Pixius Communications, a client company of KTEC and KTEC incubator Wichita Technology Corporation, this week acquired Pittsburg-based Sequence Wireless, a wireless broadband provider that serves 10 towns in southeast Kansas and Missouri. This is Pixius' first pure wireless acquisition - like Pixius, Sequence provides Internet service via radio technology rather than cable or phone lines.

Read more in the Wichita Business Journal

A few weeks ago, we told you about the Kansas Economic Growth Act, sponsored by Rep. Kenny Wilk (R-Lansing) and Sen. Nick Jordan (R-Shawnee), which aims to help grow and diversify the Kansas economy by fostering entrepreneurship in the state and investing in and growing the Kansas bioscience economy. Both parts of this legislation, the Kansas Entrepreneurship Initiative and the Kansas Bioscience Initiative, have made significant progress in the last few weeks.

House Bill 2647, the Kansas Bioscience Initiative, passed the House this week with a vote of 119-6. On the Senate side, all three bills associated with Kansas Entrepreneurship Initiative also passed, including: Senate Bill 393, which establishes the Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship, Senate Bill 480, the angel investment bill, and Senate Bill 520, the Downtown Redevelopment Act. These will now go to the House.

More info and bill status

The next KC Entrepreneurs Happy Hour is 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 10, at Charlie Hooper's Brookside Bar, located at 12 W. 63rd St. in Kansas City. The event, hosted by KTEC, KCCatalyst, and the Kansas City Area Development Council, is intended to give Kansas City area technology and life science workers and entrepreneurs an opportunity to network and make connections. Be sure to RSVP to have a nametag waiting for you.

To RSVP:
E-mail Ken Berlack.

Recent Koch acquisition to relocate to Wichita

The recent purchase of fiber and intermediate company Invista from Dupont by Wichita's Koch Industries will have a big impact on the Wichita economy. Koch will relocate the company's management team to Wichita, bringing 200 jobs with an average salary of $100,000, as well as two business units, including its polymers and resins outfit. Wichita leaders say the commitment from Invista will bode well for attracting other high-caliber businesses to the city.

More about Invista

Mar. 5 - KTEC board meeting, 8 a.m., KTEC Offices, Topeka.
More information: Call Teresa at 785-296-5272.

Apr. 14-15 - Kansas Center for Community Economic Development's 16th Annual Community Economic Development Conference, Great Bend. More information

May 5-6 - InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum, Chase Park Plaza Hotel, St. Louis. More information

June 4 - Kansas City Life Science Research Day, 7 a.m., Overland Park Convention Center. More information

June 11 - KTEC board meeting, 8 a.m., Lawrence. Location TBA. More information: Call Teresa at 785-296-5272.