Every great business starts with an idea. At the University of Missouri–Kansas City’s Henry W. Bloch School of Management, those ideas are put to the test via the Regnier Venture Creation Challenge.
The Challenge has evolved into far more than a campus business contest, it’s become the proving ground for entrepreneurs across the region. Think of it as our local version of Shark Tank for students. It’s a startup pitch competition specifically focused on small business entrepreneurship and a direct extension of the Henry W. Bloch School of Management and the Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Hosted annually by UMKC’s Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the challenge attracts innovators tackling everything from artificial intelligence and healthcare to consumer products, food and beverage, retail and social enterprises. Whether the next breakthrough is a medical device, a software platform or a neighborhood coffee concept, the competition is designed to help entrepreneurs answer the same question: Can this idea become a successful business?
The 2026 competition began in late January, with the finalists presenting their pitches in late April to a group of local business leaders. There was $180,000 in total prizes making it one of the largest competitions in the midwest.
Bob Regnier has been organizing the event for the last 15 years, and the quality of competitors keeps getting better, he says.
“This year was a big jump,” Regnier says. “We’ve got things that are really viable. Some of them are so technical and so advanced and are AI-oriented and medical in nature that it’s kind of hard to say if it is real or not. But they’re all conceptually good ideas. Some of these have got the potential. If they can do what they say they can do, these things could be worth millions of dollars.”
Regnier’s personal innovator review is a series of questions he asks himself: Does this person really have the capability? Do they have the stamina? Do they have intellectual curiosity? “It’s marvelous that they’re in there making these presentations multiple times because it’s a really valuable skill to have to be able to talk to people, to be able to sell a product or sell an idea,” Regnier says. “I got to thinking of it this way: Could I give a million bucks to this guy and expect to make my money back? I enjoy the opportunity to be in a position to help somebody achieve their goals and their dreams in their lives. Some of them have a remarkable amount of poise.”
For 2026, organizers expanded the event into two divisions: The College Startup Awards welcome degree-seeking students from Missouri and neighboring states while the James & Rae Block Kansas City Startup Awards give local entrepreneurs who are no longer students the opportunity to compete. Both for-profit and nonprofit ventures are eligible, provided they are still in the early stages of development.
Unlike venture capital investments, the cash awards do not require founders to give up ownership in their companies, allowing them to reinvest directly into product development, hiring, marketing or expansion.
Money, however, is only part of the prize. Entrepreneurs spend months refining business models, validating markets and polishing investor pitches before presenting live to panels of judges. Those judges evaluate each venture on the strength of its business model, market opportunity, customer validation, leadership team and ability to execute.
Even startup founders who don’t walk away with a check often leave with something equally valuable: candid feedback from experienced entrepreneurs, connections to investors and mentors, and visibility within Kansas City’s growing startup community.
In 2026, the Regnier Family Foundation and the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation announced a $3 million investment to expand entrepreneurship programming at UMKC and strengthen the Regnier Institute’s role as a catalyst for new business creation.
And the winners are
James and Rae Block Kansas City Startup Awards
First place: $20,000, Neuru, from Antoinette Redmond. Neuru is a digital platform founded by Antoinette Redmond to help families of children with disabilities easily access medical, therapeutic, educational and community resources all in one place.
Technology and Digital Innovation
First place: $15,000, True Legal Innovation, from Alex True. True Legal Innovation, founded by UMKC Law graduate Alex True, is a legal-tech platform designed to simplify how people connect with lawyers after an incident or legal issue.
Health, Wellness and Medical
First place: $15,000, NanoLit, from Fatima Abbas, Shahedur Rahman, Adeniyi Oyebade and Riyad Hossain. NanoLit’s solution, DOX-ICG, transforms Doxorubicin, a chemotherapy treatment with harsh side effects, into a precision-guided nanoparticle therapy that targets cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.
Products, Services, Retail and Experiences
First place place: $15,000, State Street Spices, from Andrew Rubin. The spices company creates regionally inspired spice blends that focus on bold, authentic seasoning blends that reflect American regional flavors and culinary culture.
Creative Arts and Culture
First place: $15,000, Chic On, from Cecelia Pham. The business started with handmade press-on nails and has grown into a colorful brand offering art prints, stickers, coloring sheets and handmade trinkets.
Founder’s Lab
Best overall presentation: $1000m Good Day Café, from Cade Coons and Seth McGrew. It’s a mobile coffee business built inside a renovated vintage trailer that is designed to serve coffee, doughnuts, and baked goods while creating a welcoming, community-focused experience centered on kindness and connection.
