Jayhawk venture ties run deep as Techstars returns — this time atop the Hill at KU

Five years after Techstars’ globally-connected accelerator left Kansas City, its return to the region begins with an innovation weekend in Lawrence — and a longer-term bet on what Jayhawk founders can build.

John Fein, The Hill Fund, Firebrand Ventures

The University of Kansas is playing host to Techstars Startup Weekend Nov. 13–15 at Capitol Federal Hall, bringing KU-linked participants together to pitch ideas, form teams and develop businesses on the spot. The free event launches a three-year partnership announced this summer between Techstars and KU’s School of Business.

For John Fein, who served as managing director of Techstars Kansas City from 2013 to 2016 before founding Firebrand Ventures, the weekend offers an opportunity to meet entrepreneurs significantly before they might be ready for investment.

“Even if it’s not going to be several years until we can potentially invest in them, now’s the time to start building those relationships,” said Fein, who serves as managing partner of Firebrand and The Hill Fund.

The return takes a different form from the local accelerator Techstars discontinued in 2021. KU’s partnership starts by bringing together a university-connected community, with opportunities for promising ventures to pursue further mentoring and accelerator programming.

One VC vet saw more from the Hill

KU’s campus atop Mount Oread is affectionately known as “the Hill” among Jayhawks. And, for Fein, a growing connection to the university became the vantage point for an investment idea.

Jeremy Tasset, The Hill Fund, Nueterra Capital

While planning Firebrand’s third fund, he initially considered dedicating a small piece of the action to investing in KU founders. Research changed his thinking.

The Hill Fund’s analysis of PitchBook and Crunchbase data identified more than $118 billion in exit value from KU alumni-led companies, Fein said. Those findings persuaded him to pursue a fund focused on KU-connected ventures.

His ties to the university grew through years of guest speaking, his son’s attendance at KU and, eventually, his own master’s degree. As the fund became more involved with KU, Fein saw an opportunity to connect the university with Techstars, he recalled.

“So I sort of made the connections and sat in on the first few meetings and then ultimately just let the business school and Techstars run with it and they got it done, which was awesome,” Fein said.

Jeremy Tasset, a KU alumnus, CEO of Nueterra Capital and venture partner with The Hill Fund, joined the effort after previously investing in a Firebrand fund.

“It combines the two things that I love the most: investing in startups and my alma mater,” Tasset said.

A rendering of The Hub — set to open in fall 2027 at 1420 Crescent Road at the University of Kansas in Lawrence — is expected to boast learning and collaboration space for student founders, including members of a Techstars cohort for Jayhawk ventures; rendering courtesy of KU

Heath Peterson, KU Alumni

He also points to KU’s broader commitment to entrepreneurship, including The Hub, a facility scheduled to open in fall 2027 to support student entrepreneurs across disciplines.

The Hill Fund typically invests at the late seed and Series A stages. Startup Weekend offers a chance to get in the door sooner, Fein reiterated. He plans to participate as a judge and investor panelist at the November event.

KU’s alumni network brings its own connections to founders, experienced business leaders and potential investors, said Heath Peterson, president of KU Alumni and vice chancellor for alumni relations. The group’s existing partnership with KU Innovation Park and Oread Angel Investors brings companies and investors together through pitch events.

“We have alumni who have started companies, who’ve scaled businesses, who’ve learned a lot,” Peterson said. “We have alumni who have capital that they want to invest in companies.”

A weekend to kick around an idea — and try the startup life

Participants in Startup Weekend don’t need a finished business or an existing team. They’ll pitch ideas and organize teams Friday, work with mentors and develop their concepts Saturday, and present their business plans Sunday.

Organizers ask participants to register before Nov. 4; registration requires approval.

Click here for registration and event logistics details.

Brian Anderson, KU School of Business

Brian Anderson, professor of entrepreneurship and executive director of entrepreneurship initiatives at KU, sees an educational purpose alongside the potential to launch companies.

The weekend gives participants an opportunity to practice developing ideas, understanding customers and working across disciplines. Those skills can serve them whether they become founders or pursue other careers, Anderson said.

“We’re more interested in whether we can expose as many Jayhawks as possible to building an entrepreneurial competency to develop the confidence to tackle tough problems and to build?” he noted.

Eligibility extends across KU’s community, including students, alumni, faculty, staff and researchers, as well as companies connected to KU Innovation Park and the participating investment networks, Anderson said. Former staff are welcome too.

For teams that want to continue with the business idea after the weekend, KU has five seats in Techstars’ 10-week virtual Founder Catalyst pre-accelerator program. Top teams will receive an invitation to work with KU’s entrepreneurs in residence on applications, Anderson said.

He expects the program to begin in spring 2027, with the specific intake depending partly on participants’ availability. Further accelerator opportunities and potential investment remain separate steps.

Continuing into the pre-accelerator requires a greater commitment to developing the business and understanding its customers, Anderson emphasized.

For others, Startup Weekend might just be a time to experiment, learn and decide what they want to pursue, he continued.

“This is not a linear path,” Anderson said.

For him, some of the weekend’s greatest potential lies in bringing people from different academic backgrounds into the same room.

“It’s when you make a connection with somebody who is from a very different academic background and you see a problem and you see a solution through a little bit of a different lens, that’s the magic,” Anderson said.