Wichita has a long history of starting up new businesses, including names that have become staples like Cessna, Beechcraft, Pizza Hut, White Castle and Koch Industries. More and more creative thinkers are looking to be trailblazers, and Wichita Startup Week is set up to help dozens of Wichita startups.
Wichita Startup Week will take place from Nov. 13-17 at Groover Labs, 334 N. St. Francis St. Koch Industries is the presenting sponsor.
Sameer Kenkare, who leads the Corporate VC and Innovation group at Amazon Web Services Startups; Scott Redler of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers; Sierra Bonn, founder of Let’s Go Full STEAM Ahead; and Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce chair Joy Eakins, president of Cornerstone Data, Inc. will present during the event.
The event, which started in 2021, is put on by Techstars — a global network devoted to aiding entrepreneurs. The inaugural event brought in 300 registrants. By 2022, the number reached 700.
This year, Wichita Startup Week wants to grow even larger, offering panel discussions, sessions and workshops across five tracks. Although the event is free, registration is mandatory.
Some of the workshops include information on intellectual property, biomedical innovation and using a customer-centric approach to innovation.
Organizers say Wichita Startup Week helps transform business ideas into concrete startups.
“The event lineup features speakers, seminars, expos, competitions and more to support local entrepreneurs, founders and startups at various phases in their business,” said Shae Blevins, Wichita Startup Week 2023 organizing team lead, in a news release. “We’ve also included several opportunities for entrepreneurs to network with each other and our community partners.”
Techstars connects startups, investors, corporations and cities to help build thriving startup communities. The global organization has invested in more than 2,500 companies with a combined market cap of more than $200 billion.
Starting at 4 p.m. Nov. 13, Bonn will speak with young entrepreneurs. Gary Oborny, CEO and chairman of Occidental Management, will lead a workshop for young self-starters. The youth will also be able to enter a business commercial/elevator pitch competition.
At the same time, Wichita Startup Week will host a Resource Expo and Kickoff Party at Wave, 650 E. 2nd St., focusing on connections and resources.
On Nov. 14, Eakins will speak to open the day. A social entrepreneurship session follows, along with time to present elevator speeches and network.
Kenkare, Redler and others will lead presentations Nov. 15. Attendees can also go to the Cargill campus at 825 E. Douglas Ave. to celebrate with NXTUS and the 20 Kansas early-stage startups who recently completed the NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series.
Along with a day full of workshops and speakers, Nov. 16 ends with a networking event – the Startup Mashup Meetup at the downtown Ruffin Building.
The week ends Nov. 17 with morning sessions at Groover Labs and then the #WichitaWins celebration and lunch. Bill Gardner of Gardner Design will wrap up the week.
“Wichita Startup Week is all about activating the ecosystem and getting people plugged in,” James Williams, Wichita Startup Week co-founder, said. “This year, we’re going to elevate Wichita’s entrepreneurial community by bringing everyone together.”
