News

VACE Bootcamp Grad Pitches at Ole Miss "Servin" The South Pitch Competition!

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.

Entrepreneurship Club Pitch Competition Winners!

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.

VACE Bootcamp Accelerator Graduate Wins Investment on ABC’s Shark Tank!

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.

Entrepreneurship Club Pitch Competition sponsored by The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship!

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.

University of Kentucky Participates in the Fall 2024 SEC Pitch Competition!

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.

2025 GSE Summer Startup Program Accepting Applications!

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.

2025 GSE Collegiate Pitch Competition!

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 Grads!

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.

GSE Summer Startup at The Gatton College of Business

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.

VACE Bootcamp Graduate Launches Dreams: Recent grad shares impact of iNet certificate

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.

Spring 2024 Bootcamp Accelerator Winning Startups!

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!

 

Gatton College of Business and Economics Recognizes Winners of PNC Wildcat Pitch Competition

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. 

Spring 2024 Winners! CCTS/VACE Poster Pitch Competition

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.

Top Leading Innovators Present at the 2024 PNC Innovation Summit at the University of Kentucky

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.

University of Kentucky Startups Win Top Awards at GSE Collegiate Pitch!

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!

PNC Wildcat Pitch Competition

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.

PNC Innovation Summit: “The State of Generative AI”

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.

Spring 2024 CCTS Conference: 7th Annual Poster Pitch Competition!

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.

Governor's School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) hosted by Gatton in Summer 2024

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.

Fall 2023 Winning Startups: Entrepreneurs Bootcamp 1.0 Accelerator

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!

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.

Now Accepting Applications! Open Enrollment for Spring 2024 Bootcamp Open Enrollment for The University of Kentucky's Premiere Online Accelerator Program! The University of Kentucky welcomes you to Entrepreneurs Bootcamp: 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.
College of Communication and Information, Gatton College of Business and Economics empower entrepreneurial thinking

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.

Now Accepting Applications - Fall 2023 Entrepreneurs Bootcamp Online Accelerator

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. 

Congratulations Bootcamp Spring 2023 Winning Startups!

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!

Entrepreneurs Bootcamp Alum Wins 1st place and $15,000 at KY Pitch! 

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.

CCTS / VACE 1-minute Poster Pitch Winners!

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. 

 

Bootcamp Alum Destin George Bell Make Fitness Fun Again With His App Card.io

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.

Bootcamp Alum Camron Brown Helps Veterans with Grind Goods

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.

​​​​​​​Lunch & Learn: From Student to Successful Entrepreneur

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.

PNC Wildcat Pitch Competition

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 

Gatton Welcomes Leading Social Innovators to 2023 PNC Innovation Summit

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.

Webinar: How to Start a Nonprofit: Creating Your Organizational Checklist

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.

2023 CCTS Spring Conference: VACE Poster Pitch!

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.

 

Fall 2022 Winners of Bootcamp 1.0!

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.

Partnership with Keyhorse Capital

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.

Entrepreneur Bootcamp 1.0 and 2.0 Spring 2022 Winning Teams

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.

$2,000 in Startup Capital for Bootcamp 2.0 Teams

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.

PNC Business Innovation Summit

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.

VACE Winners Announced! 5th Annual CCTS "60-second Poster Pitch" Competition

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

Law Firm Dentons Sponsors Prize Money for Entrepreneurs

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

UK Students Shine in Mental Health Hack-A-Thon

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.

Entrepreneurship Now: Why Communities in a Virtual Economy is Essential

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.

2022 CCTS Spring Conference: Von Allmen Center Poster Pitch!

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.

Spring 2022 Virtual "Mental Health" Hack-A-Thon February 2022 (Lexington, Ky) The University of Kentucky Global Health Initiatives and The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship in the Gatton College of Business & Economics, will be partnering to host a virtual Hack-A-Thon event on Saturday, February 26, 2022, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  A total cash prize of $5,000 will be awarded to the top “hacking” teams. 
2021 Fall Bootcamp 1.0 Winning Teams Announced! December 2021 (Lexington, KY) – Congratulations to the Fall 2021 Entrepreneurs Bootcamp 1.0 winning teams!
Congratulations to Christine Wildes! New Associate Director of Innovation Training for UK Innovate!

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.

Celebrating 2021: A Successful Workshop Series! December 2021 (Lexington, KY) - The University of Kentucky’s Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) celebrates the end of 2021 with a series of successful workshops dedicated to inspire and connect aspiring entrepreneurs.  

 

Fall 2021 Launchpad Lex Speaker Series for Entrepreneurs September thru November 2021 (Lexington, KY) - The University of Kentucky’s Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) is co-sponsoring the Launchpad Lex Speaker Series, an opportunity for Lexington area entrepreneurs, small businesses, and founders to come together to be inspired by building community and sharing stories.
New Partnership with The University of Kentucky Salesforce Club

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.

2021 Winning Startups Announced! 2nd Annual Wildy Possible Contest

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.

Von Allmen Center Entrepreneurs: The Road to Success!

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

Entrepreneurs Bootcamp Alum Wins PNC Wildcat Pitch Competition

Congratulations to Entrepreneurs Bootcamp alum, and 1st place winner in the graduate division of the PNC Wildcat Pitch Competition, Soroosh Torabi. 

Grads and Winning Teams! Entrepreneurs Bootcamp Spring 2021

Congrats Graduates & Winners of the Entrepreneurs Bootcamp Spring 2021 Program

VACE Winners Announced! 4th Annual CCTS "60-second Poster Pitch" Competition

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!

 

 

 

 

 

Bootcamp 2.0 Team Successful Kickstarter!

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.

A New Community is on Campus – the University of Kentucky’s Salesforce Club

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.

"Wildly Possible" Virtual Contest Winners Announced!

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.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE INVESTS $300,000 IN CARES ACT FUNDING TO BOOST UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY

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