Wichita entrepreneurial organization NXTUS Inc. is preparing for its next startup competition, with the latest contest once again focusing on ideas that impact communities.
NXTUS on Monday announced it has opened applications for its 2023 NXTSTAGE Community Health and Vibrancy Pilot Competition.
That NXSTAGE contest — with others including a focus on financial technology — is now in its third year. The 2023 iteration follows a 2022 in which the same competition eventually resulted in 27 pilot projects around Kansas and incorporated startups from across the country.
Applications for this year’s community health and vibrancy contest are available online.
“Connecting Kansas’ forward-thinking organizations with innovations that are helping communities elsewhere get stronger and healthier offers a triple win for Kansas,” Mary Beth Jarvis, CEO of NXTUS, said in a news release. “We grow young companies, we build up the state’s innovation culture, and we address high-priority challenges to improve the health of Kansans and strengthen our communities.”
The final 12 participants in 2022 were selected from a pool of 119 startups, each bringing to the table a technology applicable to helping communities grow and thrive.
For example, Phoenix-based Televeda has won pilot projects in both years of the contest by offering Kansas organizations a technology platform that helps seniors in those communities stay connected to resources for both their physical and mental health.
“This program is a phenomenal opportunity because it gives startups a chance to meet and talk to local leaders, learn their most pressing problems, and then implement a solution to positively impact the most number of people,” said Shruti Gurudanti, co-founder of Televeda. “It's what every startup wants.”
Partner organizations with NXTUS on the program for 2023 include:
• Russell Regional Hospital
• Hodgeman County Economic Development
• LiveWell Northwest Kansas
• The University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita Medical Practice Association
• Thrive Allen County
• Scott County Development Committee
The competition is again being presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, with a grant from BCBSKS joining additional support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to help fund the NXTSTAGE contest.
“Sponsoring the NXTSTAGE competition is a unique opportunity for us to support health and wellness and our community partners in new and exciting ways,” said Virginia Barnes, director of BCBSKS Blue Health Initiatives. “We live and work in these communities and see first-hand the challenges that they face. We look forward to seeing the new partnerships that will form to help improve the quality of life for all Kansans.”
