Pipeline Fellowship Program Selected 5 Nebraska Entrepreneurs

The 2013 fellows of the Pipeline Entrepreneur Fellowship program have been selected, and five Nebraska entrepreneurs are among the 13 who made the cut.

The Nebraska entrepreneurs who were chosen are: Paul Jarrett of Bulu Box, a vitamin supplement company; Ben Blecha of Ace Ortho Solutions, an animal rehabilitation company; Leandro Castro of MultiMech, materials selection software for engineers; Matt Medlock of PaySAFE, a company that offers secure online trading; and Rob Rhodes of InjuReplay, an interactive sports injury education company.

The Pipeline Fellowship is a non-profit organization focused on helping established entrepreneurs from the Midwest expand their knowledge and develop new entrepreneurial ideas.

Every year about a dozen entrepreneurial leaders are chosen to be a part of the fellowship.

Jarrett and the other fellows will go through a year-long business leadership development program that includes participating in workshop modules and opportunities to network with new and current Pipeline members.

Founded in 2006, the program has helped to create an entrepreneurial network that allows entrepreneurs to work together in tackling the challenges of leading a business. By building more skills, these entrepreneurs will be able to invest and grow their already successful companies and create new ones in the future.

Blecha, owner of Ace Ortho Solutions, said: “Pipeline has a unique way of teaching business leadership skills. I’m very excited about the learning process and bringing that skill set back to Southwest Nebraska to build on our local economy.”

Blecha said he looks forward to learning new experiences in the fellowship program with other Midwestern entrepreneurs.

“Career-wise, getting into the Pipeline program is my proudest achievement. It’s not often you see Benkelman, Nebraska, used in the same article as St. Louis, Kansas City or Omaha,” Blecha added.

Joni Cobb, president and CEO of Pipeline, said the program is unique because it focuses on the actual leader of a company: the entrepreneur.

Jarrett said he is humbled by the opportunity to be included in this year’s group of fellows.

“Just to collaborate with successful people, and be immersed for an entire year, and to be a part of the fellowship, in this community of people — I’m honored to be a part of it,” Jarrett said.

Jarrett said the Pipeline fellowship means more than just helping his own company, but helping companies all over Lincoln benefit and grow.

“I’m excited to be a part of it because we can help build this kind of entrepreneurial community in Lincoln,” Jarrett said.  “Just being a part of a start-up community in Lincoln and having Pipeline educate members, and us then spread the knowledge throughout, that’s really what it’s about for me.”