, , , ,

NXTUS expands enterprise-focused program beyond Kansas; four KC-area startups selected

August 13, 2025  |  Startland News Staff

Gharib Gharibi, Archia; Errick Quartucci, Alex Snook, and Hunter Haufler, OnSight; Donnie Hampton, ROZ; and Zik Nwanganga, ULOM; courtesy photos

WICHITA, Kan. — An ongoing initiative to demystify the relationship-building process between emerging entrepreneurs and potential enterprise partners just expanded deeper into the Midwest, welcoming 20 growth-minded innovators from Wichita to St. Louis.

Mary Beth Jarvis, president and CEO of NXTUS, speaks in March during the Gamechangers & Champions summit in Wichita; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

“For entrepreneurs whose success depends on forging relationships with ‘the big guys,’ this unique program is so valuable,” said Mary Beth Jarvis, president and CEO of NXTUS, which organizes the NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series. “The entrepreneurs build their knowledge and confidence to more effectively approach large organizations. And the enterprise partners benefit from getting to know these startups as potential suppliers and collaborators, helping advance the ‘grow our own’ economic development efforts that are crucial to keep our region moving forward.”

Advancing in program, four Kansas City-area businesses — Archia, Overland Park, Kansas; OnSight, Spring Hill, Kansas; ROZ, Olathe, Kansas; and ULOM, Kansas City, Missouri — are set to meet weekly with the cohort through the end of September, gaining the tools and insights needed to build meaningful partnerships with the medium-to-large enterprises they hope to collaborate with and sell to in order to grow.

New this year, the program expanded its reach by welcoming startup applications from across the Midwest, moving beyond Kansas for the first time.

Through a curated selection process, NXTUS accepted startup founders from across a wide-range of industries, from advanced cybersecurity and AI-driven health and wellness platforms to inclusive workforce integration, transformative HR services, and specialized professional support that spans logistics, compliance, creative marketing, and more.

Members of the NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series cohort; photo courtesy of NXTUS

The just-announced cohort includes:

The 2025 program is expected to culminate with live pitches Sept. 29 at Cargill Protein Headquarters during the Startup-Enterprise Summit, the kickoff event of Launch Week, formerly known as Wichita Startup Week.

Now in its fourth year, the NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series has graduated 60 startups across 15 counties in Kansas. Collectively, these entrepreneurs have generated more than $44 million in lifetime revenue and created or retained 125 jobs since 2022.

Enterprise partners for 2025 include:

  • Berry Companies
  • Cargill
  • City of Wichita
  • Equity Bank
  • Evergy
  • Kansas Department of Commerce
  • Koch Supplier Strategies
  • LANGE Companies
  • iSi Environmental
  • Sedgwick County
  • Textron Aviation
  • USD 259 Wichita Public Schools
  • Village Travel

In addition, the 2025 NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series is made possible thanks to support from NetWork Kansas, the Greater Wichita Partnership with Opportunity Wichita affiliate, Fidelity Bank, and Forvis Mazars.

startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

Did you enjoy this post? Show your support by becoming a member or buying us a coffee.

Tagged , , , , ,
Featured Business
    Featured Founder

      Startland News Staff

      2025 Startups to Watch

        stats here

        Related Posts on Startland News

        Simone Curls shares the mic with James Watts at a recent Prospect Business Association workshop

        Generational wealth is coming to Prospect; meet the business group (and KC woman) leading the charge

        By Tommy Felts | June 14, 2022

        As a former small business owner herself, Simone Curls wants Kansas City entrepreneurs to avoid the struggles she experienced. “I did it through the fire,” said Curls, executive director of the Prospect Business Association. “I walked those burning coals.” Curls grew up around the corner from the Prospect Business Association’s offices on Linwood and Prospect.…

        Ainstein headquarters in Lawrence

        How Tiger Woods’ swing at The Masters was influenced by this Lawrence lab

        By Tommy Felts | June 14, 2022

        Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. LAWRENCE…

        Na’im Al-Amin, SWAGG INC; Torey Crawford, MOS; Brandon Calloway, GIFT KC; Brenan Latimer, Future of Us; and Avrell Stokes, BeGreat Together

        Give Black aims for $500K in Juneteenth donations; organizers say public urgency to support Black businesses dropping

        By Tommy Felts | June 13, 2022

        Black-led and Black-serving organizations are expected to get a boost this week in the runup to Juneteenth as the Give Black campaign returns in its third year. Organized byKansas City GIFT (Generating Income For Tomorrow) and BeGreat Together, the campaign runs June 13-18 with a goal to raise $500,000. New this year: Give Black also…

        Vicky Kulikov, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce

        Community Builders to Watch: Vicky Kulikov embraces ‘Tikkun Olam’ in journey to supporting KC’s small business owners

        By Tommy Felts | June 8, 2022

        Editor’s note: Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City changemakers from five local organizations through its second annual Community Builders to Watch series. The following highlights one of the 2022 honorees, selected from more than 100 initial nominees. Click here to view the full list of Community Builders to Watch — presented by Engenious Design. Vicky…