Wichita program drives highway of resources to more KC startups; founders tout who they met along the way
October 6, 2025
Amber Dunn, program manager for Wichita-based NXTUS, second from right, stands with founders Donnie Hampton, Roz; Gharib Gharibi, Archia.io; and Zik Nwanganga and Bing Low, Ulom; during Launch Week in Wichita; photo courtesy of NXTUS
Opening its doors to Midwest companies outside Kansas for the first time, a Wichita-based program that connects startups with the tools to better engage enterprise partners offered an added benefit to Kansas City entrepreneurs: a new ecosystem of support just a few hours from home.
“The program’s Wichita location inspired us to broaden our outreach in the region, which has generated promising new opportunities,” said Donnie Hampton, co-founder of Roz, one of four Kansas City-area companies tapped for the just-completed NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series cohort.
As designed, NXTSTAGE helped Roz connect with key decision-makers at organizations that previously were outside the orbit of the startup’s leaders, he continued, noting his company now is in active discussion with several regional enterprise participants.