Gamechangers & Champions 2026: A Bracket Bash For Innovators and Angels

Gamechangers and Champions 2026 is a high-energy, one-day event that unites startups, angel investors, corporate innovation leaders, and other ecosystem stakeholders from across Kansas and the Midwest. Presented by the Kansas Department of Commerce, NXTUS, and KU Innovation Park, the conference aims to catalyze new angel investments, support early-stage companies, and accelerate Kansas's innovation momentum. Attendees can expect a full day of activation, education, networking, and competition, including educational sessions, speaker presentations, and a bracket-style pitch competition where startups vie for $25,000 in prize funding and a $2,500 Fans' Choice Award. The event also features morning networking, parallel breakout tracks for startups and investors, a Sports Tech Halftime Spotlight, a keynote presentation, and a closing networking happy hour.