Gamechangers & Champions 2026 (Qualifying Round)

Jan 23, 2026

Jan 23

Project application deadline: Feb 13, 2026
Judge registration deadline: Feb 17, 2026
Entry fee: Free

Description

Gamechangers & Champions is a $25,000 statewide pitch competition, presented in partnership with KU Innovation Park and the Kansas Department of Commerce, designed to identify and elevate high-growth startups from across Kansas.

The competition combines structured virtual evaluation with a live, in-person championship event on March 10 at David Booth Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, bringing together founders, investors, corporates, and ecosystem leaders.

1. How the Competition Works

Startups advance through multiple rounds of review, beginning with a large virtual screening and progressing through increasingly competitive stages.
Each round is evaluated by experienced judges using a standardized rubric focused on:
- Problem clarity
- Solution differentiation
- Traction and market validation
- Team strength and execution
- Market size and scalability
The process is fair, signal-driven, emphasizing readiness and execution, not fundraising.

2. Competition Structure & Rounds

Based on feedback from founders and judges in last year’s competition, each round of Gamechangers & Champions is run as a separate competition in VentureDash.
This structure allows startups to:
- Update and improve materials between rounds
- Be evaluated based on their most current progress
- Experience & focused judging aligned to each stage
- Avoid being locked into early submissions as the competition advances

3. Qualifying Round Details

All qualified startups begin in the Qualifying Round
Founders submit:
- A Pitch Deck
- A 60-second Elevator Pitch video
- Founder Headshot & Logo
Submissions are reviewed by experienced judges using a standardized rubric
The goal of this round is to identify startups ready to advance to the Round of 32

*Advancing teams are required to submit updated materials for the next round*

Pitch decks and elevator pitches do not automatically carry forward
Updates may reflect new traction, learnings, partnerships, or clarity

4. Live Championship Event – March 10

The competition culminates at the all-day live March 10 event in Lawrence, KS.

The Innovative 8 are announced publicly and deliver one-minute pitches to all attendees
Each Innovative 8 startup then participates in a structured pitch and live Q&A with a room of regional investors
The Final 4 are selected and pitch live in front of the full audience
Judges select and announce the Gamechangers & Champions Winner

5. Important Disclaimers

Participation does not constitute fundraising or solicitation of investment.

The goal is to provide founders with high-quality exposure and rigorous evaluation, while giving investors, corporates, and ecosystem partners visibility into the region’s strongest emerging companies.

Who Should Participate
- Venture-backable or growth-oriented startups seeking to build scalable businesses
- Companies with a clear customer, differentiated solution, and credible growth path
- Founders open to evaluation and public presentation
Who Cannot Participate
- Lifestyle businesses primarily designed to generate steady owner income rather than scale
  (e.g., consulting practices, agencies, single-location retail or service businesses)
- Real estate investment vehicles, funds, or syndications
- Non-operating holding companies or SPVs
- Companies seeking the competition primarily as a fundraising or solicitation opportunities
- Businesses that do not meet basic eligibility or readiness requirements
Founder Expectations
- Written feedback is not guaranteed in early rounds due to volume
- Later-stage teams may receive summary feedback when feasible
- Founders must meet all deadlines and submission requirements
- Professional conduct and accurate representation are required
Confidentiality & Publicity
- Some rounds are confidential until officially announced
- Advancing teams agree to participate in media and promotional activity
- Founders are responsible for protecting proprietary information
Scheduling & Availability
- Advancing teams must be available for required preparation and onsite participation on March 10
- Inability to attend required sessions may result in forfeiture

Questions related to the above please reach out to avpadmin@nxtus.io

Schedule and key dates

*Important Dates – Gamechangers & Champions 2026

Applications Open: Friday, January 23
Applications Close: Friday, February 13
Public Release – Round of 32: Wednesday, February 25
Public Release – Breakout 16: Wednesday, March 4
Private Release – Innovative 8: Week of March 2
Live Event – Gamechangers & Champions Finals: Tuesday, March 10 @ David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium - Lawrence, Kansas
- Innovative 8 announced publicly
- Live investor pitch sessions
- Final 4 selected
- Gamechangers & Champions winner announced

Good luck!

Organized by

Presented by NXTUS, KU Innovation Park, Kansas Department of Commerce

Date & time

Fri, January 23, 2026 at 12:00 AM CST

Address and location

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Components

Elevator Pitch

The Elevator Pitch is a short, recorded video pitch delivered by the founder tha...

Weight: 30%

Pitch Deck

The Pitch Deck is a concise visual presentation that communicates the core eleme...

Weight: 60%

Judges Discretion / Advancement Conviction

Judges should consider market potential, team capability, traction relative to s...

Weight: 10%

Founder Headshot & Company Logo

To support communications, and event production, all startups are required to su...

Weight: 0%

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