The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE), in the Gatton College of Business and Economics, is excited to announce the Fall 2023 winning startups from the Bootcamp 1.0 online accelerator! Each winning team received prize money to move their ideas forward and help build further momentum into the next phase of their entrepreneurial journeys. The Fall 2023 winning startups are represented by The University of Kentucky Colleges of Engineering, Medicine, Arts & Sciences, Communication & Information, UK Alumni, and Kentucky entrepreneurs based in Lexington. Prize money and initial startup funds are made possible by the generosity of The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship Advisory Board and other donors.
Monday Bootcamp 1.0 Winning Startups
Apollo Automations | $1,000 | Community Entrepreneurs | Lexington, KY
The smart home market is overcrowded with products that follow a one-size-fits-all approach. While these solutions can be effective, they don't always cater to the unique nuances and preferences of individual households. The larger players also struggle to iterate fast enough in the fast-paced tech world. Apollo Automation is a startup business dedicated to customizing home automation hardware and software through community–driven design.
The target market includes tech enthusiasts, modern homeowners, and professionals interested in optimizing their living spaces. By actively engaging with this audience through specialized forums and community management applications Apollo Automations can identify pain points, usability issues, and potential enhancements in real-time. This expedites the product development cycle, allowing us to test multiple product versions to arrive at the most efficient and user-friendly solution faster. This not only ensures a product that's in alignment with current trends and needs but also fosters a sense of collective ownership and trust within the user community.
Apollo Automation is led by Lexington, Kentucky-based entrepreneurs Trevor Schirmer and Julian Favetto.
Team Leader: Trevor Schirmer | trevor.schirmer@gmail.com | LinkedIn
Team Member: Julian Favetto | jfavetto@live.com | LinkedIn
Bourbon Shrooms | $1,000 | University of Kentucky | College of Agriculture
Research from the University of Kentucky Extension campus has shown that Kentucky consumers are increasingly interested in locally produced foods and Kentucky's strong cultural connection to the bourbon/distilling industry make a product branded in this way quite appealing to a growing consumer base.
Stillage is a mixture of grain and malt leftover after distillation processes to, for example, separate ethanol from fermented mash to produce spirits and is present in various forms around the world, especially those with large distillation operations of biological materials (e.g., Kentucky, Scotland, Ireland, Brazil, Japan, China). The most common method for handling stillage is to feed it to animals but expanding markets for distilled spirits alongside contracting markets for livestock creates other uses for this material to avoid environmental problems.
Bourbon Shrooms seeks to transform stillage into gourmet edible mushrooms. The initial target market is projected to include the direct sale of fresh "Bourbon Shroom" mushrooms to restaurants, farmers markets, coops and grocery stores, distillery gift shops, etc. Bluegrass chefs may also find interest in Bourbon Shrooms to celebrate Kentucky culture and pair with bourbon themes common in Kentucky restaurants and bars.
Bourbon Shrooms is led by members from The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.
Team Leader: Tyler Barzee, College of Agriculture, UK Faculty | tjbarzee@uky.edu | LinkedIn
Team Member: Norbert Bokros, College of Agriculture, PhD Candidate | norbert.bokros@uky.edu | LinkedIn
Team Member: Zachary Byrd, College of Agriculture, UK Staff | zac.byrd@uky.edu | LinkedIn
American Solar Recycling Co. | $1,000 | University of Kentucky | College of Engineering
The American Solar Recycling Company (ASRC) is a U.S. electric power industry service company offering end-of-life (EOL) solar photovoltaic (PV) asset management and liability assumption services to electric utilities, merchant solar generators, solar project developers, and the general public. ASRC was founded in 2023 as a subsidiary of Verdant Beneficiated Resources LLC (Verdant), a Kentucky-based critical material extraction, recycling, and industrial byproduct utilization company with a strong track record of developing and commercializing 'resource entropy' mitigating process technologies.
Solar PV capacity is on the rise in the U.S., with installed capacity having surpassed 73 gigawatts (GW) by year-end 2022. In 2023 and beyond, new solar installations are estimated to represent greater than 50% of added electric generating capacity, annually. Ever-increasing quantities are discarded each year, with few options available for recycling. In addition to modules approaching the end of their 20-year service lives, tens of thousands of modules are damaged by severe weather events, annually.
ASRC is commercializing a first-of-its-kind, U.S. designed, manufactured, and operated solar PV module recycling process technology. ASRC's patent-pending PV recycling technology recovers 98% of the material value contained in an EOL solar PV module, reintegrating these materials into U.S. high-technology
supply chains, while diverting all hazard-bearing waste from landfills – at costs lower than landfilling. American Solar Recycling Company's PV recycling technology will transform the U.S. solar power industry, ensuring that solar technology once made abroad can be proudly re-made in America.
The American Solar Recycling Company is led by The University of Kentucky College of Engineering.
Team Leader: Zebulon Hart, College of Engineering, UK Staff | zhart@verdantbr.com | LinkedIn
DAMB | $1,000 | University of Kentucky | UK Alumni + College of Communication & Information
Today’s world of dating apps is flooded with many options, but often misses the mark of making meaningful matches based on interests. Many dating apps are not built around facilitating user interaction. Dating Apps Made Better (DAMB) is an innovative dating app based around posting and swiping on the interest of date spots, which generates revenue by promoting the businesses location as a premier meet up and dating venue.
The average user of tinder requires 24,500 right swipes before a single successful date. Users are unaware of other users’ intentions. When users communicate what type of date they desire on the front end, communication is transparent and authentic. DAMB is based around posting and swiping on dates that interest users. Users can browse through interesting dates and find dates to any events (festivals, formals, dances, restaurants, concerts).
DAMB seeks to earn revenue the same way as typical dating apps, using a freemium model offering basic features to all users and selling a premium membership, our structure allows us an interesting alternative form of revenue. Since users are posting the dates that they are interested in going on, DAMB can also monetize the date by having restaurants, festivals, bowling alleys, etc. pay to promote their location as a recommended date spot.
DAMB is led by members that are UK alumni and a current student enrolled in UK’s College of Communication and Information.
Company website: dambapp.com
Team Leader: William Burroughs, UK Alum | willcburroughs@gmail.com | LinkedIn
Team Member: Kane Shwarz, College of Communication & Information | krsc247@uky.edu | LinkedIn
Earthwise LLC | $1,000 | University of Kentucky | College of Engineering + College of Communication & Information
Earthwise LLC is a technology company that focuses on solving world problems mankind faces in the greenest way possible. Our products aim to help preserve the environment and save animals with sustainable products that include a reverse vending machine, barcode scanner, and compost machines.
The first product in the Earthwise line will consist of a reverse vending machine that will sort cans, glass, and plastic bottles, making the recycling process faster, thus contributing to a cleaner environment. A rewards program will also be developed to encourage participation.
The second product is the Earthwise barcode scanner. In conjunction with the reverse vending machine, the barcode reader will help sort and specify various waste products.
Lastly, the Earthwise compost machine will be developed to convert waste into manure. This manure will be produced in a faster and in a more convenient way that can be used by local restaurants, hotels, or homeowners.
Earthwise LLC is led by members from the University of Kentucky Colleges of Engineering and Communication & Information.
Team Leader: Isfandiyar Eminli, College of Engineering | isfandiyar.eminli@gmail.com | LinkedIn
Team Member: William Wiskoski, College of Communication & Information | wkwi223@uky.edu | LinkedIn
Built Battery | $500 (Director’s Award) | University of Kentucky | College of Engineering
Built Battery is a novel concept that seeks to create a 12-volt battery by adding battery modules to increase the battery's strength for any specific application. This method will also limit battery waste since the entire battery will not be disposed and can be fixed by replacing a bad module. The vision for this unique battery will be used in solar and self-powering home systems of the future.
Built Battery is led by University of Kentucky College of Engineering graduate student, Darren Tosh.
Team Leader: Darren Tosh, College of Engineering | darren.tosh@uky.edu | LinkedIn
Thursday Bootcamp 1.0 Winning Startups
Complet3D | $1,800 | Community Entrepreneur | Lexington, KY
In the realm of creativity, we stand as the enabler of dreams realized. Our holistic approach to 3D printing – encompassing leasing, sales, maintenance, service, and education – propels us beyond the conventional boundaries of a startup. Through workshops, training sessions, and online resources, Complet3D empowers creators with the insights and expertise needed to unlock the full potential of 3D printing.
Current contracts include the University of Kentucky Neurosurgery team, in which services are being utilized to develop 3D printing to produce pre-surgery models. These pre-surgery models provide added value to surgeons to better understand patient care and needs prior to surgery. This results in higher quality outcomes for the patient and the operating team.
Scalability plans include implementing K-12 courses. Comple3D is already with the ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) Mentor group at Lafayette High School, as well as the Engineering courses at Henry Clay. Additionally, we are members of the Grant County Career and Technology Center-Information Technology Advisory Committee. In addition, our services will grow to include the areas of Eastern Kentucky, which desperately need access to STEM programs and learning opportunities.
Complet3D is led by Lexington, Kentucky entrepreneur, Eric Sparks.
Team Leader: Eric Sparks | Eric@Complet3D.com | LinkedIn
R.A.M. Medical Device Co. | $1,200 | University of Kentucky | College of Engineering
Patients who have suffered from a stroke or spinal cord injury often have impaired function in the upper limbs. This impaired motor function in the hands can severely hinder the patient’s ability to participate in activities of daily living. Current clinical functional tests (e.g., Fugl-Meyer Assessment) usually provide coarse composite scores based on several activities; moreover, they are time-consuming and require clinical experience to administer. To provide a more reliable solution, there is a need for convenient devices to provide a comprehensive assessment of these impaired hands.
R.A.M. Medical Device Co. seeks to develop a series of these medical devices under its umbrella. The first product being a sensor glove to track hand movement and applied pressure accurately and objectively for functional assessment in stroke patients. Currently, two prototypes have been produced and a third version of the glove is in development. Further validation studies with neuro-typical human participants are underway.
R.A.M. Medical Device Co. is led by Madison Bates and is a University of Kentucky PhD Candidate in the Biomedical Engineering Department within the College of Engineering.
Co-Founder / Team Leader: Madison Bates, College of Engineering | mlba283@uky.edu | LinkedIn
Co-Founder / Principle Investigator (PI): Sridhar Sunderam, PhD, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Biomedical Engineering, Department within the College of Engineering
Hear Me Out | $800 | University of Kentucky | College of Arts & Sciences
Loneliness is a global epidemic that has been on the rise since the Covid-19 pandemic. In particular, international students were impacted by long distances from being isolated from their family, friends, culture, and native languages. Though zoom and other online portals are available, challenges of timing and varying time zones create barriers to access loved ones when something immediate arises. In addition, mental health services such as therapy are not always available, affordable, or can be easily accessed.
Hear Me Out is a new app that will allow users to access professional “listeners” that provide listening services. The business model will be set up such that the first 10 minutes are free, with the next option to pay for a full subscription of hourly to weekly packages. The goal of this app is to help people struggling with isolation and need a listening ear.
Bhamiti Sharma is a University of Kentucky research assistant in the College of Arts and Sciences, seeking her PhD in Physics.
Team Leader: Bhamiti Sharma, College of Arts & Sciences | bsh275@uky.edu | LinkedIn
NanoMed Adaptive Technologies | $700 | University of Kentucky | College of Engineering
NanoMed Adaptive Technologies is developing a skin patch that will deliver drugs in a more efficient way using a novel design that will assist patients suffering with inflammation. This tunable system would have the potential of delivering FDA approved drugs to the compromised sites topically and transdermally. The advantageous characteristics and selective interactions of this patch will facilitate controlled drug release into deeper cutaneous regions without entering dense vasculature. Additionally, the post-treatment effects of the drug will still be evident for a couple of days without requiring continuous application, which will reduce the potential for skin reactions.
The market size of transdermal patches, in terms of revenue, is estimated to be $8.24 billion in 2022, with a projected CAGR of 4% from 2023 to 2028. Transdermal patches offer an efficient means of drug delivery through the skin to specific areas of interest. Their advantages include improved therapeutic bioavailability, reduced invasiveness, and lower systemic toxicity. However, there are currently limitations associated with these patches, primarily centered around their limited clinical translation, as most patches remain in the preclinical stages.
Looking ahead, NanoMed Adaptive Technologies seeks to pioneer the intersection of nanotechnology and medicine. The dream is to have a startup company that is dedicated to the promise of offering one platform that can be adaptive enough to deliver various drugs based on the disease mechanism.
NanoMed Adaptive Technologies is led by Maame Abena O. Afrifa, a University of Kentucky PhD Candidate in the Biomedical Engineering Department, College of Engineering.
Co-Founder / Team Leader: Maame Abena Oforiwaa Afrifa | maame.afrifa@uky.edu | LinkedIn
Co-Founder / Principle Investigator (PI): Samuel Awuah, Ph.D., Associate Professor in Chemistry and Adjunct in Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Markey Cancer Center
Kavya Pipette | $500 | University of Kentucky | College of Medicine
Almost all biology and many of the chemistry labs use numerous different pipettes to work with liquids for their precise volume measurements. A common problem scientists face is to continuously keep adjusting the volume to draw a specific volume of the liquid. Companies do make electronic pipettes to make the job easy but manual programming is still required, which is very cumbersome to handle on a small screen. These processes are repeated ranging from 1 to 1000s of time depending on the experiment or work.
Kavya Pipette seeks to solve this problem by developing pipettes with a voice command with Bluetooth function that can listen to the command and change the volume instantly.
The value of developing this novel pipette will save time for researchers working in laboratories, as well as other occupations such as pathological laboratories.
Kavya Pipette is led by University of Kentucky staff member, Hemendra Vekaria, in the College of Medicine.
Team Leader: Hemendra Vekaria | hemendravekaria@uky.edu |LinkedIn