Trio of early stage Kansas City startups tapped to join K-State Accelerator focused on boosting Kansas economy

MANHATTAN, Kansas — Seven startups are expected to begin work this month within the K-State Accelerator, earning funds, training and resources to turn their concepts into successful Sunflower State ventures.

Three of the selected companies hail from the Kansas City area, including dScribe AI; 4D Leaders; and Rebound Jerseys.

The eight-week, virtual Center for Entrepreneurship Accelerator program — through Kansas State University’s College of Business Administration — runs April to July. It is set to feature faculty-led workshops, support from hands-on student research teams, access to the university’s world-class alumni mentor network and equity-free funding for completing the program.

“The K-State Accelerator program is a key component of how the college contributes to economic development in Kansas,” said Kevin Gwinner, Edgerley family dean of the College of Business Administration at K-State. “By taking high-potential businesses and helping them start or scale to be successful, we are contributing to growing the Kansas economy. We are very excited to support entrepreneurs through this innovative and impactful program that aligns well with K-State’s land-grant mission.”

Aidan Scurato, Rebound Jerseys; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

The full cohort includes:

• 4D Leaders (Jim Huber and Jason Holzer), Olathe — Transforming youth sports by equipping coaches, parents, and athletes to work together in developing leadership, resilience, and life skills.
• Big Hands (Darian Massey), Manhattan — A business that does all the little things from mowing to remodeling.
• Custom Nano (Amie Norton), Manhattan — Builds smart sensors and nanotechnology to assist in delivering herbicides, fertilizers and pesticides utilizing recycled agriculture and food waste.
• dScribe AI (Jordan Mryyan, Cole Robertson and Warren Wang), Overland Park — Turns rich media content into LLM-ready data.
• Hunt Family Candy Co (Eric Hunt), Clay Center — A candy maker boasting a unique flavor of handmade caramels made in small batches to ensure consistent high quality.
• Pink Skies Boutique (Jenna Curry), Iola — A boutique founded in faith and a love for pink skies.
• Rebound Jerseys (Aidan Scurato), Mission Hills — The only marketplace dedicated to authenticated sports jerseys.

Criteria for selection in the program included identifying a real problem and an innovative solution, demonstrating the drive to succeed and the ability to incorporate feedback, and showing commitment to the business and the Accelerator program.

The accelerator directly supports many of the goals of K-State 105 and the University’s Economic Property Plan through: direct jobs created, capital and equity investment attracted and leveraged, new businesses established or expanded, and businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities/municipalities receiving funding or technical assistance.