InvestMidwest taps 9 Kansas City startups to pitch as conference returns to KC in April

Returning to InvestMidwest this spring feels like a meaningful way to showcase Romy Carlson’s company, the Enrichly founder said, pointing to the startup summit’s power to platform regional innovation and the entrepreneurs at the forefront.

Enrichly is one of nine companies from across the Kansas City metro selected for this year’s InvestMidwest, which runs April 21-22 at the Kauffman Conference Center. The annual two-day investor conference alternates between Kansas City and St. Louis.

“We had a fantastic experience last year in St. Louis and are very excited to be part of it this year in Kansas City,” said Carlson, describing a learning experience that runs from outreach and post-application coaching to the day of the pitch.

“The opportunity to talk to investors across multiple days is a great way to learn what part of the pitch is landing, what needs additional color or detail, and what I can cut out,” she continued. “I am excited to engage investors I met last year and update them on our traction.”

For Overland Park-based Enrichly — which built a planning tool that streamlines youth activities scheduling for families — the past 12 months has been a whirlwind, Carlson said.

“We were in proof of concept during the last InvestMidwest, thinking about raising a seed round and not sure where we would be in a year,” she explained. “Now we are building strategic distribution partners across many markets, we have a working platform, customers, and a roadmap that can take us to $100 million by 2028.”

Companies selected for InvestMidwest represent a diverse range of industries including fintech, healthcare, construction technology, logistics, and space infrastructure, reflecting the region’s growing reputation as a hub for scalable, capital-efficient startups.

Of the more than 50 ventures tapped to present in 2026, Kansas City-based companies include:

• BuildNest, Olathe, Kansas — AI-powered financial operating system for new home construction, helping builders, homeowners, and lenders track costs, organize documents, and manage approvals in one place.  
• Enduralock, Lenexa, Kansas — Developing technologies for in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM), enabling satellites to be refueled, upgraded, repaired, and assembled in orbit.  
• Enrichly, Overland Park, Kansas — A dual-sided platform helping families discover and enroll in youth programs while providing tools for program providers to manage and grow their offerings.  
• IncumbentFI, Kansas City, Missouri — Enables financial institutions to support multi-account funding across debit card portfolios and partner with fintechs to unlock real-time debit authorization capabilities.  
• Kete, Kansas City, Missouri — AI-powered data infrastructure for independent RIAs, extracting and connecting data across household documents to provide a unified financial view for advisors.
• Love Lifesciences, Lawrence, Kansas — Developer of UniPen, a universal injection device that enables rapid deployment for subcutaneous injectables while reducing development time and cost.  
• NodWell, Kansas City, Missouri — A marketplace platform designed to reduce idle time in trucking by fractionalizing asset usage and improving overall logistics efficiency.  
• SaRA Health, Kansas City, Missouri — Building a relationship operating system for musculoskeletal care, using AI-driven SMS engagement and remote therapeutic monitoring to improve outcomes and adherence.  
• SiteScan, Kansas City, Missouri — Provides AI-powered sewer inspection solutions for municipal utilities, improving efficiency and accuracy in infrastructure monitoring.

Click here for a full list of 2026 InvestMidwest companies.

“Kansas City continues to gain recognition as a center for innovation, supported by a strong network of founders, investors, and ecosystem partners,” said Claire Kinlaw, executive director at InvestMidwest. “By showcasing local companies alongside regional and national peers, InvestMidwest reinforces the city’s role as a key player in the broader venture landscape.”

Click here to explore InvestMidwest sessions and register.

Ian Foster, founder of SiteScan, pitches during the 2025 Pure Pitch Rally; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

First-time presenter Ian Foster, founder of SiteScan — launched as a winning idea during 2025’s Missouri Startup Weekend — is excited for the opportunity to learn about other regional businesses and meet with potential investors.

“We have been blown away by our growth and pitching opportunities over the last year,” said Foster. “I’m pumped to be on stage sharing about everything we’re doing at SiteScan (even if people say sewers are gross). I think it’s a good testament to all of the hard work and late nights we’ve put in over the last year.

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Events like InvestMidwest and Missouri Startup Weekend have really highlighted just how many people in Kansas City and the Midwest care about innovation, he emphasized, noting gratitude for how far his team has gotten in the past year.

“We expect InvestMidwest to give us a clear picture of what investors are excited about in 2026 and what other businesses are doing that’s working,” Foster said.