The award-winning Ad Astra Technology Summit, presented by FlagshipKansas.Tech, is set to return for its fourth year on June 4 under the theme “Disrupt: How Exponential Thinking Is Changing Tech’s Future.” Hosted at the iconic Barton School of Business on the Wichita State University campus, the single-day conference brings together industry leaders, startup entrepreneurs, government officials, and educators to confront the forces reshaping Kansas’ technology landscape, from artificial intelligence and data center expansion to workforce development and the digital transformation of government services.

This year’s programming reflects the accelerating pace of change across every sector of the Kansas economy. Sessions will explore how AI is driving new efficiencies in manufacturing and government, the growing role of data centers in the state’s economic development strategy, pathways for building a tech-ready workforce, and how exponential technologies are creating opportunities for startups and established companies alike. The summit will also feature the annual Kansas Tech Awards, a State of Kansas Tech presentation, and afternoon breakout sessions spanning tech education, industry innovation, and startup and workforce enablement.

“The Ad Astra Summit represents exactly the kind of cross-sector collaboration that drives real progress,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, Dean of the Barton School of Business at Wichita State University. “When you put industry leaders, educators, and entrepreneurs in the same room to tackle AI, workforce readiness, and exponential change, that’s where breakthroughs happen — and Barton is proud to be at the center of it.”

Educators play a central role in the summit’s mission to strengthen the state’s technology pipeline. Teachers attending the conference will be eligible for one full graduate credit hour issued through Wichita State University, reinforcing the event’s commitment to advancing tech education at every level.

Since its debut in 2022 at Riverfront Stadium in downtown Wichita, the Ad Astra Technology Summit has grown into one of the state’s signature technology events, attracting more than 750 attendees in its second year and featuring keynote appearances from Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak in 2023 and science educator Bill Nye in 2024. The 2026 “Disrupt” theme signals the summit’s continued evolution as a platform where Kansas stakeholders come together to shape the future of the state’s tech sector.

“From Wozniak to Nye to this year’s Disrupt theme, every Ad Astra Summit has raised the bar,” said Megan Harper, FlagshipKansas.Tech Board Chair and Director of Marketing & Sales at Twin Valley. “What makes this event special isn’t the stage; it’s what happens in the hallways, the breakout rooms, and the conversations that turn into partnerships long after the day ends.”

Tickets for the summit will go on sale next month. Sign up at adastrasummit.tech to be notified when sales begin. FlagshipKansas.Tech members receive discounted admission, and special rates are available for educators. For more information on the Ad Astra Technology Summit, sponsorship opportunities, and ticket purchases, please visit adastrasummit.tech.