A night for knock-outs: Pipeline gala adds glitz to the hard-fought battles of entrepreneurship (Photos)

Midwest means resilience, Melissa Vincent told a black-tie crowd of entrepreneurs gathered Friday evening in the Grand Hall at Union Station, ultimately sharing the stage with not one, but two Innovator of the Year honorees.

Melissa Vincent, CEO at Pipeline Entrepreneurs, stands on stage alongside serial founder and Pipeline Entrepreneur Donald Hawkins at the 2025 Pipeline Innovators gala; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

“When they get knocked down, knocked out, they get back up and they stay in the ring,” continued Vincent, CEO of Pipeline Entrepreneurs, an elite network of founders from across the region. “And one thing I can say with certainty is that as many times as you get knocked down, Pipeline will be here to make sure that you get back up and stay in the ring.”

Both the 2023 and 2024 Pipeline Fellows and Pathfinder class members — representing Midwest companies (Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska) and from a wide range of industries — were officially honored Friday as graduates of the program during the 2025 Pipeline Entrepreneurs Innovators Gala.

“This is a room full of people who know what it takes to step into the ring, take a hit, and keep going,” added Donald Hawkins, Pipeline member and founder of Kinly, addressing a gala audience of fellows from the past 18 years, members of the entrepreneur support community, and Pipeline partners.

Check out a photo gallery from the gala below.

Serial founder Donald Hawkins speaks from the stage in the Grand Hall at Union Station during the 2025 Pipeline Innovators Gala; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

During the evening’s program, the 2025 Fellows and Pathfinders were introduced, and nine awards were presented. One Kansas City-area entrepreneur took home hardware.

ICYMI: Pipeline adds top founders to its network: Meet 14 fellows tasked with building the Midwest together 

Awards and awardees from the gala included:

2023 ​Innovator of the Year Award — Nic Bianchi, Bianchi Candle Co., Omaha, Nebraska

2024 Innovator of the Year Award — Taylor Stormberg, Pando PEO, Omaha, Nebraska

The Pipeline Innovator of the Year award is the award given to the Fellow who best scores 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. 

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2023 ​Inspiration of the Year Award — Melissa Weed, Honey Does LLC, Pittsburg, Kansas

2024 Inspiration of the Year Award — Candice McField, As for Me and My Body, Merriam, Kansas

​The Pipeline Inspiration of the Year award is the award given to the Pathfinder who best scores in these three components — performance during the Pipeline Pathfinder year, their presentation score for their pitch during the Innovators Daytime Pitch Showcase and class vote.

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Member Inspiration Award — Trevor Crotts, American Petworks, Wichita, Kansas

Pipeline Members know that Pipeline is a never-ending, long-term community of entrepreneurial leaders. They help each other — and the organization — as we all grow toward our goals. This award recognizes outstanding contributions by a Pipeline Member to the organization and the many peers within it.

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Member Growth Award — Aaron McKee, Purple Wave, Manhattan, Kansas

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.

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Mike Bosch Entrepreneurial Resilience Award — Robert Disberger, GovBuilt, Topeka, Kansas

The Member Resilience Award is given out to a Member who has shown strength, perseverance and resilience over the course of the last year. Whether it be within their own life, with their company or helping someone in our Pipeline Family — this award honors what it means to be a true entrepreneur in the good and in the bad. 

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2024 Pathfinder Best Pitch Award — Shaniqua Jones-Williams, SendBack, St. Louis, Missouri

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2024 Fellow Best Pitch Award — Chrystal Graves, LiQUiD Hair Institute, Columbia, Missouri

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Check out a photo gallery from the gala by Tommy Felts, Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, and Taylor Wilmore.