A first-of-its-kind pitch competition later this summer aims to put a new startup into a prime northwest Wichita commercial space — with a slate of special perks.
Occidental Management will launch the UpStart ICT Challenge on July 26.
The Wichita-based company says the winner will get an extensive prize: a lease with favorable terms at Occidental's Tyler Pointe Shopping Center in northwest Wichita, a marketing and publicity package, architectural services, pre-construction support and more.
Occidental chairman and CEO Gary Oborny said the idea for the contest started brewing a couple of years ago.
“We saw a lot of stress with COVID, and so we started thinking about what's an out-of-the-box way to promote entrepreneurship and promote opportunity in the Wichita community,” he said.
For Occidental Management's leadership, the commercial real estate development firm's work and helping small businesses grow go hand in hand.
“We love to promote entrepreneurship," said Oborny, who has been involved in helping back startups for three decades. "We are big fans of people starting businesses and scaling businesses. That is part of our engagement in the community.”
UpStart ICT is open to a prospective business, new franchise, or current home- or online-based business looking to expand into a commercial space, Occidental Management noted in a news release. The company added that already-existing businesses desiring expansion or relocation are not eligible.
The challenge kicks off with an open house from 9 to 11 a.m. July 26 at what Occidental calls the "challenge space" — suites 101 and 102 at 8641 W. 13th St. in Tyler Pointe, where the eventual winner will have the opportunity to move into.
That's the former space of SpinICT, which closed its location in September 2022.
And while the space is practically move-in ready for a health and fitness business, Occidental said this opportunity could be for many concepts beyond that industry.
After the open house, which all candidates are required to attend, UpStart ICT entries need to be submitted by Aug. 23 at www.occmgmt.com/upstartict/ — where full details about the contest and its terms, sponsors and more are available.
Occidental Management plans to review all entries and select five candidates that will move on to live, in-person presentations Sept. 12 at the Tyler Pointe space.
A winner will be announced Sept. 20.
“The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in Wichita and our goal at Occidental Management is to attract top talent and support and grow local businesses," said Occidental president Chad Stafford in the news release. "So, the UpStart ICT Challenge was devised to help a start-up business set up for success.”
Among other perks, the winner's reward package includes:
- A 42-month minimum lease, including six months of free base rent
- Alloy Architecture architectural services
- Conco Construction pro-bono pre-construction support and budgeting, along with a construction fee discount and mentorship from Craig Nelson, Conco's president and CEO
- A business consultation with Oborny
Cox Media and Cox Business Services, ESPN Wichita 92.3 FM, 2A Marketing, Be Local/Real Producers, NG Creative and the Wichita Independent Business Association are among others partnering on the effort.
“Everybody that is involved is in alignment with the philosophy that it benefits our community when people are in environments where they can start businesses — and we want to create a situation where that's possible," Oborny said in an interview with the WBJ.
Now, he hopes those with small business dreams take advantage of UpStart ICT.
"If you have the passion and the tenacity for entrepreneurship and starting your own business, here's a really great opportunity to get a leg up in the process by participating," Oborny said.
