empowering entrepreneurs powering the midwest economy
TRANSCRIPT
EMPOWERINGEMPOWERINGENTREPRENEURSENTREPRENEURS
POWERING THEPOWERING THEMIDWEST ECONOMYMIDWEST ECONOMY
It is clear that new and young companies and the entrepreneurs that create them are the engines of job creation and eventual economic recovery.
The Kauffman FoundationWhere Will The Jobs Come From?
Pipeline is an elite organization of world-class entrepreneurs working together to build a sustainable Innovation Ecosystem in the Midwest that sets an example for the nation
DIFFERENCE• Immersion experience• Fellowship• Direction and trajectory• National network• Create investors• Mold leaders• Change communities
HOW• Careful selection• 10-12 entrepreneurs• High-impact businesses • Rigorous testing• Year-long fellowship• Commitment to community• Lifelong membership
TODAY• Transition• Kauffman Foundation• Regional expansion
NETWORKNETWORK
NATIONAL NETWORK• National board of advisors• Exceptional pedigree• Microsoft • Silicon Valley Bank • Building bridges
REGIONAL FOUNDERS• Advent• Ewing Marion
Kauffman Foundation• Grassmere Partners• Home Instead• Jim and Karen Linder
Foundation• Prairie Ventures• Scott Technology
Center• University of
Nebraska
• Regional Sponsors• Microsoft BizSpark• Polsinelli Shugart• Skandalaris Center
for Entrepreneurial Studies at Washington
• UniversitySNR • DentonUPS
PARTNERS• Bioscience & Technology Business
Center at the University of Kansas• Angel Capital Association• Center for Advanced Professional
Studies at Blue Valley High School• Enterprise Center of Johnson
County• Entrepreneurs Exchange• Greater Kansas City Chamber of
Commerce• Invest Nebraska• Womens Capital Connection• Kansas Women’s Business Center• Kauffman Labs• KC Source Link• Guidewire Group
• Mid America Angels• Midwest Venture Alliance• Nebraska Angels• Nebraska Global• NuTech Ventures• Omaha Chamber of Commerce• Silicon Prairie News• Silicon Valley Bank• Startup Weekend• Think Big Partners• Thinking Bigger Business Media• University of Nebraska Medical
Center• Wichita Technology Corporation
ADVISORS• Ali Andalibi
– National Institutes of Health• Washington D.C.
• Tom Churchwell– Midwest Venture Partners
• Chicago, IL
• Alec Dingee– Founder, MIT Venture Mentoring
Service• Cambridge, MA
• Suzette Dutch– Triathlon Medical Ventures
• Cincinnati, OH
• Clare Fairfield– Concerto Advisors
• Iowa City, IA
• Joe Hadzima– Former Chairman MIT Global
Enterprise Forum• Cambridge, MA
• Laura Kilcrease– Triton Ventures
• Austin, TX
• Tom B. Pickens, III – Astrotech
• Austin, TX
• Chris Shipley– GuideWire Group
• San Francisco, CA
• Cliff Reeves– Microsoft Emerging Business
Team• Redmond, WA
• David Wilhelm – Woodland Venture Management
• Columbus, OH
There are a lot of ways to move theeconomic needle in this country, butthe focus on high-growthentrepreneurs like this; this is whereit’s going to get done and this is thereason why we support Pipeline.
Thom RuheThe Kauffman Foundation
POWERFUL IMPACTPOWERFUL IMPACT
JOB GROWTH
Calculated from 2009 Survey data and NETS/Youreconomy.org, 2007-2009 for KS and US
REGIONAL IMPACT• 300 new jobs• 771 total employment • $50M in total wages
DIVERSITYDIVERSITY
DIVERSITY
IT SECTOR
MANUFACTURING
LIFE SCIENCES
EXPANSIONEXPANSION
EXPANSION• Tough economic times • Wichita• Key drivers• Economic transformation • Technology community• Pipeline entrepreneurs:
– Jeremy Jones, – Brian Williamson – Nate Gregory
BRIAN WILLIAMSONBRIAN WILLIAMSON
BRIAN WILLIAMSONJCB Laboratories • $1.5M investment for
facility three times original size
• 93% year over year growth rate
• Hired 12 high wage employees
Quote"Pipeline is a big
advantage to entrepreneurs in Wichita - it immediately connects you with a national network - as well as the rest of the entrepreneurs in Pipeline. If you are striving to build something big – do this. You won't regret it...."
NATE GREGORYNATE GREGORY
NATE GREGORYMoJack Distributors • 40 new jobs in 2013• 500% sales growth in
new market• Ranked 208 on Inc.
500 List in 2012• Customers
– Home Depot– Tractor Supply– Northern Tool
Quote
“As a member of the 2010 class, the knowledge I gained, the relationships I built and the Pipeline network itself continue to help me accelerate the growth of my company.“
JEREMY JONESJEREMY JONES
JEREMY JONESNitride Solutions• Raised $2.5M in equity
since • Won Phase I SBIR
award from National Science Foundation
• Increased head count from 2 to 9 professionals
Quote• “Pipeline was one of
the key reasons that we decided to remain in Wichita, and it is gratifying to see it expand and evolve into a huge asset for the region.”
EXPLOSIVE GROWTHEXPLOSIVE GROWTH
EXPLOSIVE GROWTH• Most businesses start small and stay
small • High growth firms are rare
• Less rare in the Midwest • Nationally recognized • Spawning high-growth firms
REGGIE CHANDRAREGGIE CHANDRA
REGGIE CHANDRARhythm Engineering • 40% employment
growth since 2011, increasing employees to 43
• 38% increase in revenue
• Ranked 2012 Fastest Growing Company in Kansas City
Quote
“Some of the greatest things I’ve taken back from Pipeline are the quality of the peers, and the friendships and networks. It’s not just a one-year program.”
JEFF HARGROVESJEFF HARGROVES
JEFF HARGROVESProPharma Group • Over $30M in revenue
in 2012• 100% increase in
employees from 100 to 200 employees
• 300% increase in revenue and profit since joining Pipeline
Quote"Pipeline helped our
business mature. I realized that no goal is too audacious and no deal is too big to consider. Since Pipeline we have made one very significant acquisition and intend to do more as we continue to accelerate our top and bottom line growth."
JAN SRACKJAN SRACK
JAN SRACKMatrix Electronic Measuring
• Pre-revenue to $1MM in revenue in 2012
• Plant is now producing 10 units per month
• Two patents awarded with two more pending
Quote
"Without Pipeline and the support from mentors and advisors, Matrix would not be where it is today. “
EXITSEXITS
EXITS• The dream• Become investors• New employees• Create winners
TOBY RUSHTOBY RUSH
TOBY RUSHRush Tracking/EyeVerify
• Rush Tracking – – Organic growth from 2 to
25 employees– $1.6M funding raised in 2
rounds– Exited to private equity
• EyeVerify – $1.5M raised in seed
round– Hired 5 Full-Time
Employees; 4 contractors
Quote
“Pipeline has by far the best entrepreneurial network that I have found in the Midwest,”
JASON TATGEJASON TATGE
JASON TATGEFarms Technology • 10,000% increase in
revenue from Pipeline fellowship year to 2012
• Increase employees from 3 to 7
• DPP went mobile in 2011
• Acquired by DuPont in December 2012
Quote
“Going through the program was amazing and now being part of the Pipeline Member network is truly invaluable and will be for life.”
DAVYEON ROSSDAVYEON ROSS
DAVYEON ROSSDigital Sports Ventures
• 9 FTEs and 25 Part-Time employees
• Streaming 1.5M video streams nationwide
• Acquired by Digital Broadcasting Group in New York
Quote
"The connections you get from the Pipeline are going to help you foster relationships for this current business and future businesses to come.”
LEADERSHIPLEADERSHIP
JONI COBB• Founding President and CEO• Drive• Vision• Implementation• Lawyer• Speaker• Leader
MICHAEL BECKLOFF• Chairman of the Board• CEO of Beckloff Associates, Inc., • Life sciences• Leader
MEMBERSMEMBERS
MEMBERS• 60 leaders• Entrepreneurs• Innovative companies • Creating jobs• Investing • Commitment to community• Vibrant innovation ecosystem• Midwest
