Pipeline recognizes the Innovator of The Year, announces 2017 class
January 27, 2017 | Meghan LeVota
St. Louis entrepreneur Michelle Faits was dubbed Pipeline Entrepreneurs’ Innovator of the Year at last night’s culminating event, The Innovators.
Faits is the founder of Pro-Arc Diagnostics — a medical startup that is developing a next-generation laboratory test for patients at risk of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) which is caused by the John Cunningham Virus. The JC virus is responsible for thousands of deaths each year.
Founded in 2006, Pipeline is a fellowship program cultivating a network of high-growth entrepreneurs in the Midwest, including those from Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. The Innovator of the Year was presented at its annual gala, the Innovators, which this year celebrated Pipeline’s 10th anniversary and recognized its 2016 fellowship class.
“I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate our past decade, and launch our next, than recognizing the outstanding growth and contributions of our own entrepreneurs,” said Pipeline CEO Joni Cobb in a release. “This day and night has always been my favorite way to express the tremendous gratitude we all feel for our many partners who have helped us reach this amazing decade milestone.”
The Innovator of the Year award was decided by three components: presentations made during the Innovators daytime competition, the firm’s business plan and a cumulative score of the performance at each Pipeline module.
In addition to the Innovator of the Year award, Pipeline awarded three other entrepreneurs — all of which are from Kansas City. Founder of Silvergate Pharmaceuticals Michael Beckloff was awarded the entrepreneurial leadership award. SoftVu founder Tim Donnelly with Member Inspiration Award. EyeVerify co-founder Toby Rush and ProPharma Group founder Jeff Hargroves shared the Member Growth award.
Sarah Mirth, Pipeline class of 2016, was recognized as having the best pitch after fellows presented their firm’s earlier in the day at the Alamo Drafthouse. Mirth is the founder of St. Louis-based ARTIFOX which offers customers minimalist, functional furniture designs.
At the event, Pipeline also announced its 2017 fellowship class:
- Iyad Aldalooj, Fairshop, Omaha
- Jared Bakewell, Proseeds, Omaha
- Austin Barone, Just Play Sports Solutions, Kansas City
- Dan Curran, PowerPost, St. Louis
- Joe Fischer, Greetabl, St. Louis
- Beth Handrigan, Lean Media, St. Louis
- Evan Luxon, Esculon, Omaha
- Jennifer Rosenblatt, MusicSpoke, Kansas City
- Roy Scott, H3 Enterprise, Kansas City
- Lei Shi, UAVradars, Lawrence
- Derek Weber, goBRANDgo!, St. Louis
- Elisha Yaghmai, Vigilas Telehealth, Wichita
Featured Business
2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
KC Tech Council celebrates tax fix in Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ that boosts growing businesses
A tax fix included in the recently signed “One Big Beautiful Bill” — sprawling legislation meant to overhaul taxes in the United States — marks a major win for Kansas City’s tech and innovation economy, said Kara Lowe. At issue: a long-awaited change to Section 174 research and development expensing that now allows businesses to…
Crossroads distillery asks KC to make a toast in honor of founder lost in weekend motorcycle wreck
Update: A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to support the family of the late Jeff Evans. Click here to learn more or to donate. [divide] With doors temporarily closed early this week (July 21-22) to mourn the loss of co-founder Jeff Evans, the team behind Mean Mule Distilling is asking its community to “grieve with…
KC govtech startup: You shouldn’t have to know how local government works to get answers (or make impact)
Even a ripple can make waves, said Mitch Mabrey, an exited cleantech founder whose new cause finds him on a mission to ensure that the voices of residents from all walks of life are more broadly heard — and answered — by their government officials. Resonus, his Kansas City-based political information platform is designed to…