Meet the half-dozen, seasoned KC founders joining Pipeline’s latest fellowship class
January 24, 2020 | Startland News Staff
Nearly half of the new class of Pipeline fellows hail from Kansas City startups, revealed the high-profile entrepreneur network Thursday at the Pipeline Innovators Daytime Showcase.
Among those Kansas City founders taking the stage during the announcement:
- Dominique Davison, PlanIT Impact;
- Kyle Ginavan, OneHQ;
- Bo Lais, Lula;
- Luke Lim, Tile Five LCC;
- A.J. Mellott, Ronawk LLC; and
- Sunti Wathanacharoen, Pulmonaer Analytics.
Pipeline — which serves as a regional network across the Midwest — also drew heavily from Nebraska, as well as picking up entrepreneurs from outside Kansas City in Missouri and Kansas. Among those founders:
- Brent Comstock, BCom Solutions, Lincoln;
- Walker Deibel, The Acquisition Lab, St. Louis;
- Jennifer McDonald, Jenny Dawn Cellars, Wichita;
- Brooke Mullen, Sapahn, Lincoln;
- Hunter Radenslaben, Athlete Nation, Omaha;
- Jeff Smith, Fanbox Subscription Services Inc, Lincoln; and
- Travis Stephens, Direct Pivot Parts, Lincoln.
2020 Pipeline fellows
Thursday’s event additionally showcased competition between 2019 Pipeline fellows who pitched throughout a daytime contest to earn the titles of best pitch and Innovator of the year.
Graduating fellow Bek Abdullayev of Kansas City’s Super Dispatch was awarded best pitch by a panel of national judges that included Allison Weil, Hyde Park Ventures, Chicago; Eric Drummond, Innovation Corridor, Denver; and Jeff Jones, H&R Block.
Innovator of the Year is set to be announced at Pipeline’s annual gala in April in Kansas City.
Other 2019 Kansas City graduating fellows up for the top award include:
- Anis Dayya, PiREARcings;
- Jeff Dunn, Redivus Health;
- Liderman Duin, Bluepoint2;
- Michael Fry, Astra Brands;
- Donald Hawkins, CitySmart;
- Heather Spalding, Cambrian; and
- Tammie Wahaus, ELIAS Animal Health.
“After spending this action-packed day with Pipeline entrepreneurs, mentors, supporters and families, I am convinced that Pipeline is the most compelling entrepreneurial organization in the country, and I am humbled to be chosen to be its next leader,” said Melissa Vincent, Pipeline’s new executive director. “I am so excited to get to work with these new 2020 Fellows, as well as everyone who is ready and willing to lend their support to all of the Pipeline Family. Let’s do this!”
Click here to learn more about Vincent’s background before arriving Kansas City to lead Pipeline.
Featured Business
2020 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Innovation Festival returns Aug. 16 with focus on human connections in a surging biotech hub
While the third iteration of BioKansas’ Innovation Festival might initially seem scaled back, said Dr. Kevin Mills, the summer biosciences conference is amping up its emphasis on what makes Kansas City a great biotech hub. “The idea is really to get people with really diverse viewpoints and diverse jobs and careers together to hear from…
I’m with Hank: Meet the tribute-turned-brew child of these beer-drinking serial entrepreneurs
A limited-release craft lager at Jim’s Alley Bar and Alma Mader Brewing pays homage to classic American brewing traditions and a shared family name, said Nick Mader and Eric Flanagan. The duo joined forces this summer to release “Hank” — in honor of several family relatives with the middle name “Henry,” as well as Flanagan’s…
CPKC Stadium, Rabbit hOle named to TIME magazine’s list of ‘World’s Greatest Places’
Two recently opened Kansas City attractions were announced today among 100 extraordinary destinations to visit; named to TIME’s list of the World’s Greatest Places. TIME’s annual feature includes CPKC Stadium, home to the KC Current and the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a women’s professional team, and The Rabbit hOle, a North Kansas…
Kansas artist carves Kamala Harris’ portrait into a field — and left room for her VP pick
Editor’s note: The following story was published by KCUR, Kansas City’s NPR member station, and a fellow member of the KC Media Collective. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for KCUR’s email newsletter. World-renowned crop artist Stan Herd is almost finished with the portrait of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee outside Lawrence, Kansas, near…