Gamechangers & Champions Event to Feature Startup Pitch Competition, Networking

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Commerce, in partnership with NXTUS, Inc. and KU Innovation Park, announced today it will host Gamechangers & Champions 2026: Bracket Bash for Innovators and Angels in March. The high-energy event will bring together startups and angel investors, along with corporate and innovation leaders from across the Midwest.

“In Kansas, startups and entrepreneurs fuel innovation and spur next-generation businesses that create the jobs and wealth of the future,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Events like Gamechangers & Champions are a great opportunity for them to connect with one another — and with investors — to discover resources that can help advance their ideas and companies.”

Gamechangers & Champions 2026 will take place Tuesday, March 10, at the University of Kansas Conference Center connected to the David Booth Memorial Football Stadium in Lawrence. The event is a one-day experience designed to catalyze new angel investments, support early-stage companies, and accelerate Kansas’ innovation momentum. It will feature educational sessions, networking opportunities, speaker presentations and the popular competitive pitch event.

The bracket-style pitch competition is open to Kansas-based, high-growth startups in the pre-seed or seed stage. Winning startups will be chosen at the event with the grand prize being $25,000, sponsored by the University of Kansas Business School. Those interested in participating can find applications here.

Key competition dates include:

February 15: Applications due by midnight
February 25: Round of 32 winners announced
March 4: Sweet 16 winners announced
March 10: Elite Eight live pitch and selection of Final Four takes place

Registration is open for Kansas entrepreneurs, angel investors, potential investors, innovation leaders, corporate partners and community members. Following the event, NXTUS, Accelerate Venture Partners and the OREAD Angel Group will coordinate follow-on investment opportunities.

To purchase tickets for the event, visit here.

“Last year, our first Gamechangers & Champions event was an incredible success — and brought many innovative Kansans together to collaborate and discover available startup resources,” Commerce Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer Romaine Redman said. “Regardless of the phase your startup may be in, I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to speak to investors and innovation leaders and hear other ideas from like-minded innovators.”

About the Kansas Department of Commerce:

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.