High-Tech Kentucky Businesses Awarded $2.18 Million in SBIR/STTR Match Funding

Ten high-tech Kentucky companies will receive $2.18 million in state matching funds to promote growth and job creation in high-paying research and technological fields, from disease research to water treatment. The Kentucky grants match in part the recently announced $5.1 million in federal grants the businesses will collectively receive. [ read more ]

This Lexington business creates software to help bring order to information

Randall Stevens is the founder of a Lexington-based company, ArchVision. Now, he’s rolling out a new endeavor called AVAIL, software designed to make life easier, more efficient, less costly, and even safer for architects, engineers, and construction contractors. He talked about it with Tom Martin. [ read more ]

The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) is proud to announce the graduation of 25 teams from the Fall 2018 Entrepreneurs Bootcamp program

These teams have worked hard at pursuing their business ideas and going through the stages of customer discovery. It has been a long journey for these entrepreneurs, and we are very excited to see them complete this 14-week long intensive program. [ read more ]

SPARK recognizes entrepreneurial community for creating 287 jobs and raising $107.5M in investment

SPARK, a Bluegrass Business Development Partnership (BBDP) initiative, held its annual entrepreneurial celebration and announced that the Central Kentucky entrepreneurial community created 287 new jobs and raised $107.5 million in capital funds in Fiscal Year 2018. [ read more ]

Lumenari Raises $3M in Series A Funding

Lumenari, a Lexington, Ky.-based leader in narrow-bandwidth LED phosphors for LCD display backlighting applications, closed a $3m Series A funding. The round was led by TJ Rodgers, Jeremy Blank, Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund and Hanover Partners. [ read more ]

UK’s Von Allmen Center to Host Business Guru Todd Henry Aug. 30

The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship, part of University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics, will host noted author and speaker Todd Henry on Thursday, Aug. 30, in the college’s Woodward Hall, Room 307. The event begins 11:30 a.m. and is scheduled to last until 1:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Seating is limited and RSVP is required. [ read more ]

This Week On The Business Side: UK Von Allmen Center's Entrepreneurs' Boot Camp

WUKY's Alan Lytle talks with Warren Nash Executive Director of the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Kentucky, and Mariam Gorjian, new Ventures Manager with the Center. Their 2018 Entrepreneurs' Boot Camp kicks off on August 30th. [ read more ]

UK Researcher Wins $1,000 for Her Startup Company

University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center researcher Janelle Molloy recently took home the top prize of $1,000 for her early stage startup company, Wild Dog Physics LLC, at the 5Across pitch event. The event was co-sponsored by Alltech and Awesome Inc. and held at the Alltech Distillery as a part of Lexington Entrepreneurship Day, with Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton participating as a member of the judging panel. [ read more ]

Kentucky-based CBD company awarded Bluegrass Angels launch grant

Anavii Market, an online retailer that verifies and sells hemp-derived CBD products, has been awarded a $4,000 grant from the Bluegrass Angels’ (BGA) Launch Grant Fund. The BGA Launch Grant Fund provides financial grants and mentorship support from a local angel investor to early-stage, high growth potential startup companies. [ read more ]

Boldly Going Where No Plant Has Gone Before

Chase Kempinski, and Joe Chappell are part of a project seeking to determine the potential medicinal benefits of sending plants to space. [ read more ]