Wichita Startup Week rallying nonprofits (and Bill Nye ‘The Science Guy’) to celebrate entrepreneurs

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WICHITA — Entrepreneurship and innovation advocates on Tuesday announced plans for an unprecedented, power-packed week of high-profile events and programs — all fueled by a new coalition of nonprofits that support Kansas business owners.

Wichita Startup Week is set to return Sept. 30 to Oct. 4, notably earlier in the fall than in past years when programming overlapped with Global Entrepreneurship Week. Among the planned highlights: an appearance by science, education and media personality Bill Nye “The Science Guy.”

Richard D. Muma, president of Wichita State University, speaks during the 2023 Ad Astra Summit in Wichita; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

FlagshipKansas.Tech, NXTUS, the Wichita Independent Business Association, Wichita Startup Week, and Create Campaign are set to combine previously separate fall programs and events during this week, to benefit startups, technology professionals and educators, and entrepreneurs from Wichita and around Kansas.

Click here to learn more about Wichita Startup Week.

“We’ll welcome state-wide attendees to engage on tech industry and workforce issues and soak up energy and wisdom from Bill Nye and dozens of presenters and panelists,” said Conner Hampton, executive director FlagshipKansas.tech, which in 2023 brought Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak to its standalone Ad Astra Summit.

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Wichita Startup Week organizers Robert Feeney, Knowledge as a Service, Inc. (KaaS) and Ringorang, and Shae Blevins,
Attendees of the Wichita Independent Business Association's August luncheon hear a preview of details from the 2024 Wichita Startup Week; photo courtesy of Third House Co.

Wichita Startup Week organizers Robert Feeney, Knowledge as a Service, Inc. (KaaS) and Ringorang, and Shae Blevins,
Third House Co., announce details of the fall event series during a preview presentation at the Wichita Independent Business Association's August luncheon; photo courtesy of Third House Co.

“This unified effort is all about benefiting our entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem,” said Mary Beth Jarvis, president and CEO of NXTUS. “By joining forces, we can offer a lineup of events that elevates Kansas as a prominent hub for innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship and draws participants in, knowing their week will be jammed with valuable programs.”

This joint week is designed to amplify the impact of the support organizations and allow attendees to benefit from diverse educational and networking programs during a blitz of coordinated events:

• FlagshipKansas.tech’s Ad Astra Tech Summit is set to feature high-profile industry speakers, including Nye, and sessions focused on state-wide technology professionals, startups, and tech educators and advocates, with workforce-focused programming enhanced by the Greater Wichita Partnership and the Workforce Alliance.
• NXTUS plans to culminate two unique NXTSTAGE programs — the Enterprise Engagement Series and Financial Technology Pilot Competition — with events that celebrate entrepreneurs and innovators from around Kansas and the nation.
• WIBA is hosting educational and networking events for entrepreneurs and the business community. 
• Wichita Startup Week will offer interactive panel discussions, workshops and showcase events for startups and interested community members, in partnership with community organizations like Create Campaign, Groover Labs, Kansas Small Business Development Center, Wichita State University Center for Entrepreneurship, and more.

“Wichita Startup Week aims to celebrate and uplift our entrepreneurial community and spirit,” said Shae Blevins, a lead volunteer for the week. “Working together with FlagshipKansas.Tech, NXTUS, and WIBA extends this celebration throughout the entire state, creating a high-energy week that everyone will want to experience firsthand.”