Choose Wichita > News > From Wichita to the World: Miguel Johns Is Proving What’s Possible Here
From Wichita to the World: Miguel Johns Is Proving What’s Possible Here
What if the next big artificial intelligence (AI) company to make waves on the global stage starts in Wichita?
For Miguel Johns, founder of Milton AI, that possibility is becoming reality.
Johns recently won the Wichita Startup World Cup Pitch Competition, earning a spot in the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco. There, he’ll join more than 100 regional champions from around the world to compete for a $1 million investment prize.
“We have the opportunity to get into the same room with people who understand what we’re building, the size of the opportunity, and the capital required to pursue it,” explained Johns.
Johns’ journey began more than a decade ago with an idea to build an AI-powered coaching platform. At the time, the technology wasn’t ready. Then, ChatGPT launched, and suddenly, his idea didn’t seem so far-fetched.
Today, Milton AI combines multiple software tools to help independent gyms and personal training studios simplify their operations, reduce technology costs and give coaches more time to focus on their clients.
“Ultimately, Milton is building what we believe can become an intelligence layer for the future of health,” Johns shared.
A Wichita Foundation
Wichita wasn’t originally part of Milton AI's grand strategy. It was home.
“I am grateful for the path I had because building in Wichita has shaped both the company and me in ways that probably never would have happened otherwise.”
Johns grew up in Kansas, returned to Wichita in 2015 and became immersed in the city’s entrepreneurial community. Through organizations and programs including 1 Million Cups, E2E, NXTUS and Pipeline, he found mentors, investors and relationships that helped move Milton forward.
“There are too many people to name, but the person who has had the greatest impact on this journey is Jeff Turner,” said Johns. “The value he has brought to my life goes far beyond money. Even if we returned his investment ten times over, I don't think that would equal what his mentorship, belief, relationships, and guidance have meant to me.”
Local businesses have played a role, too. Optimal Performance, a Wichita gym, has worked closely with the Milton team to help shape the product around what gym owners and coaches need.
That network helped give Johns something every entrepreneur needs: people willing to believe in an idea before everyone else does.
What’s Possible Starts Here
Johns’ story is a reminder that entrepreneurship can start anywhere.
“You don't need to come from Silicon Valley,” Johns said. “You don't need to start with all the money, relationships, or advantages.”
You need an idea, the willingness to start and the persistence to keep going.
“Even beyond Wichita or technology, I hope my story shows people that what seems impossible isn't always impossible. I'm a Mexican and Black entrepreneur from Kansas building an artificial intelligence company competing on an international stage. Statistically, there are plenty of reasons we probably shouldn't have made it this far, but here we are,” he said.
In early November, Johns will take Milton to the Grand Finale to compete against entrepreneurs from around the world for a $1 million investment. Whatever happens there, he sees the opportunity as a chance to open new doors and build the relationships needed to take Milton to its next level.
While the global stage is the destination for now, Wichita is where the journey began.
