News

Gatton College of Business and Economics recognizes winners of 2025 PNC Wildcat Pitch Competition for student entrepreneurs

More than 20 student-entrepreneurs showcased their innovative ideas and business savvy during the 2025 PNC Wildcat Pitch Competition Sat., April 26, at the University of Kentucky's Gatton College of Business and Economics. This full-day competition allowed University of Kentucky student teams to pitch their business plans to judges for a chance to win a total of $20,000 in prize money. The competition was divided into an undergraduate division and a graduate division and was judged by a multi-disciplinary panel.

250LEX Entrepreneurial Showdown: Bootcamp StartUps Win 2nd Place!

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.

250Lex: Toyota Presents Competition For Young Entrepreneurs

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.

2025 Winners! 1-Minute CCTS Research Poster Pitch Competition!

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."

5th Annual PNC Innovation Summit Ignites Entrepreneurship at UK's Gatton College of Business

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.

Bridging Continents: Fostering Entrepreneurship Between NWU and UK

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).

GSE Collegiate Pitch: University of Kentucky VACE Bootcamp Startups Win Big!

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 Atlanta: Bootcamp Founder Selected as Top 10 Finalist!

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.

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.

Bullard's Commitment to Supporting Gatton’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

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.

5th Annual PNC Innovation Summit on March 26th

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.&n

Five University of Kentucky Bootcamp Startups Selected for GSE Pitch!

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!

Entrepreneurship Club Spring 2025 Announcements

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!

Stay up to date with all club news and events in our GroupMe - https://groupme.com/join_group/94155167/xd1perIj 

2025 CCTS Conference: VACE 8th Annual Poster Pitch Competition!

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."

Entrepreneurship Impact: Lindsey Wilson Partners with The University of Kentucky

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.

Bootcamp Founder Wins 3rd Place in Global Pitch Competition!

(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.

University of Kentucky Bootcamp Startups Pitch in Global Competition

(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

Spring 2025 Webinar Series “Bootcamp Accelerator Startups: Where Are They Now”

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.

A Legacy of Generosity: The Nash Family's Enduring Gift

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.

Fall 2024 Bootcamp 1.0 Winning Startups!

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 entrepre