A record number of Kansas entrepreneurs joining the NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series means the program’s latest cohort will scale up its impact, said Amber Dunn.
“It’s exciting to witness the relationships formed and the knowledge gained among cohort members and our enterprise partners, both new and returning,” said Dunn, program manager at Wichita-based NXTUS, which coordinates NXTSTAGE programming.
The 21 companies selected include three ventures from the Kansas City area:
Launched with support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and growing through a partnership with NetWork Kansas, the NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series aims to bridge the knowledge and access gaps between early-stage companies in Kansas and the established businesses and community organizations they seek to collaborate with and sell to in order to grow.
ICYMI: This Wichita program is helping KC startups connect the dots to corporate partners
The list of enterprise partners — set to team up with select cohort members — ranges from civic and public entities (like the City of Wichita, Sedgwick County and Wichita public schools) to Kansas corporate powerhouses (Cargill, Evergy, Koch Supplier Strategies, and Spirit AeroSystems) and other industry leaders (Alloy Architecture, Berry Companies, Hutton, LANGE Companies, OneRise Health Campus, Textron Aviation, and Professional Engineering Consultants).
“This program offers immense value to early-stage entrepreneurs by helping them get their foot in the door and establish valuable connections with enterprises,” Dunn said. “It has the potential to accelerate their sales processes, enables quicker identification of potential prospects, and helps refine go-to-market strategies for these entrepreneurs.”
Funding from NetWork Kansas and the K-State 105 program has expanded the 2024 program to reach entrepreneurs from new regions throughout the state.
The just-announced, curated cohort showcases a diverse group of growth-minded Kansas entrepreneurs, offering solutions using AI and technology, enhancements to employee benefits and employee well-being, and innovative spins on otherwise traditional professional products and services.
In addition to the Kansas City companies, businesses selected for the cohort include:
Click here for a full list of the 2024 cohort members.
For the next several weeks, the cohort will have the opportunity to meet at weekly workshops with enterprise partners. These early-stage Kansas entrepreneurs are expected to then forge connections and receive “playbooks” that reveal strategies for doing business with the enterprise partners.
A live pitch event for participants is planned for Sept. 30 at Cargill Protein Headquarters during the Start-Up Enterprise Summit, the kickoff event of Wichita Startup Week.
Click here to check out members of the 2023 cohort, which included a handful of Kansas City startups.
Additional NXTSTAGE programs — including the Community Health & Vibrancy Pilot Competition and the Financial Technology Pilot Competition — are set to return this fall, along with the Customer Traction Cohort coming in spring 2025.
This story is made possible by Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures.
Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures (EGV) is a business unit of NetWork Kansas supporting innovative, high-growth entrepreneurs in the State of Kansas. NetWork Kansas promotes an entrepreneurial environment by connecting entrepreneurs and small business owners with the expertise, education and economic resources they need to succeed.
The post NXTSTAGE announces trio of KC ventures tapped for latest Enterprise Engagement cohort appeared first on Startland News.
All Rights Reserved. Copyright , Central Coast Communications, Inc.