A night for knock-outs: Pipeline gala adds glitz to the hard-fought battles of entrepreneurship (Photos)
March 4, 2025 | Nikki Overfelt Chifalu
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.
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.
[divide]
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.
[divide]
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.
[divide]
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.
[divide]
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.
[divide]
2024 Pathfinder Best Pitch Award — Shaniqua Jones-Williams, SendBack, St. Louis, Missouri
[divide]
2024 Fellow Best Pitch Award — Chrystal Graves, LiQUiD Hair Institute, Columbia, Missouri
[divide]
Check out a photo gallery from the gala by Tommy Felts, Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, and Taylor Wilmore.
Featured Business
2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
H&R Block CEO files retirement plans; company sets ‘smooth transition’ to new chief executive
Announcing his plan to retire at the end of 2025, the CEO for one of Kansas City’s most iconic businesses called his work at H&R Block the past eight years “the honor of a lifetime.” “We have elevated Block’s relevance, built an extraordinary culture, made bold bets to drive growth, rebuilt about every piece of…
LISTEN: Startup bites into early cancer detection for dogs
On this episode of Startland News’ new Plug and Play Topeka founder podcast series, we meet Preston Williams — founder of ProPetDx — whose company is giving veterinarians a powerful new way to detect disease in pets before symptoms appear. From the spark of an idea to building high-definition diagnostics, our guest shares how science, data,…
Advocates push Latino entrepreneurs to urgent action in the face of ‘innovation churn,’ civil rights challenges
Latino entrepreneurs are a powerful force in America’s economy, leaders emphasized Thursday from the UnidosUS stage, but systemic barriers continue to keep many from achieving financial freedom, they lamented. “Our superpower is an entrepreneurial spirit,” said Ruby Azurdia-Lee, president and CEO of Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES), speaking during the UnidosUS Annual Conference’s closing…
River Market’s iconic ‘Trolley Tom’ reopening with grab-and-go deli menu, specialty cocktails
A new grab-and-go eatery is rolling into River Market, filling a hole left when Donutology shuttered operations inside “Trolley Tom” — the circa 1947 Kansas City streetcar permanently parked at 426 Delaware in the popular retail and entertainment district. Car No. 551 is scheduled to open by mid-September with deli offerings and and drinks by…