Tag: Melissa Vincent

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

By Tommy Felts / February 7, 2025

The newest class of Pipeline fellows embodies the elite Midwest network’s founder-first focus on industry-agnostic collaboration and support, said Melissa Vincent, noting the power of tapping barrier-breaking perspectives to solve problems and build world-class companies side by side. “We have an incredible depth of entrepreneurs who are all focused on building high-growth, scalable businesses, but…

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Founder earns Pipeline’s ‘best pitch,’ says network’s lifelong support is the real award

By Tommy Felts / March 1, 2024

Pipeline judges announced Megan O’Rear had the best pitch Thursday, but the Celerity Enterprises founder was left momentarily speechless when they named her winner of the group’s annual showcase and competition. “It just validates coming back to Kansas City,” said O’Rear, who also serves as the startup’s CEO. “Pipeline wants to help everybody that they…

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Pipeline’s new cohorts show ‘power of diversity’; here’s who’s joining the elite entrepreneur network

By Tommy Felts / February 1, 2024

Pipeline’s roster of high-growth Midwest entrepreneurs swelled Thursday as the premier fellowship network officially announced more than two dozen founders joining its 2024 Fellowship and Pathfinder Program. “The selected Fellows and Pathfinders represent the power and impact of diverse companies, leaders and regions being represented in a cohort,” said Vincent, executive director of Pipeline Entrepreneurs.…

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Pipeline gala salutes ‘thriving, ever-evolving’ Midwest startup scene boosted by its fellows

By Tommy Felts / June 16, 2023

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. Melissa Vincent, executive director of Pipeline Entrepreneurs, credited the fellows with fostering a now-thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in…

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The journey can make or break an entrepreneur; Pipeline gala returns June 15 to celebrate connectivity at the intersection

By Tommy Felts / June 6, 2023

Editor’s note: Pipeline Entrepreneurs is a partner of Startland News, though this report was produced independently by the nonprofit newsroom. Pipeline Entrepreneurs’ new era is all about community, said Melissa Vincent, with more than a nod to the resilience needed to sustain a vibrant startup ecosystem. “When you go through the Pipeline program, it becomes…

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