FlagshipKansas.Tech

What FlagshipKansas.Tech does

FlagshipKansas.Tech, operating as Kansas Tech Council, Inc., is a Wichita-based nonprofit industry association founded in 2018 that functions as the designated state technology council for Kansas. Its mission is organized around three pillars — awareness (promoting Kansas tech nationally and countering misperceptions about the state's tech ecosystem), education (supporting K-12 computer science and educator professional development), and workforce (talent attraction, retention, and pipeline development). The organization serves tech companies from startups to enterprises (e.g., NetApp, CivicPlus, Twin Valley, UV&S, Panasonic Energy of North America), educational institutions (WSU, WSU Tech, Newman University, Butler Community College, Friends University, Cowley College), workforce partners (Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas), and policymakers across Kansas.

The core deliverables are programs and services rather than software products. Flagship operates the Ad Astra Technology Summit (annual flagship conference at Wichita State University, 750+ attendees in 2023 with keynote speakers including Steve Wozniak, Bill Nye, and Salim Ismail), AI Starter Labs (90-minute AI upskilling workshops for organizations), a statewide Registered Apprenticeship Program for tech roles (delivered with the Kansas Department of Commerce and Workforce Alliance), an annual Kansas Tech Awards program, and the Member Hub digital platform providing member directory, direct messaging, event calendar, and a jobs board. No proprietary technology stack is built; the underlying "platform" is a coalition of partner organizations, board members from major employers, and grant-funded program infrastructure.

Revenue comes from three streams: annual membership dues tiered from $100 (individual) to $1,000 (enterprise/university) across 40+ member organizations; corporate sponsorships of the Ad Astra Summit and other programs (title sponsors including Weavix, CivicPlus, Panasonic Energy, Twin Valley); and grant funding, notably over $645,000 cumulatively from Kansas Department of Commerce ($546,289 SAEEI grant) and Microsoft Philanthropies. Governance is volunteer-led by a 13-seat Governing Board and an Advisory Board, with a part-time Program Coordinator as the only paid staff as of July 2025; the organization operated without an Executive Director from August 2024 through mid-2025.

Name

FlagshipKansas.Tech

Legal name

Kansas Tech Council, Inc.

Website

https://flagshipkansas.tech

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FlagshipKansas.Tech is a Wichita-based nonprofit trade association serving as the designated state technology council for Kansas, running the annual Ad Astra Technology Summit, AI Starter Labs workshops, and a statewide Registered Apprenticeship Program for tech companies, educators, and workforce partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technology Industry Association / Technology Trade Council

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Internship/Apprenticeship Matching & Work-Based Learning Platforms (EDAFAMAL), Vendor/Authorized Certification Training (Microsoft/AWS/Cisco, etc.) (BPAEANAA), Education & Training Providers (EDABALAI), Career Services & Job Placement Platforms (Jobs, Recruiting, Employer Networks) (EDAFAMAM)

Keywords

• Technology industry council
• Workforce development programs
• Technology membership association
• Registered apprenticeship programs
• Annual technology summit

Headquarters

HQ city

Wichita

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from individuals, startups, standard companies, enterprises, and universities. Tiers range from $100/year (individual) to $1,000/year (enterprise/university). Revenue supports organizational operations, programs, and events.
2. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors fund the Ad Astra Technology Summit and other programs. Title and major sponsors include Weavix, CivicPlus, Panasonic Energy of North America, Twin Valley, Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures, Evergy, Emprise Bank, and others.
3. Grant Funding: FlagshipKansas.Tech has received over $645,000 in grant funding from the Kansas Department of Commerce and Microsoft Philanthropies for workforce development initiatives including registered apprenticeships, the UpSkill-A-Thon, and AI workshops.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FlagshipKansas.Tech operates as Kansas Tech Council, Inc., a statewide nonprofit technology trade council offering annual membership (individual, start-up, standard, enterprise, university tiers at $100-$1,000/year), the annual Ad Astra Technology Summit, AI Starter Labs hands-on workshops, a Registered Apprenticeship Program for tech roles, the Kansas Tech Awards, a Member Hub digital platform and jobs board, and policy advocacy. Programs target Kansas technology companies, employers seeking tech talent, K-12 and higher-education educators, and the broader Kansas tech workforce.

Product overview

FlagshipKansas.Tech is a nonprofit technology council organization (not a product company). The organization offers a portfolio of community programs and services including: the Ad Astra Technology Summit (annual conference), AI Starter Labs (workshops), Registered Apprenticeships program, Kansas Tech Awards, Member Hub (directory/networking platform), and a Jobs Board. These programs collectively serve the organization's mission of raising awareness about Kansas tech, fostering workforce development, and championing technology education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ad Astra Technology Summit: Annual flagship technology conference bringing together industry leaders, startups, government officials, and educators to explore and address current technology issues in Kansas.
• AI Starter Labs
• Registered Apprenticeships in Kansas

Products and services

• Ad Astra Technology Summit FlagshipKansas.Tech's annual flagship conference for Kansas technology - bringing together tech industry leaders, startups, educators, and government officials to explore technology issues, workforce development, and innovation. Features keynotes, breakout sessions, the Kansas Tech Awards, and networking opportunities; held at Wichita State University's Woolsey Hall.
• AI Starter Labs Hands-on 90-minute AI workshops that help individuals and organizations build practical AI skills. Taught by Kansas tech leaders (Luis Rodriguez, Tonya Knipp, Dan Reisig), covering prompt engineering, AI tools, and ethical AI use across operations, marketing, and strategy teams. Offered as hosted workshops for member organizations or sponsored public community events.
• Registered Apprenticeships in Kansas A statewide registered apprenticeship program for technology roles, developed with the Kansas Department of Commerce. Connects Kansas employers with intermediaries (Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas) and funding resources including apprenticeship tax credits to train and develop technology talent.
• Kansas Tech Awards Annual awards program recognizing excellence and innovation in Kansas technology across categories for Visionary of the Year, Community Innovator of the Year, Startup of the Year, Teacher of the Year, and Student of the Year. Generates media coverage and showcases Kansas tech talent and role models.
• Member Hub
• Kansas Tech Jobs Board

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 750 attendees at the 2023 Ad Astra Technology Summit
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor, core and founding.

• Twin ValleymajorOthers · 13 May 2026Twin Valley is offering 100 scholarships for Kansas K-12 educators to attend the 4th Annual Ad Astra Technology Summit on June 4, 2026, at Wichita State University's Woolsey Hall. The scholarship covers the full conference ticket and educators are eligible for one graduate credit hour through WSU.
• Salim IsmailmajorOthers · 9 April 2026Globally recognized innovation strategist, bestselling author of Exponential Organizations, former Yahoo VP, and XPRIZE Foundation board member served as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Ad Astra Technology Summit delivering a two-session keynote experience on exponential thinking and organizational adaptation.
• Suzy FinnminorOthers · 16 July 2025Suzy Finn was hired as part-time Program Coordinator on July 16, 2025, to support board operations, initiative execution, marketing, and member outreach. She previously worked at Wichita Public Schools and the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce.
• Wichita State University Barton School of BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2024Wichita State University's Barton School of Business is the annual event partner for the Ad Astra Technology Summit, hosting the event at Woolsey Hall and Charles Koch Arena. Dean Dr. Larisa Genin has praised the conference as a platform for innovation and collaboration. The university also provides graduate credit for educators attending the summit.
• Greater Wichita PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2024Greater Wichita Partnership collaborates with FlagshipKansas.Tech on economic development and tech recruitment efforts. Director of Industry Engagement Victoria Carro serves on the FlagshipKansas Advisory Board. GWP is a supporting organization for the Ad Astra Technology Summit.
• WeavixmajorOthers · 8 December 2024Title sponsor of the Ad Astra Technology Summit. Weavix CEO Kevin Turpin emphasized the importance of connecting the workforce to the best technology and bringing Bill Nye to Kansas.
• Panasonic Energy of North AmericamajorOthers · 8 December 2024Title sponsor of the Ad Astra Technology Summit.
• Twin ValleymajorOthers · 8 December 2024Title sponsor of the Ad Astra Technology Summit. Twin Valley, Kansas' largest family-owned broadband company, also sponsored 100 Kansas teachers to attend the 2026 Ad Astra Technology Summit. Board Chair Megan Harper leads the organization.
• EvergymajorOthers · 8 December 2024Major sponsor of the Ad Astra Technology Summit.
• Emprise BankmajorOthers · 8 December 2024Major sponsor of the Ad Astra Technology Summit. Emprise Bank also employs Senior VP Tonya Knipp who co-leads the FlagshipKansas.Tech AI Starter Labs initiative.
• Kansas Turnpike AuthoritymajorOthers · 8 December 2024Major sponsor of the Ad Astra Technology Summit.
• Arista NetworksmajorOthers · 8 December 2024Major sponsor of the Ad Astra Technology Summit.
• Bill NyemajorOthers · 8 December 2024Science educator Bill Nye served as keynote guest at the 2024 Ad Astra Technology Summit, participating in a moderated chat and helping kick off important conversations about technology and workforce in Kansas.
• KC Tech CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2024KC Tech Council serves as a regional technology council for the Kansas City metro area, functioning as the shared voice of Kansas City's tech industry. CEO Kara Lowe was named Kansas Tech Visionary of the Year at the 2026 Ad Astra Summit. The two organizations collaborate on cross-state tech advocacy and ecosystem development.
• Workforce Alliance of South Central KansascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2024FlagshipKansas.Tech supported the Workforce Alliance in securing the One Workforce Grant, a $10M Department of Labor award funding training in advanced manufacturing and technology for a 10-county region in South Central Kansas. This is one of just 17 grantees nationwide and the single largest grant the public workforce system has received in Kansas. Many Flagship member companies have received training funds.
• Steve Wozniak and Janet WozniakmajorOthers · 18 December 2023Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak served as keynote speaker at the 2023 Ad Astra Technology Summit and participated in a fireside chat. Steve and Janet Wozniak provided a $1,666 check for the inaugural Steve & Janet Wozniak Kansas Tech Teacher of the Year award ($1,666 nod to the original Apple I computer price of $666.66 x 2.5).
• Kansas Department of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2022Regional partner in the UpSkill-A-Thon and broader workforce development initiatives. Kansas Department of Commerce is also a major sponsor of the Ad Astra Technology Summit and Governor Laura Kelly signed computer science education legislation that FlagshipKansas.Tech advocated for.
• Groover LabsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2022Groover Labs, Wichita's startup hub founded by Curt Gridley and Tracy Hoover, hosted the kick-off event for the UpSkill-A-Thon competition. Groover Labs is a partner organization for FlagshipKansas.Tech events and initiatives.
• Cowley CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2022Regional partner in the UpSkill-A-Thon competition, helping reach individuals and businesses throughout Kansas.
• Butler Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2022Regional partner in the UpSkill-A-Thon competition. Butler Community College also has Kevin Lann-Teubner serving on the FlagshipKansas.Tech Advisory Board as Associate Professor and Department Chair of Networking Management.
• Friends UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2022Regional partner in the UpSkill-A-Thon competition. David Fry serves on the FlagshipKansas.Tech Advisory Board as Instructor of Computer Science at Friends University.
• Wichita State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2022Event partner for the Ad Astra Technology Summit hosting at Woolsey Hall and Charles Koch Arena. WSU Tech and WSU's College of Engineering and Barton School of Business are all represented on the FlagshipKansas.Tech board. WSU provides graduate credit for educators at the summit.
• WSU TechcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2022Regional partner in the UpSkill-A-Thon competition. Matthew Lewis, Dean of Information Technologies at WSU Tech, serves on the FlagshipKansas.Tech Governing Board, and Chris Wyant serves as Senior Project Manager of Automation.
• Wichita Regional Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2022Regional partner in the UpSkill-A-Thon competition helping reach individuals and businesses throughout Kansas.
• Workforce Alliance of South Central KansascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2022The Workforce Alliance connects Wichita-area companies to additional funding for registered apprenticeships. Amanda Duncan serves as FlagshipKansas.Tech Treasurer and VP at the Workforce Alliance. Kaitlyn Downey also serves on the FlagshipKansas.Tech Advisory Board as Employer Services and Outreach Manager.
• Greater Wichita PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2022FlagshipKansas.Tech partnered with the Greater Wichita Partnership to help recruit tech companies to Kansas, including Novacoast, Millenium, and Knowmadics. The GWP serves as a supporting organization for the Ad Astra Technology Summit.
• CallCapfoundingOthers · 1 January 2018CallCap (Callcap), a conversation analytics company based in Wichita, was a founding member of FlagshipKansas.Tech when the organization was formed in 2018.
• Cornerstone DatafoundingOthers · 1 January 2018Cornerstone Data was a founding member of FlagshipKansas.Tech when the organization was formed in 2018.
• Flint Hills GroupfoundingOthers · 1 January 2018Flint Hills Group was a founding member of FlagshipKansas.Tech when the organization was formed in 2018.
• High Touch TechnologiesfoundingOthers · 1 January 2018High Touch Technologies, a Wichita-based technology services company, was a founding member of FlagshipKansas.Tech when the organization was formed in 2018.
• KeycentrixfoundingOthers · 1 January 2018Keycentrix (now part of other entities), a national top competitor in specialty pharmacy software, was a founding member of FlagshipKansas.Tech when the organization was formed in 2018.
• NetAppfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018NetApp, a data infrastructure company, was a founding member of FlagshipKansas.Tech in 2018 and continues as a governing board member organization with Cloud Solutions Architect Nia Arambula serving on the current board.
• PK CompaniesfoundingOthers · 1 January 2018PK Companies was a founding member of FlagshipKansas.Tech when the organization was formed in 2018.
• Workforce Alliance of South Central KansasfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas was a founding member and continues as a critical partner. VP Amanda Duncan serves as FlagshipKansas.Tech Treasurer and the Workforce Alliance provides administrative support for the Registered Apprenticeship Program and connects companies to workforce funding.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/flagshipkansas
• Facebookfacebook.com/flagshipkansastech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/flagshipkansastech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FlagshipKansas.Tech