Four leading Kansas City entrepreneurs among 2018 Pipeline class
January 26, 2018 | Tommy Felts
The lives of four Kansas City entrepreneurs selected for the 2018 Pipeline class are about to change forever, said Brian Handrigan, Pipeline member and co-founder of St. Louis-based Traaqr.
New fellows were announced Thursday evening at Pipeline’s The Innovators gala, with 13 startup leaders from across the Midwest taking the stage as the first step in joining the growing Pipeline entrepreneur network.
Kansas City’s contingent in the class includes Glen Dakan, founder and CEO of online automotive retailer Prestio; Matt Sellers, co-founder and CEO of the fitness software firm Rack Performance; and former LaunchKC winners Ben Schultz, founder and CEO of the construction scheduling software-as-a-service platform LaborChart, and Linda Van Horn, president and CEO of the medical records platform iShare Medical.
“I know from experience that right now your heads are reeling,” Handrigan said, addressing the whole class Thursday night on stage. “You’re looking out at this packed house and saying, ‘What the hell did I just get myself into?’ Trust us, when we say that this time next year, if you really, really play your cards right, and soak in this year for all it has to offer, you’ll be beaming with pride and excitement for all that you have accomplished.”
Members of each Pipeline class participate in a year-long program that seeks to further develop their entrepreneurial skills and familiarize them with the international Pipeline family. The four-module curriculum culminates in the January gala, The Innovators, at which one fellow is selected as Innovator of the Year. (Click here for more on the 2017 Innovator of the Year award winner announced Thursday.)
In addition to Daken, Sellers, Schultz and Van Horn, 2018 Pipeline fellows include:
- Wichita — Trevor Crotts, Buddy Brands
- St. Louis — Andrew Barnell, Geneoscopy; Johnna Beckham, BOOST Apparel Group; Will Edwards, MetKnow; Robin Rath, Pixel Press Technology; Bryan Sapot, SensrTrx
- Lincoln, Nebraska — Dennis Doerfl, Fourstarzz Media; Ali Schwanke, Simple Strat
- Omaha — Colin Nabity, LeverageRx
Founded in 2006, Kansas City-based Pipeline typically welcomes 10 to 13 entrepreneurs each year for its development program. Now with about 100 alumni, Pipeline derives much of its power from an expansive network that allows members to tap a wealth of connections and resources from other powerful business people in the organization.
Featured Business
2018 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
KCSF pivoting away from Village Square coworking, eyes bigger community impact
Village Square developed a waiting list soon after opening in 2015, said Adam Arredondo. But as larger coworking spaces with more amenities and resources debuted, interest waned in the 3,000-square-foot operation at 45th Street and State Line Road. “What’s our most valuable contribution to the community right now?” said Arredondo, CEO of the nonprofit Kansas…
Beyond KC: TripSushi puts secret hotspots, meaningful travel experiences on the menu
Life is short, said Spencer Carlson — you have just one chance to knock out as much on your to-do list as possible. For the founder of TripSushi, a KC-based travel agency, that meant soaking in and connecting to peoples and locales across the globe, he said. “[We] need to experience other cultures so that…
Eastside Collaborative coworking space envisions a home for black entrepreneurs
Stay on the lookout for Eastside Collaborative, said Maleika Robinson. Recognizing a need for a coworking space specifically for black entrepreneurs, Robinson founded Eastside Collaborative in early 2018 after rebranding the KC Black Coworking Community. Eastside operates from within Uzazi Village on Tuesdays and creates an environment where she and others can be their authentic…
1 Million Cups KC move to Plexpod Westport Commons percolating
1 Million Cups — Kansas City’s most-popular entrepreneur event series — is brewing a move to the area’s largest coworking community. After six years of hosting the entrepreneurial showcase event at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, 1MCKC is moving its weekly program to Plexpod Westport Commons. 1 Million Cups began in Kansas City in April…