Cyphr partners with Topeka’s Omni Circle to help Kansas entrepreneurs prepare for growth

Topeka entrepreneurs have the hardware; now comes the Kansas City-built platform needed to get them to the next level. A new capital readiness tool is expected to boost ongoing startup support efforts by Omni Circle Group, which already distributed 300 free laptops to local emerging business leaders.

“Getting a laptop into someone’s hands can open a door, but we wanted people to have the knowledge and support to use that technology to grow and move themselves forward,” said Michael Odupitan, CEO of Omni Circle, a Topeka-based resource community promoting equitable opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs.

Built by Kansas City-based Cyphr, the new platform offers entrepreneurs in the area an opportunity to better understand their businesses’ financial picture and take practical steps to prepare for financing and growth.

“Business owners, no matter their circumstances, deserve to understand what lenders are looking for before applying for funding,” said Jannae Gammage, co-founder of Cyphr. “Through our partnership with Omni Circle, entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to see exactly where their businesses stand, understand what to work on and connect with people who can help them make progress. This tool has the potential to improve the way our ecosystem lends, and we’re excited to get it into the hands of entrepreneurs.”

Click here to explore the capital readiness tool built by Cyphr.

Jannae Gammage and Alaia Gammage, co-founders of Cyphr, present their capital readiness tool to members of Omni Circle Group Oct. 22 in Topeka; photo courtesy of Omni Circle Group

The custom platform was made possible through Omni’s Advancing Digital Opportunities to Promote Technology (ADOPT) program, backed by the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Michael Odupitan, Omni Circle, speaks during a 2025 Topeka Startup Community launch event at Omni Circle in Topeka; photo courtesy of Omni Circle

“This new tool by Cyphr is one way we’re empowering entrepreneurs to think bigger and pursue meaningful opportunities for growth, and the ADOPT program made it possible,” Odupitan said. “We’re eager to see how it helps entrepreneurs and small businesses plan, and how we can use it to better connect them to different funding opportunities. This is a resource our community needs.”

The tool’s launch builds on an effort to connect hundreds of Topeka-area residents, including entrepreneurs, job seekers and students, to technology and learning opportunities important to engaging in the digital age, he added.

Working closely with The Computer Store and local partners, Omni provided more than 300 laptops under ADOPT, held workshops to complement device giveaways, and offered access to learning resources on subjects ranging from financial wellness to digital literacy.

Now, through Omni Circle’s platform, entrepreneurs can complete Cyphr’s Capital Readiness Assessment at no cost, receive a readiness score and get a prioritized action plan that identifies ways to improve eligibility before seeking financing.

Business owners who connect their business banking data can also generate a verified score and financial statements formatted specifically for lenders. The platform connects that information with Omni Circle’s entrepreneurial support, helping business owners determine relevant programs and access coaching based on their stage of development. As entrepreneurs work toward their goals, Omni Circle can use the platform to track their progress and better understand where additional support may be needed, the organization said.

Jannae Gammage, co-founder of Cyphr, speaks with a Topeka entrepreneur about Cyphr’s new capital readiness tool that was built in collaboration with Omni Circle Group in Topeka; photo courtesy of Omni Circle Group

Cyphr co-founders Jannae and Alaia Gammage introduced the platform to local entrepreneurs during a presentation Oct. 22 at Omni Circle. Attendees, many of whom are members of the Topeka startup community, asked questions about how the platform works and expressed enthusiasm about using it to navigate their next steps.

“By creating a more connected pathway of support, Omni seeks to help entrepreneurs move from uncertainty about financing toward informed decisions about the future,” the organization said in a press release. “The work advances Omni’s vision for a community where more people, regardless of background, can turn ideas into sustainable businesses, build legacy and create pathways to generational wealth not historically available to them.”

 “We want entrepreneurship to be possible for more people,” Odupitan added. “That means making sure the tools and relationships to build a business are within reach.”