NXTSTAGE announces trio of KC ventures tapped for latest Enterprise Engagement cohort

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:

• Safely Delicious, Overland Park — For enterprise break rooms and cafeterias catering to employees with food allergies, Safely Delicious provides Top 11 allergen-free, gluten-free, and vegan snacks made without artificial ingredients. Ensure a safe and inclusive snacking option for your team with our specially formulated products.
• Seedfolk Partners, Overland Park — Seedfolk Partners supports school districts and other people-centered organizations build capacity by adopting human-centered design to do good work, better.
• Sharing Solace, Olathe — Sharing Solace empowers enterprises to support grieving employees and their loved ones through technology-enhanced keepsakes fostering connection and comfort. With pass-alongable solutions designed to offer strength and support, grieving team members will know they’re never alone in their journey.

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:

• BiioSoft, Wichita
• Candid Health Advisors, Wichita
• Circa81 Design, Augusta
• Connection and Synergy, Oskaloosa
• Crestview.io, Wichita
• GCE, Wichita
• Human Centered Tech, Colwich
• Las Aventuras de Araceli, Wichita
• Optical Launch, Wichita
• Reliant Merchant Services, Wichita
• Restoration Grazing, Valley Center
• Roadside Wichita, Wichita
• STBL Strategies, Augusta
• The Blackprint ICT, Wichita
• Third House Co., Wichita
• Top Gun Concrete Lifting, Ottawa
• Van-Go!, Goddard
• Winding Creek Soap and Supply, Ellsworth

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.