CC031: building a network of generous entrepreneurs in the Midwest // a coffee chat with Joni Cobb (Pipeline Entrepreneurs)

Summary: Interview begins: 5:20 Debrief begins: 43:15 Joni Cobb is the founding President and CEO of Pipeline Entrepreneurs. Pipeline is a network of high-performing entrepreneurs who call the Midwest home. Their entrepreneurs and experts give generously of their time, talent and capital so that they can build global businesses from wherever they choose. Pipeline takes zero equity in their Member companies, focusing on the entrepreneur first. Companies led by Pipeline entrepreneurs have generated over $1.39B in revenues, raised over $608M in outside capital, are conducting business in over 85 countries and have created over 2700 jobs. As CEO, Joni has led the development of every aspect of the organization, including the curriculum build-out, pivoting the business model, building a national advisory board, launching an angel investor group, securing multi-state partners and raising over $12M in outside funding. We discuss: - Beginning with law and public policy at the Capitol (5:30) - Transitioning to entrepreneurship (15:55) - What is Pipeline Entrepreneurs (21:57) - Pipeline's process for picking their next entrepreneurs (24:10) - Do other Pipeline-like organizations exist? (28:30) - Initial incentives for the first Pipeline classes (30:58) - Changes in entrepreneurship in the last 13 years (33:10) - Joni Cobb's next moves (39:05) - Plug: Upside 2019 Listener Survey (42:00) Pipeline Entrepreneurs was founded 2006 and based in Kansas City, Missouri. Learn more about Pipeline Entrepreneurs: https://www.pipelineentrepreneurs.com/ Follow upside on Twitter: https://twitter.com/upsidefm Take the listener survey: https://upside.fm/survey -- This episode is sponsored by Integrity Power Search, the #1 full stack high growth startup recruiting firm between the coasts. They partner with venture capitalists, private equity groups and CEOs to build amazing teams for the world’s most disrupting companies. Learn more about or get in touch with Integrity Power Search: https://upside.fm/integrity