Pipeline gala salutes ‘thriving, ever-evolving’ Midwest startup scene boosted by its fellows
June 16, 2023 | Startland News Staff
The 2023 edition of the Pipeline Entrepreneurs Annual Innovation Gala honored a slate of innovators and inspirational forces from across the region, hailing the growth of entrepreneurship in the heartland — and a handful of top award winners.
Past Innovator of the Year recipients Parker Graham and AJ Mellott introduce the 2022 fellowship class award winner at the 2023 Pipeline Innovators Gala; photo by Channa Steinmetz, Startland News
Melissa Vincent, executive director of Pipeline Entrepreneurs, credited the fellows with fostering a now-thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.
“It is through [our members’] hard work and dedication to staying in the Midwest that has taken what was once an entrepreneurial desert, and turned it into a thriving and ever-evolving ecosystem these last 16 years,” Vincent said.
Both the 2022 Pipeline Fellows and Pathfinder class members were officially honored as graduates of the program.
The 2022 Pathfinder cohort marked the inaugural graduating class of the program, which was developed in 2021 as an entryway into the elite fellowship for often-overlooked founders who have not yet made the jump to full-time work with their startups.
During the program — which was held at Hotel Kansas City on Thursday evening — the 2023 Fellows and Pathfinders were introduced, and five awards were presented. Two Kansas City entrepreneurs took home hardware.
Awards and awardees from the gala included:
2022 Innovator of the Year — Jessica Loseke, Midwest Barrel Co., Lincoln, Nebraska
The Pipeline Innovator of the Year award is the award given to the fellow with the best showing in these three components: performance during the Pipeline Fellowship year, scores for their completed business plans, and their presentation score during the Innovators Daytime Pitch Showcase.
Member Growth Award — Bo Lais, Lula, Kansas City, Missouri
Pipeline Members continue to work with the Pipeline organization, and each other, as they grow and scale their businesses. This award recognizes a Pipeline Member for a particularly strong demonstration of growth, be it revenue, capital raised, creation of high-salaried jobs, new ventures or innovation.
Member Inspiration Award — Ali Schwanke, Simple Strat, Lincoln, Nebraska
Pipeline Members know that Pipeline is a never-ending, long-term community of entrepreneurial leaders. They help each other — and the organization — as members all grow toward their goals. This award recognizes outstanding contributions by a Pipeline Member to the organization and the many peers within it.
Mike Bosch Resilience Award — Tim Donnelly, Serviam Care Network, Kansas City, Missouri
The Pipeline Resilience Award is among the newest awards and is awarded to an entrepreneur who exemplifies what it means to be an entrepreneur through and through. To show resilience and strength against all odds and continue to keep building and give back to the community and the membership.
2022 Pathfinder Entrepreneurial Inspiration Award — Letisha Wexstten, V15Able, St. Louis
Check out a photo gallery from the Pipeline’s rooftop reception and gala below.
2023 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Digital Sandbox charges three new startups with its proof-of-concept challenge
An effort to elevate Kansas City’s creative minds, Digital Sandbox KC is digging deeper in its sixth year of acceleration — adding three new startups to its portfolio, the proof-of-concept program announced this week. “Our initial goal was to find 10 early-stage concepts that had high-growth potential and help them secure follow-on funding,” said Jeff Shackelford,…
KCultivator Q&A: Donald Hawkins chews on sage advice, blood sausage, ‘circle of giving’
Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Founders should rally around Kansas City’s startup ecosystem like fans rallied around the Chiefs, said Donald Hawkins. “If you look at a lot of the companies that have scaled — there’s a huge connection gap between…
‘Hardest deal is always the first one’ — Partnership adapts Motega Health tech for animal use
A new licensing deal with Simini Technologies has unleashed disruptive potential for Lawrence-built Motega Health, the company announced Thursday. “We are very pleased to be partnering with Simini and their team and are excited by the energy and creative thinking they are bringing to the commercial process in veterinary medicine,” said Dr. Blake Hawley, founder…
KC Tech Council: ‘No Coast’ aims to prove landlocked doesn’t mean limited for local tech industry
Kansas City has been “punching above its weight” since the days of covered wagons, said Ryan Weber, noting the tech industry specifically has an impact of almost $11 billion a year on KC’s local economy. “Nationally, our profile has risen so much,” said Weber, president of the KC Tech Council which works to support the…