NXTUS launches alumni collective to keep founders connected to resources after programs end

The journey doesn’t end with an end-of-cohort pitch showcase, NXTUS leaders said this week, debuting a new network for alumni of its portfolio of Wichita-based entrepreneur growth programs.

Founders gathered Tuesday at The Commerce Club in Wichita for an afternoon built exclusively for veterans — more than 200 and counting — of the organization’s various NXSTAGE and NXTUS-backed opportunities.

“Attending the first NXTUS Alumni Collective was such a great opportunity to reconnect with entrepreneurs I’ve met throughout the years through NXTUS programming, as well as with important mentors who helped me better understand intellectual property and legal challenges, along with culture and team building,” said Shae Blevins, an alumna of the 2024 NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series cohort through Third House Co. “I wouldn’t have had that opportunity if NXTUS hadn’t brought it all together.”

The NXTUS Alumni Collective was created to ensure entrepreneurs retain access to community and practical support as they grow their businesses, the organization said.

“This initiative extends beyond NXTUS’s program-based acute support for product-market fit and go-to-market execution, addressing the chronic challenges founders face as companies scale and early support systems come to an end,” NXTUS said in an announcement.

Alumni of NXSTAGE and other NXTUS programming listen during remarks at the inaugural NXTUS Alumni Collective gathering; courtesy photo

Attendees of Tuesday’s inaugural meetup participated in small-group mentoring roundtables covering startup challenges related to operations, pricing strategies, tech stack and systems, accounting and finance, social media strategy, and more. Founders also heard from regional ecosystem partners offering tools and opportunities that promote business growth and founder wellbeing.

“It’s refreshing to see individuals coming with real questions about how to be successful as entrepreneurs in Kansas, and how NXTUS serves as such an important part in that stepping-stone,” said Robert Miller of CarePitch and a NXTUS mentor.

The event concluded with networking to provide attendees time to build the kind of strong founder community that lasts beyond a single program or event, NXTUS said.

The launch of the Alumni Collective, supported by Evergy and the Greater Wichita Partnership’s Opportunity Wichita affiliate, reflects NXTUS’ broader commitment to helping entrepreneurs grow companies of significance by connecting them to community, capital, and customers, the organization said.