NXTUS

This week, we kicked off the fifth annual NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series! Our cohort gathered at Evergy Connect, where Jaime Gassmann, Co-Founder of Fluent, led a workshop on what to expect and how to succeed in the enterprise sales cycle.

Over the coming weeks, these 16 Midwest entrepreneurs will meet with enterprise partners, build meaningful connections, and receive customized playbooks with strategies for doing business with each organization. The cohort represents a mix of technology, human resources, product, and service-based businesses, and we're excited to see what they accomplish!

Learn more about this year's cohort in Startland News' article: https://startlandnews.com/2026/07/nxtstage-enterprise-engagement-2/

(2/2) We are excited to announce the 2026 NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series Cohort!

These growth-minded entrepreneurs will participate in weekly workshops with our Enterprise Partners, building valuable connections and learning how to navigate the process of doing business with each partner. Through these conversations, participants will gain insights to help accelerate their customer acquisition journeys and grow their businesses.

The 2026 program received record interest, with over 80 entrepreneurs expressing interest from 7 heartland states, and we're proud to have selected companies that represent a balanced mix of technology, human resources, product, and service-based businesses!

Help us celebrate and welcome this incredible group to the program!

Calling all founders and startup supporters! Applications are now open for the 2026 Startup World Cup Kansas City Regional.

If you're a tech-based or tech-enabled startup in the Greater Kansas City region or surrounding areas, apply by August 6 for the chance to pitch live at CPKC Stadium on September 22. The regional winner will advance to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco to compete for a $1 million investment prize. Apply today: https://www.kcsourcelink.com/startup-world-cup/

Startup World Cup opens bracket (and $1M prize) to KC startups; regional tournament this fall at CPKC Stadium Ten Kansas City finalists are expected to compete this September for a spot in the world’s largest startup conference and pitch competition — pitting Heartland innovation against founders from more than 100 regions around the globe.