Startups from across the world — representing every continent except Antarctica — have applied for a chance to come to Wichita to pitch their products to businesses.

NXTSTAGE, a pilot competition launched by NXTUS with a $250,000 grant from the Wichita Community Foundation, had received 127 applications as of Feb. 28, said Mary Beth Jarvis, executive director of NXTUS.

Applications were due by Feb. 15, but the organization has done a “soft reopen,” she said.

“We’ve had an incredible response, but we still had some folks that we thought were really good candidates who hadn’t applied yet,” Jarvis explained.

The application deadline is now Friday, Feb. 28, but even if after that, startups can reach out directly to Jarvis and senior associate Quinn Robertson by emailing them respectively at marybeth@nxtus.io or quinn@nxtus.io.

The competition has three tracks — banking and financial services, advanced manufacturing and industrial IoT (Internet of Things) and community health and vibrancy.

“We have some applicants who are crossovers,” Jarvis said. “It’s kind of cool to see the cross-pollination.”

Startups selected in each sector will get a chance to pitch to leading companies. In the banking and financial services sector, for example, Emprise Bank, Fidelity Bank and Intrust Bank are on board to hear pitches.

“We are looking for product and market. This is not idea-on-the-back-of-a-napkin,” Jarvis said. “This is about implementation and gaining customers.”

NXTUS wants to “put out the welcome mat,” she said.

“Whether they could spell ‘Wichita’ or ‘Kansas’ before or having any way of gaining entry to potential customers in our region, we are going to bring them here. While they’re here, we’re going to give them a glimpse of our assets and capabilities,” Jarvis said. “We’re putting a stake in the ground as a region that is being deliberate about being a proving ground for new innovations.

“We’re matchmaking between innovation providers and innovation purchasers.”