Bracket bash winner nets $50K in pitch doubleheader; three KC startups score spots among final four
The final four startup contenders in the Gamechangers and Champions 2026 pitch competition: Barry Nelson, VisiPay; Ashley McClellan, MedCurate; Kalin Baca, Icorium; and Tommy McAndrew, SippTech; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
Kansas came in clutch Tuesday — doubling the grand prize pool for this week’s Gamechangers and Champions pitch competition just before tipoff. Its jersey-clad winner scored $50,000 and a top seed among investors gathered for the state’s bracket bash for emerging entrepreneurs.
“When you’re in a startup business, money never hurts, non-dilutive money even more so,” said Tommy McAndrew, founder of SippTech, claiming victory at the University of Kansas Conference Center at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. “I think any entrepreneur could tell you how meaningful moments happen throughout the journey. And this is a small one that it would be hard for me to describe, but it’s significant. I’m thankful for it.”
The gametime decision to up the prize ante at the Gamechangers and Champions 2026 pitch competitioncame from Kansas Lt. Gov. David Toland. In addition to an extra $25,000 for the overall winner, he surprised attendees of Tuesday’s event by announcing that Kansas’ Office of Innovation would also commit another $25,000 to be distributed among the finalists.