Meet the 2020 class: BetaBlox demo day returning with events across startup sister cities
January 6, 2020 | Startland News Staff
Audience tickets for BetaBlox’s Overland Park demo day are nearly gone, said Weston Bergmann, just weeks before the incubator program showcases its newest startups across three events in two cities.
BetaBlox is an exclusive school for startups. Every year, its team picks the best-of-the-best and then puts them through a rigorous curriculum of classes, one-on-one consultation, and mentorship designed to give them a higher likelihood of survival.
The “can’t-miss entrepreneurship event” Jan. 20 at the GRID Collaborative Workspace is expected to entail a combination of pitches, expo-style networking, and a panel of investors speaking about developing startups, said Bergmann, founder and lead investor at BetaBlox.
“It’s kinda like Shark Tank, but you get to be the shark,” he said, comparing the overall event structure to the popular reality TV pitch show.
Two more demo days featuring BetaBlox’s 25th cohort are set for Jan. 29 and Jan. 30 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the program also operates its “gym for entrepreneurs.” The 10-year-old incubator boasts graduating companies collectively doing more than $100 million annually, Bergmann said.
While tickets for the events are free — thanks to sponsorship support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, he noted — only 200 are available in Overland Park.
Click here to secure a spot at BetaBlox’s Jan. 20 demo day.
“Essentially anyone who wants to support the development and growth of the Kansas City economy should attend,” Bergmann said.
The twelve companies pitching at the event include:
• Flexy, Kansas City (Mallory Jansen and Aja James) — Fitness staffing agency
• BioGen Ag, Kansas City (Chad Shoefield) — Agricultural food manufacturing
• LockedUp, Kansas City (Eric Ulleberg) — Breathalyzer that literally locks up your car keys
• FlipperForce, Kansas City (Dave Robertson) — House flipping and project management software
• Fantastic55, Kansas City (Ann O’Meara) — Media company for empowering an aging community
• Everwild, Kansas City (Sarah Yaeger) — On-demand and subscription-based floral company
• Cherry Marketing, Kansas City (Jenni Kulzer) — Marketing agency
• River Watch Beef, Kansas City (Chris Kovac) – Grass-fed subscription-based beef
• KC Hemp Co, Kansas City (Kyle and Heather Steppe) — Organic CBD manufacturing
• Tulsa Birth Center, Tulsa (Sarah Foster) — Modern network of midwives
• Baby D’s Sting, Tulsa (Dillon Hargrave) — Hot sauce manufacturing and distribution
• Add Multiply Sports, Tulsa (Corey Else) — Sports performance technology
Nathan Corn, founder of Kansas City’s FlexPro, a subscription-based meal prep company, is expected to be featured in a “Where are they now?” segment focused on BetaBlox success stories.
Founders from the companies plan to practice pitches before the event during a weekend-long session that puts startups in close quarters with each other, as well as about 20 people from the BetaBlox portfolio (entrepreneurs, mentors and investors) and another 20 curated guests from the entrepreneur ecosystem.
Learn more about BetaBlox and its demo day below.
Featured Business
2020 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
New home on Ward Parkway: $4M minority chamber project brings Black, Brown entrepreneurs under one banner
A history-making project on Ward Parkway — said to be the first minority-owned property on the storied Kansas City thoroughfare — already is demonstrating the power of unity amid divisive times, said Kim Randolph. Unveiled to the public Saturday, the new Minority Chamber of Commerce Development Center at 9100 Ward Parkway is now home to both…
Founder earns Pipeline’s ‘best pitch,’ says network’s lifelong support is the real award
Pipeline judges announced Megan O’Rear had the best pitch Thursday, but the Celerity Enterprises founder was left momentarily speechless when they named her winner of the group’s annual showcase and competition. “It just validates coming back to Kansas City,” said O’Rear, who also serves as the startup’s CEO. “Pipeline wants to help everybody that they…
KC Chamber’s Superstars celebration empowers everyday small business heroes
Editor’s note: The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is a non-financial partner of Startland News, which serves as the media partner for the Small Business Superstars program. The Blueprint KC has come a long way, said Sheraz Pompey, emphasizing the meaningful impact of being showcased as one of the KC Chamber’s Small Business Superstars.…
Davids’ effort to level the playing field for Native entrepreneurs passes US House, moving to Senate
Legislation meant to address entrepreneurship challenges specific to Native and tribal business owners advanced in the U.S. Congress this week, with a Kansas City lawmaker championing the effort to bring equity to an overlooked corner of the small business community. “In Indian Country, Native-owned businesses employ over 300,000 Americans and are vital drivers of our…