News

Elevator Pitch Competition on March 4th!

In collaboration with: Sales Club & American Marketing Association (AMA), the Elevator Pitch Challenge is a fast-paced, skill-focused competition designed to help students develop real-world persuasion, positioning, and communication abilities.

Unlike traditional startup competitions, this event is open to any type of idea: business, nonprofit, personal brand, campaign, or initiative; making it accessible and valuable for students in sales, marketing, entrepreneurship, consulting, and leadership roles.

Fall 2025 Bootcamp Winning Teams

Winners Announced for Fall 2025 Entrepreneurs Bootcamp 1.0 

LOTWAYS Wins First Place at University of Kentucky E-Club Pitch Competition

LOTWAYS Wins First Place at University of Kentucky E-Club Pitch Competition  

Nash Family Adds to Gift to VACE

Dr. Warren and Mrs. Janet Nash recently made an additional contribution to VACE program to support underwriting the awards made to the participants in the Entrepreneurs Bootcamp. The Nashes $10,000 gift, when added to last year’s contribution, totals $30,000 and directly supports student entrepreneurs. 

The Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame

The Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame is a physical and virtual destination that shares and celebrates the stories of Kentucky's most successful entrepreneurs, this event recently took place on November 12th thanks to Awesome Inc.   The Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame mission is to raise awareness of the impact that entrepreneurship has made in the Commonwealth and encourage others to pursue similar ambitious endeavors.

E-Club Pitch Competition

On November 13th the UK EClub and VACE held their second annual pitch competition. Eight teams competed, with the top prize of $1,000 being awarded. Awsome.Inc and VACE also co-sponsored this event for some extra prize money.    1st  Lotways $1000 Muhammad Qasim  

Featured Bootcamp Graduate Team

Trevor Schirmer Co-Founder and Technical Lead at Apollo Automation has made great progress and success since graduating Bootcamp 2 years ago. 

Apollo Automation has now: 

Bootcamp Team Bourbon Kings was selected as a recipient of the Levitetz Leadership Program's Innovation Seed Grant at The University of Alabama!

Bootcamp Team HandyHat Takes Product to Ole Miss's National Business Model Competition

On Oct. 30, 2025, the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Mississippi will host the “Servin’ the South” Business Model Competition that is open to every university student in the country. This in-person competition will take place at the Jackson Avenue Center.

10th Annual SEC Student Pitch Competition Held at Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University hosted the 10th Annual Southeastern Conference Student Pitch Competition on October 16.The 2025 competition is presented by the SEC and hosted by the Owen School of Management, Vanderbilt University Athletics, and Vanderbilt I-Corps. Additional support for Vanderbilt I-Corps programming in the School of Engineering was recently provided by alumnus Chris Phipps (Eng ‘80) to further recruit and support aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators.

Student Entrepreneurs Gain 'Lessons from the Trenches' featuring Panelists from the VACE Advisory Board

The University of Kentucky's entrepreneurial spirit was on full display on the evening of Tuesday, October 21, 2025, as the Student-Led Entrepreneurship Club, in successful partnership with the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE), hosted an event with members from the VACE Advisory Board. The highly anticipated session, titled "Lessons Learned from the Trenches," drew students, staff, faculty, and community members eager to glean real-world wisdom from seasoned business veterans. The evening kicked off at 5:30pm at the Gatton College of Business & Economics in Woodward Hall, with a lively check-in and networking session. Attendees mingled and had the opportunity to meet the board members prior to the panel discussion, while enjoying Cane’s generously provided by the Entrepreneurship Club.

October Entrepreneurial Opportunities at UK's Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship

The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) at the University of Kentucky's Gatton College of Business and Economics is kicking off October with a packed calendar of events designed to educate, inspire, and connect aspiring and established entrepreneurs across the Commonwealth. 

ElectraMet: University of Kentucky Startup Success Story

Launched in 2013, PowerTech Water was just a small team of engineers and scientists and has since grown into a trusted partner for global manufacturers. Hailing from the University of Kentucky and Led by James Landon and Cameron Lippert in 2018 PowerTech Water became ElectraMet.  ElectraMet was a former client of VACE and has grown significantly since its early startup days in ASTeCC, grant funding, and they also received investment from BlueGrass Angels. The Advanced Science & Technology Commercialization Center is UK's premier entrepreneurial ecosystem business incubator that encourages early-stage, high-technological, start-up company growth that will lead to economic development opportunities for the Commonwealth. Now in September of 2025 ElectraMet is celebrating its new Lexington Facility!

September 2025 Newsletter

The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) at the University of Kentucky is starting the fall season with a full slate of events, workshops, and networking opportunities. The September newsletter serves as a comprehensive guide for students, alumni, and the wider Lexington business community.

Click here for the full September newsletter and download all event details and documents.

VACE Welcomes GSE Startups into Fall 2025 Bootcamp!

LEXINGTON, KY - The University of Kentucky's Gatton College of Business and Economics is preparing to host a new cohort of innovative startups for the Fall 2025 Entrepreneurs Bootcamp 1.0. This online business accelerator, run by the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE), aims to help aspiring Kentucky-based entrepreneurs turn their ideas into viable businesses. The program offers weekly training, networking opportunities, and a hands-on approach to launching new ventures.

August 2025 Newsletter

A new academic year is here, and we're thrilled to welcome back all our Wildcats! The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) is kicking off the Fall 2025 semester with our highly anticipated Bootcamp. This program is designed to transform innovative ideas into viable startups, providing founders with the tools, mentorship, and network they need to succeed.

UK Graduate Students and Future Bootcamp Team Pilot AI-Powered Logistics Platform to Enhance Shipment Visibility in Real Time

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 28, 2025) - In a groundbreaking demonstration of industry-academic collaboration, graduate students from the University of Kentucky piloted a logistics innovation that could redefine how transportation fleets track and optimize deliveries across the U.S. Through a partnership with Valvoline Global, the student-led team launched EdgeTrack Solutions, an AI-powered logistics platform designed to enhance real-time shipment visibility, fleet analytics, and support operations insights.

The Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs Summer Startup Program Announces 2025 Business Pitch Competition Winners

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 17, 2025 ) — Some of Kentucky’s most innovative high school students created business solutions for real-world problems and acquired skills that will serve them for a lifetime during the 2025 Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) Summer Startup Program. Students tackled challenges ranging from mental health to lithium-ion battery disposal to heart failure detection. GSE identifies, inspires, and empowers Kentucky’s future innovators through its three-week Summer Startup program for high schoolers.

July 2025 Newsletter: A Summer of Entrepreneurial Excellence at UK and Beyond!

Summer is in full swing, and so is the spirit of innovation at the University of Kentucky's Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship! We're thrilled to share some inspiring success stories from our talented founders, highlight exciting upcoming events, and provide valuable resources for aspiring entrepreneurs in our community.

UK Entrepreneur Madison Bates Wins Emerging Entrepreneurs Competition interviewed on Fox56 News

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 25, 2025) Meet Madison Bates, the visionary founder of R.A.M. Devices, LLC, an innovative MedTech startup dedicated to transforming stroke rehabilitation. With a strong foundation in biomedical engineering and neuroscience from the University of Kentucky, Madison has channeled her expertise into developing cutting-edge wearable sensor technology.