Tag: Kansas Department of Commerce

Main Street is already harnessing AI to build wealth; adoption now key to region’s growth, heartland leaders say

By Tommy Felts / October 22, 2025

WICHITA, Kan. — Artificial intelligence is likely to be one of the most transformative technologies of the digital era, said Taylor Eubanks, noting that AI’s thoughtful deployment can be a tool for growth, not displacement.  “By engaging directly with entrepreneurs, small businesses, nonprofit leaders and local innovators, we can better support responsible AI adoption that…

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KC-area startup nets $20K Kansas pitch tournament win with game-changing edtech

By Tommy Felts / March 22, 2025

WICHITA — The team at VU Scholarships left it all on the stage Friday, walking away as champions in the Gamechangers & Champions bracket bash — a high-intensity pitch competition running parallel to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in Wichita. By outlasting 31 other Sunflower State companies, the Roeland Park-based edtech startup earned $20,000 in…

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Kansas program aims to create startups with public-private partnerships

By Tommy Felts / December 2, 2016

A new Kansas program is tapping universities to incentivize residents to launch more startups through public-private partnerships. The Kansas Department of Commerce recently kicked off “JumpStart Kansas Entrepreneurs” in the hopes that it will spur economic growth in the Sunflower State via early-stage firms. “The program is designed to stimulate and grow the economy from…

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ECJC president to become Kansas commerce secretary

By Tommy Felts / August 21, 2015

George Hansen, president and CEO of the Enterprise Center of Johnson County (ECJC), is moving on to serve the Sunflower State in a broader capacity. Hansen, who was appointed to lead the ECJC in June of 2013, will serve as Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s Secretary of Commerce. The ECJC is a non-profit venture development organization…

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