Mentor Community - KC Invention Convention

Meet Our Mentor Community

One of the things that sets KCIC apart from other programs is our mentors! When students register for KCIC, they have the opportunity to engage with a mentor that has real-world experience as an entrepreneur, innovator, or inventor. Mentors will provide feedback and support on inventions, prototypes, pitches, and more!

We are in the process of scheduling Mentor Workshops for the 2022 season. Please check this page regularly for updates! Until then, check out our mentors who participated in KCIC 2021.

Thank you to our KCIC 2021 mentors!

Dan Toughey
Co-founder of TouchNet Information Systems, Inc.
T-Serve Foundation

ENTREPRENEUR, TECH EXPERT, PHILANTHROPIST

Dan Toughey is co-founder and retired president of TouchNet Information Systems, Inc. Dan guided TouchNet from its beginning as a small startup in 1989 to be the industry leader in e‑commerce technology and payment processing for Higher Education. Today, TouchNet serves institutions that represent over 50% of all college students in the United States, providing them with innovative solutions to automate and secure campus financial transactions. TouchNet is headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, and operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Global Payments, Inc. (NYSE: GPN). Since retiring in 2018, Dan and his wife Karen have formed the T-Serve Foundation for eGiving Success. T‑Serve Foundation is a 501(c) non-profit that helps other Kansas City-area charities minimize the growing cost of processing online credit and debit card donations. T-Serve believes small things can make a big difference to the success of our Kansas City partner charities.

David Klinkon
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HygeiaUV

INNOVATOR, STRATEGIC THINKER, ENTREPRENEUR

As the CEO, David has the overall responsibility for creating, planning, and implementing the HygeiaUV strategic plan, as well as developing a world-class culture and organization. Throughout his career, David has always approached challenges and opportunities by utilizing design thinking principles to formulate ideas and products that empower people. From showcasing the power of a network at Sprint, to developing products within Robotics and AI, or building UVC lighting products to kill COVID, his overall goal is clear, how can he utilize technology to empower the user. At Hygiea UV, David has the unique privilege of helping millions of people feel safe in their environment through deploying far-UVC light technology to continuously kill pathogens in the air and on surfaces.

Sparshita Manchella
Electrical Engineer – Kiewit Corporation

Sparshita Manchella has a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2019. As a student, she was always passionate about learning and working on projects that involved studies concerning standards like NEC, NERC, ANSI, IEC & IEEE. Sparshita works as an electrical engineer in the Electrical Engineering and Controls Department at Kiewit Corporation. In her role, she reviews manufacturer’s wiring drawings and electrical drawings, and researches and analyzes requirements from various engineering standards, contracts, and proposal documents. Sparshita also designs cable and termination information utilizing plant design software, coordinates work with engineers, designers, project managers, construction personnel, and vendors.

Michael Farmer
Entrepreneur-In-Residence at Tech Stars, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Instructor at Blue Valley CAPS, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Leap2 LLC

INNOVATOR, STRATEGIST, ENTREPRENEUR

Michael Farmer is the co-founder and CEO of Leap2, LLC, a mobile search venture. Michael is no stranger to the tech and startup spaces and was previously the co-founder of a carbon mitigation company called CAP-CO2. He also invented and patented a jacket that self-inflates, eventually selling the company and technology to a company called Float-Tech. In 2004, Michael led the strategic development efforts to create the $540 million Kansas Economic Growth Act to support bioscience research and commercialization as the Vice President for Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC). Michael currently supports student innovation and entrepreneurship as an instructor in the Blue Valley CAPS program. He has served on U.S. Senator Pat Roberts’ Science and Technology Advisory Board, CAP CO2 Board, and the John O. Farmer, Inc. Board. Michael is a member of the Ingram’s Magazine “40 Under Forty” leadership class of 2005.

Tricia Costello
Co-Founder Fresh Wata

INNOVATOR, TECH EXPERT, ENTREPRENEUR

Tricia Costello has spent her career continuously redefining the way the world experiences events through the artistry of design, production, & technology. As co-founder of creative agency Fresh Wata (FW), her inclusive, entrepreneurial, and humble spirit continues to shape the future. Born and raised in Kansas City, Tricia’s 50,000 square foot studio and headquarters in the heart of Las Vegas includes a full fabrication shop and embodies creativity. FW has engaged audiences coast-to-coast from the Super Bowl to street ball, CES, Mobile World Congress, and SXSW, building relationships for clients across industries and leveraging technology and innovation into event production. @freshwata

Kay Dalton
Co-Founder Fresh Wata

INNOVATOR, MARKETING EXPERT, ENTREPRENEUR

After graduating from the University of Kansas, Kay Dalton headed straight to Los Angeles searching for a dream career in Sports Marketing. She soon discovered the event-planning world and started freelancing for a variety of entertainment and sports marketing firms. In 1996, she established Kay Dalton Events, and five years later established Fresh Wata, leveraging technology and innovation in event production, with her younger sister, Tricia Costello. Kay and Tricia pride themselves on long-lasting clients – annually producing over 200 events and trade show exhibits with several Fortune 500 Clients for 10+ years. Kay’s work philosophy is: Surround yourself with a positive, creative, and hardworking team with a ‘no problem attitude!