Introducing the 2026-2027 ACCEL-KS Founders

ACCEL-KS
Written by Parker McConachie

Today we’re introducing seven founders selected for the 2026-2027 ACCEL-KS proof-of-concept grant program at Groover Labs. Each will receive $25,000 to build, test, iterate, and scale technology prototypes over the next eight months.

Accelerating Concept to Commercialization in Kansas, or ACCEL-KS, is funded by the Kansas Department of Commerce, with match funding from Groover Labs and KU Innovation Park.

Now in its second year, the program is designed for early-stage founders who have a product concept and need funding and support to transform it into a working prototype ready for commercialization. ACCEL-KS founders also receive hands-on ecosystem support in programming, software and hardware development, go-to-market strategy, capital access, and intellectual property.

2026-2027 ACCEL-KS Founders

  • Animal Deterrent Solutions. Michael DeSa. AI-Powered. Humane. Selective.

  • Corus. Todd Gentry. Helping HVAC contractors fix problems before breakdowns happen.

  • DashSweep. Barrett Morgan. DashSweep clears the court so you can play.

  • Goldilocks: Verified Booking, Payments and Leasing for Extended Stay. Emily Karasek. Booking, payments, and leasing for extended-stay rentals.

  • Pantry Scout. Travis Herndon. Dinner, hiding in plain sight.

  • Real Money Labs. Audra Morgan. Providing testing devices for precious metal stackers.

  • Rooted Hope. Katie McDonald. Turning educator insights into actionable, personalized learning pathways.

Kickoff and Orientation

We’re hosting a public Kickoff and Orientation at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, in our event venue. Attendees will hear from Romaine Redman, Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer at the Kansas Department of Commerce, before each founder introduces their project. Then, they’ll attend private sessions with program staff to review what ACCEL-KS offers, and hear from Ecosystem Support Partners.

RSVP here.

Across the state

This year, 78 founders from 22 Kansas counties applied, asking for a total of $1.8 million in non-dilutive funding.

We sent 47 applications to our review committee, an independent group of experts in prototyping, commercialization, software development, artificial intelligence, intellectual property, and go-to-market strategy. The committee interviewed 30 finalists over two days in October, selecting seven to fund.

Two of seven are from rural counties in Kansas, and three of seven are women-owned. Five projects involve hardware development.

Ecosystem Support

The 23 applicants who advanced to the interview round but weren’t selected are eligible to work with our Ecosystem Support Partners. While their projects weren’t funded, we believe they have potential. They’ll benefit from consulting in programming, software and hardware, go-to-market strategy, capital access, and intellectual property, along with six-month memberships at Groover Labs.

Ecosystem Support Partners

Thank You

For the second year in a row, the Kansas Department of Commerce chose to work directly with KU Innovation Park and us to help founders develop and scale their technologies. We’re excited to work with them again. And we want to say thank you to the review committee, who spent more than a week reviewing applications and two full days reviewing applicants and debating which projects should move forward.

To learn more about ACCEL-KS at Groover Labs, visit our website or email innovationkansas@grooverlabs.org.

Parker McConachie
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