32 Startups Advance in Gamechangers & Champions 2026 Bracket-Style Pitch Competition

Wichita, Kan. – February 25, 2026 – NXTUS, Inc., in partnership with the Kansas Department of Commerce and KU Innovation Park, today announced that 32 Kansas startups have advanced to the second round of the Gamechangers & Champions 2026 Pitch Competition.

These innovators, from a pool of 75 total entries, are competing for $25,000 in prize money, sponsored by the University of Kansas School of Business; $2,500 Fans’ Choice Award, sponsored by Wichita State University’s Barton School of Business; as well as the attention of investors and corporates.

Startup applicants represented 14 counties across Kansas and a broad range of industries, including bioscience and healthcare, software and AI, agtech and advanced manufacturing, consumer products, energy, and professional services. Founders hail from eight rural counties, plus major innovation centers such as Johnson, Sedgwick and Douglas counties, reflecting strong statewide growth in both digital and industrial innovation.

“One of the most inspiring facets of Gamechangers & Champions is seeing founders from rural Kansas standing alongside entrepreneurs from our largest cities,” said Conor Adler, NXTUS Investment Manager. “These startups, from bioscience to agtech to advanced manufacturing, show that innovation is happening in every corner of Kansas. This unique competition is powered by great partners like KU Innovation Park and School of Business, the Kansas Department of Commerce, and dozens of other supporters who know that when we connect these disrupters with capital, mentorship, and opportunity, we strengthen our entire state.”

These are the Kansas startups selected for the Round of 32:

·       AcuSera, Zaydan Ahmed

·       Agriburbia LLC, Matthew Redmond

·       Cirque Renewables, John Michaels

·       Enrichly Fun, Inc., Romy Carlson

·       Euphemystic Ventures, Ted Kihm

·       GearHaul, Kenny Finley

·       Huxedo, Tanuj Gupta

·       Icorium, Kalin Baca

·       ILIOS Aerospace, Pedro Cupertino

·       KS Hemp Consortium, LLC, Sarah Stephens

·       LAN Party, Ryan Hesse

·       LoftyLoo Raised Litter Station, Amy Leiker

·       MedCurate, Ashley McClellan

·       Myndset, Craig Mason

·       Natural Solutions LLC, Tim Dawsey

·       Overwatch Technologies, Todd Gentry

·       Planetary Talent, Jacob Schlittenhardt

·       PLOT, Chris Callen

·       Revix AI LLC, Kevin Roy

·       Scout, Gonzalo Erdozain

·       Scoutz, Antonio Depina

·       SippTech, Tommy McAndrew

·       SteroCore Therapeutics, Yezan Salamoun

·       Techam Solutions LLC., Hessam Vali

·       The Balm Box, Liz Benditt

·       VisiPay LLC, Barry Nelson

·       VOISS, Paul Epp

·       Vytas Bio, Dave Alburty

·       Whimsi Beans LLC, Meg Dieter

·       WRAX, Frankie Elder-Reedy

·       Yes! Athletics, Deborah North

·       ZenoLeap, Andrew Shultz

Representatives from the following organizations participated in judging the qualifying round:

·       StartUp Hutch

·       Social Balances 

·       Pipeline Entrepreneurs

·       Greater Topeka Partnership

·       Kansas State University

·       University of Kansas

·       FirePoint (Wichita State University)

·       Network Kansas (eGrowth Ventures)

·       Innovate 24

·       University Venture Fund Crossroads

·       Plug & Play Tech Center

·       KS-Based Angel Investors

Set for Tuesday, March 10, at the Conference Center at KU’s David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Gamechangers and Champions 2026 is a “Bracket Bash for Innovators and Angels,” designed to bring together Kansas startups with angel investors and regional venture-capital fund managers, all set amid the excitement of the Men’s Big 12 Basketball Tournament being hosted in Kansas City March 10-14. The event will feature networking opportunities, industry leader speakers, educational sessions, and the high-stakes pitch competition, providing a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses, connect with investors, and compete for prize money to go towards their startup.

The bracket-style pitch competition will have one more elimination round before the event. The entrepreneurs who make it to the Round of 16 will be announced on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, via NXTUS and Kansas Department of Commerce social-media accounts.

At the start of the event, the Innovative Eight will be revealed, and those startups will share their ‘elevator pitches’ with the more than 200 audience members, including investors, other entrepreneurs, and corporate 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 $25,000 champion at the event finale.

In addition to the pitch competition, Gamechangers & Champions will feature a variety of engaging activities:

• Morning and afternoon curated networking sessions.

• Innovation Ecosystem Kickoff – Statewide innovation insights from Lt. Governor, David Toland, plus corporate-startup collaboration perspectives from Kristen Rodgers of Plug and Play.

• Expert Breakout Tracks – Focused educational sessions for both startups and investors.

• Sports Tech Halftime Spotlight – A behind-the-scenes look at the region’s sports-tech momentum, moderated by Jillian Letrinko, broadcast anchor and KC Current announcer, featuring leaders shaping major global events and pro sports organizations, including Kansas City FIFA World Cup 26 and the Kansas City Chiefs.

• Keynote Speaker – Remarks from Neal Sharma of DEG and KC FIFA World Cup 26 Board Member.

The full, detailed event schedule can be found here.

Registration to attend the event will be capped at 300, 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, the Kansas Department of Commerce, KU Innovation Park, the prize money sponsor, University of Kansas School of Business, Fan’s Choice sponsor, Barton School of Business at Wichita State University, and our host sponsor, the Conference Center at David Booth Memorial Stadium, along with support from our premier sponsors Network Kansas’ Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures, Hutton, Capitol Federal, IdeaTek, Cargill, AltCap, KU Alumni Association, Kansas State University, Hinkle Law, FlagshipKansas.Tech, OREAD Angel Investors, MidxMidwest, and Plug and Play Topeka.

For media inquiries, sponsorships, or event registration, visit nxtus.io/events/gc26 or contact elleigh@nxtus.io or Cory.Keller@ks.gov.