Description_ PIPELINE-letterheadjpg Contact_ PIPELINE_ 913307….docVIP

Contact: PIPELINE: 913.307.0004 info@ PIPELINE UNVEILS FIRST REGIONAL CLASS OF INNOVAToRS AND NAMES 2011 “INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR” Evening Also Honored Regional Founders Peter and Kate Brown, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, PIPELINE Alumni and Nebraska Leaders KANSAS CITY, KAN. (Jan. 26, 2012)— The PIPELINE entrepreneurial fellowship program unveiled its first Regional Class of entrepreneurs (“Innovators”) tonight at its capstone event “Innovator of the Year.” The Regional Class of 12 includes entrepreneurs from Kansas City, Wichita, Lincoln, Omaha and St. Louis. The class includes the following high-potential entrepreneurs: Mark Allen, Wichita (Enertech); Pierre Barbeau, Kansas City (Moblico); Nathan Benjamin, Kansas City (InvenQuery/Planet Reuse); John Carpenter, Omaha (BastLab LLC); Miranda Coggins, Kansas City (The Lano Co.); Justin Graves, Kansas City (Infegy); Blake Lawrence, Lincoln (Hurrdat Social Media); Matthew MacEwan, St. Louis (NanoMed LLC/Retectix LLC); Ben Pankonin, Lincoln (Social Assurance); Brandon Shuey, Wichita (FlipH); Xandra Sifuentes, Olathe (Metactive Medical LLC); and, Ben Vu, Omaha (SkyVu Entertainment) PIPELINE also announced its 2011 “Innovator of the Year,” Kyle Johnson, Audio Anywhere, Lawrence. He was selected after a competition that included a refined business plan, a pitch to an expert panel and a score carried over from performance during the fellowship year. The evening event celebrated many milestones: The awarding of PIPELINE’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Awards to it’s Regional Founders: Peter and Kate Brown (Grassmere Foundation); the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, PIPELINE alumni and a Nebraska Coalition of Funders, including the University of Nebraska, Paul Hogan (Home Instead), Scott Technology Center, Rod Markin (Prairie Ventures), David Milligan (Advent) and the Jim and Karen Linder Foundation. Announcement of the PIPELINE Innovator Growth Award to Nate Gregory, MoJack, Wichita. Announcement of the PIPELINE Inno