KC startups among business builders tapped for cohort connecting Midwest founders to enterprise leaders

More than 80 companies from across the region vying to earn a slot in the latest NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series, said Amber Dunn, with two Kansas City startups among the 16 successfully completing the competitive process.

“So many startups trying for this year’s  cohort reinforces the growth ambitions of entrepreneurs across the Heartland and the strength of the collaborative network of regional organizations supporting business builders along their journeys,” said Dunn, program director of NXTUS, which runs NXTSTAGE programming.

Selected companies for the fifth Enterprise Engagement Series represent a mix of technology, human resources, product, and service-based businesses.

Connor Borrego, playhaus

Among them: playhaus, a Kansas City company built by founder Connor Borrego to help people and brands take ownership over their identity data; and Olathe’s Visipay, a final four startup contender in the 2026 Gamechangers and Champions pitch competition and payment tool launched by Barry Nelson to restore trust and accelerate cash flow for better business outcomes.

Cohort members began meeting Tuesday at Evergy Connect in Wichita.

“We’re excited to welcome these outstanding entrepreneurs to this year’s cohort and help them build meaningful relationships with enterprise partners that can open doors to new customers, new opportunities, and long-term growth,” Dunn said.

Click here to see the full list of cohort members.

Members of the 2026 NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series cohort participate in an opening workshop for the program; photo courtesy of NXTUS

Through weekly workshops, customized enterprise playbooks, and direct engagement with enterprise partners, the NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series aims to bridge knowledge and access gaps between entrepreneurs and the medium and large enterprises with whom they hope to partner.

Participating enterprise partners for 2026 include Berry Companies, Cargill, City of Wichita, Equity Bank, Evergy, Kansas Department of Commerce, Koch Supplier Strategies, LANGE Companies, IdeaTek, iSi Environmental, Sedgwick County, Textron Aviation, and USD 259 Wichita Public Schools.

Since 2022, the NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series has graduated 80 startups representing 20 Kansas counties. Collectively, those companies have generated more than $71 million in lifetime revenue and created or retained 212 jobs, according to NXTUS.