From incubators to the help of industry giants, Wichita is an under-the-radar hub for startups.
But if local leaders have their way, that will become less and less of a secret.
“The only reason you would look past Wichita is because you never looked at it in the first place,” says Luis Rodriguez, president of local software company Keycentrix.
Wichita is a place where startups can find support at nearly every stage of their development. It also has proximity to heavyweights like Koch Industries Inc. and Cargill Inc., as well as the massive aviation sector, that means potential home-run customers are just down the street.
A starting place for many is the Center for Entrepreneurship at Wichita State University.
The school has long helped students, with faculty led by director Mark Torline having helped spawn numerous startups in Wichita, and can connect them to the WSU Ventures program that helps commercial ideas.
But the center has also increasingly opened its doors to the broader public.
That includes its E-Launch program, which helps entrepreneurs validate ideas at an early stage, and LaunchPrep which helps connects entrepreneurs with mentors from the local business community.
Also on the campus of WSU is GoCreate, a community workspace supported by Koch Industries where members can access equipment and expertise needed for prototyping.
Other higher education options in Wichita for budding entrepreneurs include the School of Business at Newman University and the business program at Friends University.
There is also help for entrepreneurs beyond the traditional college setting.
There is the Greater Wichita Partnership and its Accelerate Wichita task force, which works to champion and help area entrepreneurs and in May published a detailed overview of the region’s entrepreneurial environment.
NXTUS Inc. is another valuable resource locally, with the entrepreneurial organization working to connect big ideas with big funding and customers, including through its NXSTAGE Pilot Competition and its investor group, Accelerate Venture Partners.
Groover Labs, meanwhile, provides physical space and expertise to help take ideas from concept to the market and includes five maker spaces, four co-working spaces and a 275-person event space.
There is also MakeICT, a local nonprofit maker space.
For the technology sector, FlagshipKansas.Tech is a nonprofit group that includes industry leaders and works to advocate and advance the field across the state.
Wichita Technology Corp. can assist with access to capital and provide expertise, while the Matchstick Alliance helps “second-stage” startups connect to resources for continued growth.
There is also NetWork Kansas, a state-wide coalition of resources and programming all aimed at helping entrepreneurs from every corner of the Sunflower State launch successful business.
Another local resource is the Create Campaign Inc., which provides business development tools to minority entrepreneurs.
Beyond the organizations and facilities, there are also recurring entrepreneurial programs like 1 Million Cups and this year the inaugural Wichita Startup Week, Oct. 4-8 at Groover Labs, backed by Koch and featuring 40 free sessions.
In a city that’s seen the start of companies like Pizza Hut, Coleman, Cessna and Beechcraft, entrepreneurship runs deep.
And, says David Thorne, CEO of financial technology company Plain Wealth, the environment for startups in Wichita has never been better.
“Don’t skim through (local resources) and look for greener grass outside of Wichita,” Thorne says. “We have enough here and it’s quality. You just have to know what you need.”
