Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer with the Kansas Department of Commerce. “This collaboration with NXTUS reflects our enduring commitment to empowering local startups, cultivating collaboration and fostering a culture of innovation that drives economic growth and opportunity for all Kansans."
The event starts with networking and an opening session that includes a Startup Grind Fireside Chat featuring Graham Krizek, CEO of Voltage Cloud. The Elite Eight pitch competitors, vying for cash prizes and potential angel investments, will be revealed and do a mini pitch showcase, setting the stage for the competition’s final rounds in the afternoon.
Midday breakout sessions offer tailored content for startups and investors. The Startup Track features workshops led by seasoned founders, entrepreneur support organizations, and regional advisors, while the Angel Track covers Kansas’s Growth-Capital Network, investing fundamentals, and due diligence best practices, presented by Accelerate Venture Partners and industry experts.
Throughout the day, the Commerce Club will also serve as the Business & Basketball Lounge - sponsored by Network Kansas - as a hub for casual networking, watching NCAA games from other regions, and connecting with resources from around Kansas that support entrepreneurs.
The event concludes with the Final Four Startup Pitch Competition, where the top startups will pitch live for a chance to win prize money, including a People’s Choice award. Kevin Lockett, Partner at Fulcrum Global Capital and former Kansas City Chiefs and K-State football player, will deliver a keynote address and present the awards.
The pitch competition is open to Kansas-based high-growth startups in the pre-seed or seed stages. Applications are accepted here, offering entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to showcase their businesses to investors and industry leaders. Key competition dates:
• March 3: Application deadline
• March 4: Round of 32 announced
• March 11: Sweet Sixteen announced
• March 21: Elite Eight pitch live, with judges selecting the Final Four
Registration is now open for Kansas entrepreneurs, angel investors, potential investors, innovation leaders, and community members. Tickets are available for purchase here.
For media inquiries, sponsorships, event registration, or pitch competition applications, visit nxtus.io/gc25 or contact elleigh@nxtus.io or Cory.Keller@ks.gov.