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The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE), in the Gatton College of Business and Economics, is excited to announce the Spring 2025 winning startups! Each winning team received prize money to move their ideas forward and help build further momentum into the next phase of their entrepreneurial journeys. Congratulations to all the founders that represent the University of Kentucky, the local entrepreneurial community, and surrounding counties across the state of Kentucky!
Lexington, KY – On Tuesday, April 16, 2025, student entrepreneurs from the University of Kentucky, Transylvania University, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, and Fayette County Public Schools presented their innovative ideas at the 250LEX Entrepreneurial Showdown at the Transylvania University Campus Center.
Press Release, Office of Mayor Linda Gorton (April 8, 2025) - Entrepreneurial teams from the University of Kentucky, Fayette County Public Schools, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, and Transylvania University will compete for cash prizes during the April 16 Entrepreneurial Showdown presented by 250Lex and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky.
The 20th Annual Clinical Center for Translational Science (CCTS) Spring Conference was held on April 1, 2025 in the Central Bank Center. The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) in the Gatton College of Business and Economics hosted its 8th annual 1-minute poster pitch competition. This year's conference theme is "Pioneering Pathways: Innovative Trial Design in Translational Science."
Lexington, KY (March 26, 2025) – The University of Kentucky's Gatton College of Business hosted the PNC Innovation Summit, organized in partnership with the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship. The event on March 26th proved to be a resounding success, fostering connections, sparking innovative ideas, and highlighting the vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem thriving in the Bluegrass region.
On March 1, 2025, the Governor's School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) Collegiate Pitch competition showcased the innovative talent emerging from Kentucky's universities, with University of Kentucky (UK) Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) Bootcamp teams making a notable impression. VACE played a key role in preparing the Bootcamp teams for the competition. Five Bootcamp startups were selected to compete in the 2025 GSE Collegiate Pitch: DocAI, PRLZ Extracts, RAM Devices, NeuroVista, and HandyHat.
Startup Runway turns the funding gap faced by founders into an onramp. Finalists have had rounds led by firms from Canaan Partners to Microsoft, Techstars, Valor, Floodgate and more. Investor introductions helps promising founders meet first investors. This exclusive program creates relationships with angels and VCs that make a significant difference in how fast startups get funded.
The PNC Wildcat Pitch Competition is open to all University of Kentucky students from all majors across campus. Teams will pitch a business plan in their division, undergraduate or graduate (including PhD candidates), to compete for prize money. Student teams are encouraged to perform their best pitch to a panel of prestigious judges for a chance to win seed money for their startup ventures! A total of $20,000 in prize money has been generously sponsored by PNC Bank.
It's exciting to delve into the intersection of entrepreneurial development across continents as North-West University (NWU) in South Africa visited the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship at the Gatton College of Business & Economics. Universities are evolving beyond academic learning and becoming “dynamic hubs of innovation and entrepreneurship”, according to Professor Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka, vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU).
Bullard, a long-standing Kentucky-based company with a rich history of innovation, is deepening its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship within the Gatton College of Business & Economics and The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship. Bullard's involvement extends to supporting the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship, which plays a crucial role in nurturing aspiring entrepreneurs at the University of Kentucky and throughout the Commonwealth.
The Gatton College of Business and Economics is pleased to announce its continued collaboration with PNC Bank to present the 2025 PNC Innovation Summit, “Funding Innovation – The Art of Startup Fundraising,” on March 26th and the PNC Wildcat Pitch Competition on April 26th. Now in its fifth year, the PNC Innovation Summit provides UK students with insights into the startup arena and real-world challenges unique to early-stage organizations, while delivering opportunities for attendees to learn from and connect with distinguished business leaders and alumni.
The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship is excited to share some big news: GSE has selected five Bootcamp startups to compete in the 2025 Collegiate Pitch at Thomas Moore University on March 1st!
The University of Kentucky Entrepreneurship Club is finishing the year off strong with two main events in March and April! Come to the Scaling a Startup & Startup Leadership Workshop on March 6th, where you can learn to navigate a startup team from a panel of local entrepreneurs!
Pitch your business idea in a low-stakes environment on April 17th and receive feedback on presentation and proposal!
The 20th Annual Clinical Center for Translational Science (CCTS) Spring Conference will be held on April 1, 2025 in the Central Bank Center (in-person). The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) in the Gatton College of Business and Economics hosts its 8th annual 1-minute poster pitch competition. This year's conference theme is "Pioneering Pathways: Innovative Trial Design in Translational Science."
The University of Kentucky’s Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) at the Gatton College of Business & Economics have joined forces with Lindsey Wilson College, located in Columbia, KY, to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit in students seeking to start businesses in the Bluegrass. This collaboration began in 2021, combining the expertise of both institutions to assist and educate future founders across the state through the Entrepreneurs Bootcamp Online Accelerator, offered through VACE.
(Nashville, TN) - The 2025 Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) is the premier global competition for students who own and operate a business while attending college or university. Nominees compete against their peers from around the world in a series of local and national competitions in the hope of qualifying for the Global Finals.
(Nashville, TN) - This year’s competition is being held in Nashville, Tennessee at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center on January 23r and 24th respectively. The University of Kentucky will be represented by three student teams that have been led and coached by The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) in the Gatton College of Business & Economics. Each of these teams are graduates of VACE’s online Bootcamp Accelerator, where they won top awards and early-stage capital for their startups. Below is a summary of the teams and their founders. The 2025 G
Ever wondered what happens after completing the Entrepreneurs Bootcamp? The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship is excited to continue our series, "Bootcamp Accelerator Startups: Where are They Now?" The Spring 2025 webinar series showcases alumni founders who have gone on to achieve significant milestones, including competing in pitch competitions and securing funding for their ventures. Join us to hear their inspiring stories and gain valuable insights. Open to students, staff, faculty, and community entrepreneurs.
Lexington, KY (Jan. 2025) - Warren and Janet Nash, longtime residents of Danville, Kentucky, have generously donated over $20,000 to the University of Kentucky’s Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship in the Gatton College of Business & Economics.
The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) is proud to announce the top winning startups of the Fall 2024 Bootcamp 1.0 online Business Accelerator! Founders in the Monday and Thursday sections of the accelerator are represented by entrepreneurs from colleges across The University of Kentucky, local entrepreneurs in the community, as well as faculty, staff, and students throughout the Bluegrass. Bootcamp is made available to any Kentucky entrepreneur seeking to start a business for the first time in a virtual learning environment that provides an entire semester of entrepreneurial tr
On Nov. 7, 2024, the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at the University of Mississippi hosted the “Servin’ the South” Business Model Competition. CIE empowers students to create innovative businesses through top-tier education, experiential learning, and renowned research. Offering major and minor entrepreneurship programs, CIE has supported over 65 student ventures, advised more than 838 students, and seen 535 student teams participate in business competitions since 2018.
The University of Kentucky Entrepreneurship Club hosted their Startup Pitch Competition on Thursday, November 14th at 5PM in Woodward Hall, Gatton College of Business & Economics. The event featured 6 participants with 5 judges compiled of local entrepreneurs and leaders. A prize pool of $1,000 was awarded by the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) to fund 3 winners.
Lexington, KY – On October 18, 2024, Destin George Bell appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank Season 16 premiere to pitch his company, Card.io. Destin is a native of Louisville, Kentucky and graduate from the Gatton College of Business and Economics at the University of Kentucky (UK). He received his undergraduate degree in marketing and pursued an entrepreneurial pathway as soon as he could.
The Entrepreneurship Club (aka eClub) is thrilled to announce their upcoming event: a pitch competition where entrepreneurs at The University of Kentucky can showcase their businesses and compete for a cash prize. This pitch competition will take place at the Gatton College of Business & Economics on November 14th at 5pm. This competition is generously sponsored by The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship. All interested participants must follow the rules and guidelines below.
Knoxville, TN - The Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, housed in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business, host the 2024 SEC Student Pitch Competition on October 17, 2024.
The Governor's School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) Summer Startup program is now accepting applications for summer 2025. Deadline for submission is Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
Through its Collegiate Pitch competition, The Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) encourages innovation and entrepreneurship by engaging students from Kentucky’s colleges and universities with an opportunity to develop and pursue their business ideas. The competition rewards Business Models judged by an independent panel as the most innovative and complete, and the most likely to result in successful ventures that create new jobs for Kentuckians.
Fall 2024 Webinar Series featuring “Bootcamp Accelerator Startups: Where Are They Now” - This fall semester, The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship in the Gatton College of Business and Economics, is hosting four webinars featuring startups that completed the Entrepreneurs Bootcamp online business accelerator.
July 2024 (Lexington, KY) - GSE Summer Startup Program concluded our 11th year, and what a terrific ride it’s been! This summer, we not only celebrated another fantastic season but also hit a major milestone—1,000 graduates! That’s right, with this summer’s amazing groups, our GSE Summer Startup family has grown to more than 1,000 innovative and resilient Es, and we couldn’t be more proud.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 1, 2024) — When Ethan Jackson decided to pursue the Innovation and Entrepreneurial Thinking (iNET) certificate, he didn’t know the long-term impact that the program would have on his professional development.
The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE), in the Gatton College of Business and Economics, is excited to announce the Spring 2024 winning startups! Each winning team received prize money to move their ideas forward and help build further momentum into the next phase of their entrepreneurial journeys. Congratulations to all the founders that represent the University of Kentucky and surrounding counties across the state!
Lexington, KY - On April 20, PNC Bank and the Gatton College of Business and Economics’ Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship presented the PNC Wildcat Pitch Competition, during which University of Kentucky graduate and undergraduate students competed for cash prizes totaling $20,000. This event gave students the opportunity to build their entrepreneurial skills and share ideas for ground-breaking products and services.
The 19th Annual Clinical Center for Translational Science (CCTS) Spring Conference was held on April 9, 2024 at the Central Bank Center in downtown Lexington, Kentucky . The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) in the Gatton College of Business and Economics hosted its 7th annual 1-minute research poster pitch competition.
The University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics, Kentucky’s flagship business college, and in collaboration with PNC Bank, hosted the 2024 PNC Innovation Summit, “The State of Generative AI,” on March 20, 2024.
This year’s keynote was presented by Sarah Sanders, co-founder of Native AI and vice chair of the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship.
The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship, in the Gatton College of Business Economics, is proud to announce that two University of Kentucky startups participating in the Entrepreneurs Bootcamp 2.0 Online Business Accelerator placed 1st and 3rd respectively in the 2024 GSE Collegiate Pitch!
The PNC Wildcat Pitch Competition is open to all University of Kentucky students from all majors across campus. Teams will pitch a business plan in their division, undergraduate or graduate (including PhD candidates), to compete for prize money. Student teams are encouraged to perform their best pitch to a panel of prestigious judges for a chance to win seed money for their startup ventures! A total of $20,000 in prize money has been generously sponsored by PNC Bank. The competition will take place on Saturday, April 20, 2024 in the Gatton College of Business.
The University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics, Kentucky’s flagship business college, is pleased to announce its collaboration with PNC Bank to host the 2024 PNC Innovation Summit, “The State of Generative AI,” March 20, 2024.This year’s keynote will be presented by Sarah Sanders, co-founder of Native AI and vice chair of the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship.
The 19th Annual Clinical Center for Translational Science (CCTS) Spring Conference will be held on April 9, 2024 in the Central Bank Center (in-person). The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) in the Gatton College of Business and Economics hosts its 7th annual 1-minute poster pitch competition.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – From online applications to on-campus experiences, exciting developments are underway with the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) and its Summer Startup program for Kentucky high school students. Online applications for the 2024 class are now open until January 22, 2024. GSE’s new website includes an improved application interface at kentuckygse.com. All Kentucky 9th, 10th and 11th graders interested in entrepreneurship are encouraged to apply. GSE does not consider grade point averages or test scores in its application.
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
Governor's School for Entrepreneurs Collegiate Pitch Competition! Compete for Funds to Pursue Your Dreams! Through its Collegiate Pitch competition, The Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) encourages innovation and entrepreneurship by engaging students from Kentucky’s colleges and universities with an opportunity to develop and pursue their business ideas. The competition rewards business models judged by an independent panel as the most innovative and complete, and the most likely to result in successful ventures that create new jobs for Kentuckians.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 21, 2023) — The University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information (CI) and the Gatton College of Business and Economics are excited to announce collaborative initiatives related to entrepreneurial thinking.
CI is home to the Innovation Network for Entrepreneurial Thinking (iNet) certificate. This multidisciplinary certificate is geared towards students interested in an academic and entrepreneurial pathway at UK.
The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship and the Gatton College of Business and Economics at the University of Kentucky is excited to announce open enrollment for the Fall 2023 Entrepreneurs Bootcamp 1.0: an online accelerator, designed to assess and validate the feasibility of a business concept, create a business model and provide hands-on experience for entrepreneurs seeking to launch a startup for the first time in the state of Kentucky.
The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE), in the Gatton College of Business & Economics, is proud to announce 16 winning early-stage startups that graduated from The Spring 2023 Entrepreneurs Bootcamp Online Accelerator Program! Congratulations to both sections for completing Bootcamp 2.0 and 1.0, while earning early stage capital to catapult their ventures!
Congratulations to Entrepreneurs Bootcamp alum, Katarina Midelfort, for winning first place and $15,000 in developed business track of the KY Pitch competition! In addition, Katarina placed second in the "Startup Storyteller" video competition, winning $500. The KY Pitch competition is designed to inspire our innovators and entrepreneurs by providing an inclusive platform for our future leaders to develop and pursue their ideas.
The 18th Annual Spring Conference of UK Center for Clinical and Translational Science, held March 27, drew nearly 1,000 participants. Clinicians, researchers, trainees, undergraduates, high school students, and community partners gathered to share research and foster collaborations. The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship hosts its 6th annual poster pitch competition during the conference.
Destin George Bell was fresh out of college when he conceived the idea for Card.io, a movement app taking boring cardio and transforms it into a fun and social game of team turf war. Inspired by his athletic career, Destin came up with a brilliant idea to solve the biggest problems anyone faces when trying to accomplish their fitness goals — motivation and consistency.
A University of Kentucky alum is using the skills he learned in the classroom to give back to veterans. Camron Brown, a first-generation college graduate, graduated from UK in 2020 and is quickly making a name for himself in the professional world. In 2021 Brown was named to Forbes’ Next 1,000 list which shines a light on up-and-coming entrepreneurs.
The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship in the Gatton College of Business & Economics is excited to partner with the College of Communication and Information for this informative lunch and learn event.
The PNC Wildcat Pitch Competition will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023 in the Gatton College of Business & Economics. This full day competition will allow student teams to pitch a business plan in their division, undergraduate or graduate, to compete for a spot in the final round. Perform your best pitch for a panel of prestigious judges for a chance to win seed money. $20,000 is up for grabs. Contact Warren Nash for all questions and application forms: warren.nash@uky.edu
The Gatton College of Business and Economics is pleased to announce its continued collaboration with PNC Bank to host the 2023 PNC Innovation Summit, a two-day event that includes the PNC Innovation Conference and PNC Wildcat Pitch Competition, April 21-22, 2023.
Are you inspired to help your community or a cause near and dear to your heart? Often the motivation in starting a nonprofit comes out of identifying a need. However, is launching your own nonprofit organization right for you, and really, how do you do it? The concept is exciting but it goes hand-in-hand with a lot of challenges and hard work in figuring out how to achieve your goals. Starting a nonprofit begins with building a strong vision for what it will do and how it will be accomplished.
March 2023 (Lexington, Ky) - The 18th Annual CCTS Spring Conference will be held on March 27, 2023 in the Gatton Student Center (in-person). The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship hosts its 6th annual poster pitch competition during the conference. Full conference agenda and registration details are forthcoming. For questions, contact CCTS staff member, April Bridenbecker, at april.bridenbecker@uky.edu.
December 2022 (Lexington, Ky) - Congratulations to the Fall 2022 Entrepreneurs Bootcamp 1.0 teams! The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE), in the Gatton College of Business & Economics, is proud to announce the top 10 early-stage companies that will be receiving startup capital and moving on to Bootcamp 2.0 in the Spring 2023 semester.
September 2022 (Lexington, Ky) - The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship is excited to partner with Keyhorse Capital in identifying new deal flow for The Kentucky Angel Investors Network.
May 2022 (Lexington, Ky) - The Spring 2022 Entrepreneurs Bootcamp 1.0 program finished the Monday section on April 25, 2022. Fifteen teams pitched their final presentations to a panel of judges, and the top 5 teams received $1,000 each. The Bootcamp 2.0 teams also finished strong with the top 5 teams receiving $2,000 each in startup funding. The Institute for the Study of Free Enterprise generously sponsored portions of the prize money for Bootcamp 1.0 and 2.0.
April 2022 (Lexington, Ky) - The Spring 2022 Entrepreneurs Bootcamp 2.0 program wrapped up the semester with five teams winning $2,000 each in startup capital. In addition, two teams received $500 each as a special award called the "Dentons Choice Award" made possible by law firm Dentons Bingham Greenebaum. Other sources of funding are generously provided by The Institute for the Study of Free Enterprise.
April 2022 (Lexington, KY) - The PNC Business Innovation Summit is a time for the bright minds of the campus and community to learn valuable life lessons from industry leaders.
April 2022 (Lexington, KY) - The 17th Annual CCTS Spring Conference was held in conjunction with the College of Dentistry Research Day, College of Nursing Scholarship Showcase, College of Public Health Research Day and the College of Health Sciences Research Day. The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship was excited to be part of the conference, hosting the 5th Annual "60-second Poster Pitch" Competition on April 5th, 2022. These awards were generously sponsored by the Institute for
April 2022 (Lexington, KY) - The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship is proud to announce that Dentons Bingham Greenebaum will provide two $500 awards to two standout Entrepreneur Bootcamp 2.0 graduating teams. The “Dentons Choice Award” recognizes the importance of early stage funding to help validate a startup’s proof of concept stage, while encouraging entrepreneurs to press forward.
About Dentons
LEXINGTON, Ky (March 11, 2022) — COVID-19 brought to the forefront the challenges of mental health around the world. During the Feb. 26, 2022 Global Mental Health Hack-A-Thon, University of Kentucky students and the Kentucky community proposed solutions to this global health challenge.
March 2022 (Lexington, Ky) - When we look at building a business online, we look at the software needed, the algorithms that will help us collect data, the design elements for the website, the integration of different apps, and how to run the business online. The world wide web connected the world to make it much easier for people to get information, share, and communicate with one another. But when it comes down to business, the human aspect is being summarized as whether the website or application is user-friendly or not.
April 2022 (Lexington, Ky) - The 17th Annual CCTS Spring Conference will be held on April 5, 2022 in the Gatton Student Center (in-person). This event is held in conjunction with the College of Dentistry Research Day, College of Nursing Scholarship Showcase, College of Public Health Research Day and the College of Health Sciences Research Day. The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship hosts its 5th annual poster pitch competition during the conference. To register, click here.
December 2021 (Lexington, KY) - The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship is happy to announce that Christine Wildes has been named the Associate Director of Innovation Training for UK Innovate! Team VACE is grateful to have worked with Christine in the Gatton College of Business & Economics over the last three years supporting the Entrepreneurs Bootcamp, developing the Salesforce Club, and teaching entrepreneurship as an adjunct faculty member under the Department of Management.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 24, 2021) — A partnership among the City of Lexington, the University of Kentucky, Commerce Lexington and Coastal Cloud announced the creation of a new UK Salesforce Consultancy Incubator Program yesterday.
Lexington, KY (July 23, 2021) - The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship hosted the 2nd Annual"Wildly Possible" Virtual Startup Contest on July 23, 2021, in which only the Top 5 finalists were selected out numerous applicants across the state of Kentucky. These top finalists were teams ZKaka, Rave on Sports, My Vocal Health, Fresh Eyes Solutions, and ReBegin.
Acumen Media, a Black-Founded Corporation, was created in hopes to go hand in hand with an athlete’s name, image, and likeness (NIL) in a manner that is profitable for everyone. Formerly, athletes had no choice but to surrender their rights to profit, subsequently signing their scholarship contracts. However, The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) July 1, 2021, embraced a varying policy with NIL. This policy legally grants athletes their deserved
Congratulations to Entrepreneurs Bootcamp alum, and 1st place winner in the graduate division of the PNC Wildcat Pitch Competition, Soroosh Torabi.
Congrats Graduates & Winners of the Entrepreneurs Bootcamp Spring 2021 Program
The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship hosted the 4th Annual "60-second Poster Pitch" Competition in collaboration with the CCTS Spring Research Conference on April 8th, 2021. Congratulations to the winners!
VACE Entrepreneurs Bootcamp Team, Badland Wolves, Exceeds Kickstarter Goal
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 1, 2021) — The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) is pleased to announce that a one-person team in their Entrepreneurs Bootcamp 2.0 program has successfully raised over $10,000 in seed funding through their Kickstarter campaign.
Lexington — August 4, 2020 — VACE is announcing, the creation of a brand-new type of club at UK. The University of Kentucky’s Salesforce Club (UKY SFC) hosted by the Gatton College of Business & Economics in the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship.
July 27, 2020: “Wildy Possible” Virtual Startup Contest Winners Announced! The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship hosted the "Wildly Possible" Virtual Startup Contest on July 20, 2020, in which only the Top 5 finalists were selected out of over 150 applicants.
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $300,000 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, to boost their capacity to support regional economic development strategies in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085 | July 8, 2020