Bracket bash races to halfcourt, cutting pitch competitors down to 16 Kansas startups

The competition for $25,000 in startup capital is intensifying for more than a dozen Kansas entrepreneurs as a high-profile pitch event announced Wednesday that it had narrowed the field from 32 finalists to 16.

Mary Beth Jarvis, president and CEO of Wichita-based NXTUS, speaks during a February NXTSTAGE event in Wichita; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Selected companies — half of which hail from the Kansas City region — advance to the next round of the 2026 Gamechangers and Champions 2026 pitch competition. 

Set for Wednesday, March 10 at KU’s David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, the “bracket bash” competition is designed to bring Kansas startups face-to-face 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 high-stakes pitch competition helps showcase some ‘cooler than you thought we had here’ startups, but the day is bigger than that,” said Mary Beth Jarvis, president and CEO of Wichita-based NXTUS, which is organizing the bracket-style competition in Lawrence in its second year. “It’s a chance for Kansas to celebrate its progress as an innovation hub and allow the hype to catch up to the fact that incredible companies are being built here every day.” 

Announced alongside partners from the Kansas Department of Commerce and KU Innovation Park, the 16 remaining competitors offer technologies and solutions in healthtech, biotech, enterprise SaaS, consumer tech, HR tech, industrial tech, gaming tech, and fintech.

The Bracket Bash roster is now whittled down to the following companies:

• AcuSera (Zaydan Ahmed), Overland Park
• Enrichly Fun (Romy Carlson), Overland Park
• Huxedo (Tanuj Gupta), Leawood
• Icorium (Kalin Baca), Lawrence
• LAN Party (Ryan Hesse), Prairie Village
• MedCurate (Ashley McClellan), Prairie Village
• Myndset (Craig Mason), Lawrence
• Overwatch Technologies (Todd Gentry), Wichita
• Planetary Talent (Jacob Schlittenhardt), Wichita
• PLOT (Chris Callen), Wichita
• Scoutz (Antonio Depina), Wichita
• SippTech (Tommy McAndrew), Wichita
• VisiPay (Barry Nelson), Olathe
• VOISS (Paul Epp), Lawrence
• Whimsi Beans (Meg Dieter), Olathe
• WRAX (Frankie Elder-Reedy), Pleasanton

Competitors were halved from 32 to 16 companies by judges from Douglas County CORE, Core Bank, Promethean Ventures, BioNexus KC, Groover Labs, Wichita State University, the University of Kansas, Hinkle Law, and Kansas-based angel investors.

ICYMI: Kansas’ bracket-style pitch competition reveals 32 startups vying for top prize

Startups are now competing for an event-day spotlight where they’ll have a shot at the $25,000 grand prize, sponsored by the University of Kansas School of Business; a $2,500 Fans’ Choice Award, sponsored by Wichita State University’s Barton School of Business; as well as the attention of region-wide supporters and investors, Jarvis said.

Click here to read about the 2025 Bracket Bash winner at Gamechangers and Champions.

At the start of the March event, the “Innovative Eight” are set to be revealed, and those startups will share their elevator pitches with more than 200 audience members, including investors, other entrepreneurs, and business leaders. Attendees will vote for their favorite pitch to determine the Fan’s Choice award, worth $2,500.

Then, capital providers will evaluate the eight remaining competitors and narrow the field to four. These four will deliver their five-minute pitches to a panel of distinguished judges, who will crown the $25,000 champion.

In addition to the pitch competition, the Gamechangers and Champions summit is set to include:

• Morning and afternoon curated networking sessions. 
• Innovation Ecosystem Kickoff with statewide innovation insights from Lt. Gov. David Toland, plus corporate-startup collaboration perspectives from Kristen Rodgers of Plug and Play. 
• Expert Tracks tailored for both startups and investors, featuring leaders from across North America. Investor track speakers include Mickayla Rosard of Groove Capital (Minnesota), while the startup track features Robi Guha of TLM (Canada), alongside regional ecosystem operators and capital providers. 
• Sports Tech Halftime Spotlight offering 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 events and elite sports organizations, including KU, Kansas City FIFA World Cup, and the Kansas City Chiefs.
• Keynote remarks from Neal Sharma, co-founder of the now-exited DEG and vice president for KC2026. 

Click here for the full, detailed event schedule. Registration is capped at 300 with tickets going quickly.

This event is made possible through sponsorships from 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, Husch Blackwell, and Plug and Play Topeka.

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