WICHITA, Kan. — Don’t settle for one winning season, Mitch Holthus, the longtime voice of the Kansas City Chiefs, told a group of startup founders, urging entrepreneurs to avoid hitting a plateau in their professional lives. encouraged them to keep moving forward.
Mitch Holthus of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks at the NXTSTAGE graduation event in Wichita. Photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
“You celebrate milestones, but you don’t stop there,” Holthus said, comparing the average lifespan of a startup to the average career of an NFL player, before bringing that back to his hometown team. “If anyone in this room thinks they’re happy with what we’ve done, they’re wrong.”
After Kansas City won its second straight Super Bowl in February, Holthus gathered in Wichita even as Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Chris Jones vowed the team would aim for its third straight championship. He spoke to a crowd gathered at a celebration honoring recent graduates.class of NXTSTAGE Customer Traction Cohort.
Entrepreneurs shouldn’t be sidelined just because they lose a few games, the six-time Emmy winner said, stressing that he was once again out of the Chiefs’ playbook.
Holthus recalled that despite facing setbacks in 2017, including losing six of seven games, coach Andy Reid turned the Chiefs around and led them to the playoffs that year. He encouraged new entrepreneurs to understand that tough times don’t have to define hardship and approach challenges with the same passion.
“Remember: stay hungry, stay humble and always look towards your dreams and goals,” he said.
2024 NXTSTAGE Customer Traction Cohort; Photo courtesy of NXTUS
“The lifeblood of our culture of innovation”
Holthus’ remarks were made during the NXTSTAGE Game Changers and Champions gathering, which celebrates entrepreneurs who are pushing toward the end zone of innovation. The pep rally and farewell party will feature 200 community and business leaders, entrepreneurs, NXTUS program alumni, partners, and Accelerate Venture partners at Niche.
“At NXTUS, we believe in the transformative power of entrepreneurship. This celebration is about startup development and Strengthening the supportive community around them,” Amber Dunn said on the program. Manager of NXTUS.
Glynis Castaneda of GG Alpaca Farm promotes his company at the NXTSTAGE alumni graduation event in Wichita. Photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Mpruv Sports’ Mark Lukenbill pitches his startup at the NXTSTAGE alumni graduation event in Wichita. Photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Hustle & Ground’s Joy Broyles promotes her company during the NXTSTAGE alumni event in Wichita. Photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Five of the 20 startups graduating from this group are based in the Kansas City area and produce functional, sustainable apparel (cardio bra, GG alpaca fleece)customized online sports lessons (mpulhu sports), grief support (share comfort)gift box for stress relief (Hustle & Ground).
ICYMI: Brothers turn family pet into family business and tap into alpaca’s luxury potential
These startups participated in a 10-week customer traction cohort in January. They learned how to drive revenue through pitch coaching, workshops, and peer rounds, focusing on market and pricing strategies.
click here Check out the full list of startups in the 2024 cohort.
NXTUS’ Amber Dunn speaks at the NXTSTAGE graduation event held in Wichita. Photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Mary Beth Jarvis of NXTUS speaks at the NXTSTAGE graduation event held in Wichita. Photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
NXTUS found that for every 1% increase in entrepreneurship, each state’s poverty rate decreased by 2%. The Wichita-based organization supports Kansas startups by providing three key services: connecting more than 1,300 startups with new customer opportunities, mentorship networks, and access to capital through programs. We are positioning ourselves for this economic growth.
“Every net new job in this country is being created by young small businesses,” said Mary Beth Jarvis, president and CEO of NXTUS. “They are the backbone of economic growth and the lifeblood of the culture of innovation we want to build here in Kansas.”
Mitch Holthus of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks at the NXTSTAGE graduation event in Wichita. Photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
listen from top to bottom
Holthus, the Kansas City Chiefs’ longest-serving play-by-play announcer, offered tips for entrepreneurs on how to maintain longevity in the startup world, similar to how the Chiefs plan their approach to a Super Bowl appearance.
Success, he said, begins with open ears and an open heart.
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu is greeted by Mitch Holthus of the Kansas City Chiefs at the NXTSTAGE graduation event in Wichita. Photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
“The important thing for new entrepreneurs and those who are currently striving to make it happen is that we are a great organization when it comes to listening,” Holthus said.
Actively listening to people in the organization and showing respect from the top down is key, Holthus said, noting that Coach Reed asked two of the practice facility’s all-night cleaners to do their part. He gave an example of how he regularly communicates that doing things will help him win championships.
“If you don’t think they’re working full throttle when they’re working on a tile floor, you’re kidding yourself, because they’re just as much a part of our team as Mahomes and Kelce. “Because I feel it,” he said.
Holthus also pointed out that it is important to listen to the advice of not only internal but also external voices of the organization, i.e. established partners who can see more clearly the competition, markets and growth areas. .
“It’s a linear progression: listen, absorb, review, and act,” he said.
