Pipeline names OKC startup veteran, podcast host as fellowship’s new executive director

A tech startup founder and community builder in the Oklahoma City innovation ecosystem will soon work to open the valve for greater entrepreneurship support in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.

The Pipeline entrepreneurs fellowship, a network of some of the Midwest’s most successful and high-performance startup leaders, announced Tuesday that Melissa Vincent would take over leadership of the organization. She succeeds founding president and CEO Joni Cobb, whose departure after 13 years has been in the works for about a year.

Click here to read more about Cobb’s planned departure and next big challenge.

“To get to work with such a talented and ambitious organization, one that has had a very direct impact on the growth of entrepreneurialism and the economy in the Midwest, is an opportunity that I am both humbled and incredibly excited to accept,” said Vincent, who will serve as executive director of Pipeline.

The founder of computer software firm 9tribe and co-founder of the software platform Locked in Sports, Vincent effectively departed her startup roles in December. She also co-hosted the podcast Weekly Reboot — which delves into the entrepreneurial lifestyle and how to manage the successes and failures that inevitably come with startup life — alongside her 9tribe colleague Ntuna Ekuri.

Click here to check out the Weekly Reboot.

With more than 15 years of experience working directly with startups in Oklahoma City, Vincent has been recognized as one of Oklahoma City’s Forty Under 40 for her impact in the community as well as being nominated for Woman of the Year.

“It is tremendously relieving to hand over the reins of my soul work for the past 13 years to someone who truly gets how special this opportunity is – and already demonstrates a passion for what we are building,” said Cobb. “It will be an honor to support her in this critical transition, and I am confident that everyone in Pipeline network to do everything in their power to support her as well.”

Vincent’s her first “public duties” are expected to take center stage Jan. 23 at the Pipeline Innovators Daytime Showcase at the Crossroads Hotel in Kansas City. The rebooted event — returning to the City of Fountains after a 2019 move to Omaha — is set to feature pitches by the current fellowship class, speaker presentations, happy hour, awards celebration and an annoucement of Pipeline’s 2020 Fellowship Class.

Click here for tickets to the Pipeline Innovators Daytime Showcase.

Pipeline now boasts more than 130 entrepreneurs who employ more than 2,700 people in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, have raised more than $609 million in outside capital since joining Pipeline and are doing business in more than 85 countries.

Click here to learn more about Pipeline.

This story is possible thanks to support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that works together with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful.

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