Pure Pitch Rally narrows cohort to five startups, focusing resources for spot-cash pitch event

A new format for one of Kansas City’s longest-running pitch competitions is expected to help winning startup founders earn a larger share of funding, greater resources and more individualized guidance from industry experts, said founder Karen Fenaroli, announcing five contenders selected for the 2026 Pure Pitch Rally.

The rebooted event returns Oct. 26 at the Lifted Logic Event Space in Overland Park, Kansas, where more than 100 investors for the day — business and community leaders, angels and executives known as “land sharks” — will each offer $1,000 in non-dilutive spot-funding to the startups of their choice.

With a curated in-person audience, the Pure Pitch Rally will be accessible via livestream, allowing both the on-site and virtual audiences to vote for a People’s Choice winner who will receive an additional $2,500 cash prize.

Click here to read more about where the 2025 Pure Pitch Rally land sharks pledged their checks.

2026 Pure Pitch Rally contenders: Fred Neis, founder of RESCUE ID; Matthew Leming, founder of Enhance Health; Karen Fenaroli, founder of Pure Pitch Rally; Bri Farris and Shelby Atherton, co-founders of Electravera; Zaydan Ahmed, founder of AcuSera; and Hemkesh Agrawal, founder of Restaurant Mate; photo courtesy of Pure Pitch Rally

The cohort of 2026 competitors includes:

• AcuSera, Zaydan Ahmed — A smart wristband that automatically responds to acute stress, AcuSera combines real-time biometric monitoring with targeted vibration therapy and guided breathing to help users manage stress as it occurs.
• Electravera, Bri Farris — Spun out of research at the University of Kansas, Electravera uses an innovative electrochemical process to recover high-purity lithium and cobalt derivatives, helping strengthen the domestic supply of critical minerals through energy-efficient, sustainable recovery and refinement.
• Enhance Health, Matthew Leming — Enhance Health is developing BREEZE, an FDA-designated device that measures ammonia levels through a simple breath test, giving patients with liver and kidney disease and their healthcare providers greater visibility into potential health complications between visits.
• RESCUE ID, Fred Neis — Through a secure, scannable QR code, RESCUE ID gives emergency responders immediate access to critical personal and medical information while automatically notifying designated emergency contacts, helping improve communication and decision-making when every second counts.
• RestaurantMate, Hemkesh Agrawal — An AI-powered purchasing and operations platform for independent restaurants, RestaurantMate connects existing vendor accounts, inventory, sales and pricing data to automate ordering, identify cost-saving opportunities and help restaurant owners make more informed purchasing decisions.

With only five founders taking the stage this October — narrowed from the traditional eight-member Pure Pitch Rally cohort — the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the following selected startups is greater than ever, emphasized Fenaroli.

Participating startups will gain access to a five-part bootcamp series designed to address the real challenges entrepreneurs face, she said. Founders will then have more opportunities to engage directly with experienced mentors, sponsors and land sharks and receive individualized feedback on their storytelling and pitch refinement, brand development, fundraising, product growth and investor readiness.

“These experiences give founders access to practical expertise, new perspectives and an expanding network of people invested in their success,” Fenaroli said.

Pure Pitch Rally is powered by a coalition of local businesses committed to strengthening the region’s startup economy.

Presenting sponsors include Circle Sideways, Fenaroli & Associates, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Forvis Mazars, nbkc bank and Polsinelli, with additional support from Digital Health KC, Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDCKC), KC Digital Drive, Lathrop GPM, Morningstar Communications, Network Kansas and Stinson LLP, as well as additional philanthropic community leaders.

“Five years as a land shark has taught me one thing: Kansas City founders don’t wait for permission,” said Dan Smith, CEO of The Porter House KC. “They show up, and, with the help of the Pure Pitch Rally, they pitch hard and make us earn the right to invest in them.”