NXTUS Celebrates Graduates, Alumni, and Supporters at Gamechangers & Champions Event
By: NXTUS Inc.
March 26, 2024
2024 NXTSTAGE Customer Traction Cohort at NICHE; photo courtesy of Fernando Salazar.
Wichita, Kan. – March 25, 2024 – NXTUS, Inc. today graduated 20 growth-minded Kansas startups from the NXTSTAGE Customer Traction Cohort at the Gamechangers and Champions rally, which featured the voice of the Kansas City Chiefs, Mitch Holthus.
The celebration honored the program graduates and all game-changing entrepreneurs and their supporters who are driving growth and innovation in Kansas’ economy. During the event, the graduates pitched their startups to the nearly 200 community and business leaders, entrepreneurs, NXTUS program alumni and partners, and the angel investor members of Accelerate Venture Partners that were gathered at Niche.
This pep rally for entrepreneurship showcased diverse startups offering unique products and services, including healthcare solutions, innovative enterprise technologies, grief-support technology tools, and sustainable apparel for today’s generation of shoppers. In addition to celebrating the graduates of the NXTSTAGE Customer Traction Cohort, the Gamechangers and Champions event was the launch of NXTUS’ alumni engagement initiative, to further enhance support and strengthen the connectivity among founders in the region.
“At NXTUS, we believe in the transformative power of entrepreneurship, and today's celebration marks another milestone in our commitment to nurturing startups and strengthening the community of support around them," said Amber Dunn, Program Manager.
Holthus inspired the crowd by discussing the Kansas entrepreneurial spirit and sharing captivating insider tales of the Kansas City Chiefs. He drew many parallels between the Gamechangers and Champions in the room and the current Chiefs dynasty. “To build a championship organization, whether an NFL team or a great business, you have to celebrate milestones … but don’t stay there. You must handle challenges and flashpoints … but don’t stay there. Never blink; never flinch; stay humble and hungry; always point in the direction of your dreams and goals,” said Holthus.
The event marked the end of NXTUS’s first program of 2024. It was supported by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, ICT Entrepreneurship Coalition, Network Kansas, Evergy, City of Wichita, Sedgwick County, Berry Companies, Hinkle Law, KNSS, Wichita Shredding, Cargill, Professional Engineering Consultants, U.S Small Business Association, Greater Wichita Partnership, Meritrust Credit Union, Kent Audio Visual, and Capacity.