Pipeline has just received a major funding boost from the Kauffman Foundation: a three-year, $1.435 million challenge grant.
Formed in 2006, the Pipeline Entrepreneurial Fellowship works with high-potential entrepreneurs from Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. It exposes them to a year’s worth of training and mentoring to help them rapidly scale their companies to new levels.
This new challenge grant will allow Pipeline to keep improving its programming, including for its alumni. The initial fellowship lasts one year, but the organization has built a large network of “continuing members” who support it.
Pipeline, which is based in Kansas City, also will look at whether it should expand its boundaries and accept entrepreneurs from outside its current service area.
“This grant comes at an extremely pivotal time in Pipeline’s history,” said Joni Cobb, Pipeline president and CEO. “To now be able to put real muscle into the support we give our long-term members is the day we have all been waiting for. We can’t wait to get to work and find partners who are as excited as we are to play a part in our growth.”
Kauffman, Pipeline Share a History
The Kauffman Foundation has been a key supporter of Pipeline. Three years ago, Pipeline received another challenge grant from Kauffman that helped the program grow from a Kansas-only program to include fellows from Nebraska and Missouri.
“As a member of the charter class, I can tell you that this is an absolute game changer,” said Tim Donnelly, president and CEO of SoftVu. “The Kauffman Foundation has once again stepped up after seeing huge potential in what we are building in Pipeline. I know I speak for all of our entrepreneurs when I say we are more excited than ever at the potential of Pipeline and our work in the Midwest.”
