Pipeline Entrepreneurs’ Innovator of the Year gala is known for sell-out crowds, and this year will be no exception when a capacity black-tie throng will be on hand for dinner, awards and live entertainment. It all starts with a networking reception at 6 p.m. on Jan. 23 at the Midland Theater, 1228 Main.

Those who don’t have a ticket to the evening shindig can still register to attend the daytime entrepreneurial pitch competition for the Innovator of the Year Award, the high point of Pipeline’s yearlong entrepreneurial fellowship, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 23 at the Extreme Screen at Union Station Kansas City, 30 W. Pershing.

At the daytime competition, Pipeline Entrepreneurs’ 2013 Fellows will pitch their companies to a VIP panel of judges: Rahul Sood, general manager of Microsoft Ventures, Amos Winbush III, founder and CEO of CyberSynchs and Dan Janiak of Mercury Fund.

At 4 p.m., the judges will take the stage for what is being billed as an “extremely cool” chat.

“Each year our panel of judges brings new excitement and new connections for our entire membership of entrepreneurs,” Joni Cobb, president and CEO of Pipeline, said in a release. “This year we are proud to have such an esteemed panel once again and look forward to sharing with them the Midwest’s fastest growing family of high impact entrepreneurs.”

To register for the daytime competition, email info@pipelineentrepreneurs.com.

For more information about Pipeline Entrepreneurs’ Innovator of the Year, go to pipelineentrepreneurs.com/ioty.