Corporate Stories

NXTUS is helping five emerging KC innovators gain customer traction; ‘Timing is right,’ startup founders say 

A handful of Kansas City startups were among 22 early stage companies gathered in Wichita this week for the opening session of a program aimed at growing strong, sustainable businesses that uplift innovation and opportunity throughout the Heartland. The 2026 NXTSTAGE Customer Traction Cohort program on Wednesday welcomed founders from buildNest and Pitchster, Olathe, Kansas;…

MTC advances deputy into interim exec role ahead of critical funding push for Missouri entrepreneurs

A leading advocate for Missouri entrepreneurs plans to approach the next legislative cycle — championing renewed funding for Show-Me State innovation — with a freshly-promoted leader, the group announced Friday. Julia Campbell has been elevated to interim executive director at the Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC), as the public-private partnership continues a leadership transition prompted by…

BioNexus KC catalyzes 25 years of work at the crossroads of collaboration, health innovation 

A quarter-century commitment to regional investment and collaboration is paying off, said Dennis Ridenour, reflecting on a timeline of impact for BioNexus KC — accelerating innovation and strengthening health outcomes in Kansas City and beyond. “This milestone is not about a single achievement; it’s about decades of collective, focused effort that have allowed our ecosystem…

It’s official: Chiefs are border hopping to KCK; Kansas now ‘a touchdown state,’ governor says

Editor’s note: The following story was published by Kansas News Service and KCUR, Kansas City’s NPR member station, and a fellow member of the KC Media Collective. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for KCUR’s email newsletter. A major tax incentives package approved Monday by Kansas lawmakers will help the Chiefs build a new…

LISTEN: Kansas innovation boosters are willing to play in the same sandbox; it’s time to shout it from the rooftop, leader says

In this bonus episode of Startland News’ Plug and Play Topeka podcast series, we’re joined by Lindsay Lebahn, director and partner success manager for Plug and Play Topeka (through Go Topeka), to look ahead at what’s next for the region’s innovation ecosystem. Lebahn shares how her work bridges Go Topeka’s economic development mission with the…