UMKC pitch challenge awards $95K+ for ‘entrepreneur state of mind’ in and outside the classroom

Winning $15,000 in Friday’s pitch competition at UMKC’s Regnier Venture Creation Challenge felt like the culmination of years of hard work and development, said Iyshia Sims.

“Oh my gosh, I’m just so proud of myself,” said Sims, founder of ‘Amir’acle Body Butters and More. “I felt really good after the pitch, I have pitched a lot over the years, and I’ve seen myself grow.”

Sims took home first place in the James and Rae Block Kansas City Startup Awards during the RVCC event, an annual student and community entrepreneurship showcase organized by University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Bloch School of Management.

The Startup Awards recognized ideas pitched by non-student, existing startups from within Kansas City’s business ecosystem.

Iyshia Sims, founder of ‘Amir’acle Body Butters and More, center, wins first place at the RVCC in the startup category; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

Keliah Smith, founder of CRWND Illustrations, center, poses with judges and UMKC officials after earning second in the James and Rae Block Kansas City Startup Awards pitch competition at RVCC; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“It’s been a long time coming, because it has been very difficult up until now,” said Keliah Smith, founder of CRWND Illustrations, who won second place and $10,000 in the category. “Sometimes you have to keep going knowing there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

Smith plans to reinvest her winnings into inventory and equipment upgrades for her stationary and art brand, which boasts a physical location within The Porter House KC’s 811 Retail Incubator. Sims also aims to expand her business with private events, product-making classes, and enhanced digital content.

The Regnier Venture Creation Challenge awarded more than $95,000 in prizes — largely to student-led ventures from across the Midwest, drawing over 80 applicants from colleges and universities in Missouri, Iowa, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kentucky.

Imagination mindset

UMKC Chancellor Dr. Mauli Agrawal opened Friday’s awards announcement with encouragement to the students and a nod to the entrepreneurial spirit that fueled their ventures.

UMKC Chancellor Dr. Mauli Agrawal speaks to competitors at the 2025 RVCC awards ceremony; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“You have already won, because the entrepreneur state of mind is just a different state of mind,” Agrawal told the audience. “It’s curious. It’s always looking for opportunities. It’s looking for gaps, and it’s imagining a world in a different way.”

The annual competition honors the legacy of Victor Regnier and is supported by the Regnier Family Foundation. Bob Regnier, founder of Bank of Blue Valley, also addressed attendees, reflecting on both the event’s growth and his own family’s entrepreneurial roots.

“I can tell you that every year is a little bit better,” he said of the entrepreneurship challenge’s year-by-year evolution. “The quality of the presentations is better. It’s really a very positive thing for me.”

“My father started out from scratch,” Regnier added. “This is really what he wanted to see — people wanting to start their own business and be successful.”

ULOM

James and Rae Block Kansas City Startup Awards

• First place, $15,000: ‘Amir’acle Body Butters and More — A body care brand focused on nourishing skincare made with natural ingredients.
• Second place, $10,000: CRWND Illustrations — A creative business specializing in prints and products celebrating natural beauty and Black culture.
• Third place, $5,000: ULOM — A wellness brand rooted in holistic care and empowerment.

Coi Nguon Coffeehouse

College Startup Awards

• First place, $15,000: Coi Nguon Coffeehouse — A cultural coffee concept rooted in Vietnamese heritage.
• Second place, $10,000: No-Sparc
• Third place, $5,000: AuraPatch

EDUrain

Social Entrepreneurship Awards

• First place, $15,000: EDUrain — A platform helping students find housing and navigate financial aid.
• Second place, $10,000: City Haven
• Third place, $5,000: Brain Battle

Honorable Mentions and Special Awards

• Venture Development Honorable Mention, $250: Grid
• Venture Development Honorable Mention, $750: Naeche’s Nourishment
• Venture Development Best Pitch, $2,000: Hoodlife Welding Hoods
• Venture Development Most Improved, $2,000: RehabED
• Excellence in Innovation, $500: VBI-S: Phospholipid Nanoparticles for Treatment of Septic Shock

Bob Regnier, founder of Bank of Blue Valley, shakes hands with members of the AuraPatch team at UMKC’s Regnier Venture Creation Challenge; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

Even if they didn’t win the top honors, the real prize, according to Regnier, is what students take with them moving forward.

“Whether or not you walk away with a check today, you’re going to walk away with the knowledge that you’ve really done a good job of making and presenting your plan,” he said. “And that will benefit you in the long run.”

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