Who We Are

 

Our Mission

Launch Blue’s mission is to support promising technology startup founders and university innovators in Kentucky and beyond.

 

Launch Blue Team

Laura Russell Halligan

Executive Director
Lead Instructor & Coach

Eric Hartman

Program Advisor
Instructor & Coach

Erin Shea

I-Corps Program Manager

Kenzie Dickens

Operations Coordinator

Victoria Hamilton

Launch Blue Manager - Program & Communications

Laura Triplett

Program Manager

Kendra Stenzel

Director of Innovation Talent Development

Jake Miller

Entrepreneur in Residence

Lauren Balla

Launch Blue Communications Ambassador

Daniel Walters

Launch Blue Communications Ambassador

Abby Manning

Launch Blue Communications Ambassador

Abby Brady

Launch Blue Communications Ambassador

 

Launch Blue Ventures Team

Raechele Smalls

Invest Blue Director

Eric HartmanInterim Director

Eric Hartman

Co-Founder and Advisor

Jack Hughes

Launch Blue Ventures Ambassador

 
 

Advisory Board

Adam Taylor Brown

Brand Strategy + Design Consultant,
Marrow

Gina Greathouse

Executive Vice President for Economic Development, Commerce Lexington, Inc.

Kristina Joyce

State Director,
Kentucky Small Business Development Center (KSBDC)

 

Brian Luftman

Fund Manager, Bluegrass Angels, Inc.
Founder & President, American Farm Investors

Ian McClureAssociate Vice President for Research, Innovation and Economic Impact for UK Innovate at the University of Kentucky

Ian McClure

Associate Vice President for Research, Innovation and Economic Impact for UK Innovate at the University of Kentucky

Kyle Murray

Vice President - Hardware Delivery at Lexmark

 

Terry Samuel

President,
Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation

Randall Stevens

Owner & Operator, BaseHere
CEO, AVAIL

Emily WehrleDirector of Operations, Awesome Inc.

Emily Wehrle

Director of Operations, Awesome Inc.