News
UK Alumni donations support the launch of two new programs for future entrepreneurs and commercialization leaders
The Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program (CILP) and the Entrepreneurial Leadership Program (ELP) were officially launched Fall 2024 and Launch Blue, as well as UK Innovate, are excited to watch the transformative learning these students will embark upon.
Chris Houghtaling coaches Biovalor, Launch Blue UAccel Graduate, to National I-Corps Program
Through Launch Blue, Chris connected with the Biovalor team, graduates of the UAccel Program. The team was seeking a coach for the National I-Corps Program. Chris shares his experience coaching a team at the national level and serving as their mentor.
Launch Blue Announces New Partnership with Forecastr to Advance Innovation in Kentucky Startup Ecosystem
Launch Blue is announcing a new partnership with Forecastr, an online financial model for startups that aims to help startups grow in their financial endeavors.
Launch Blue Welcomes Seventh Pre-Seed Accelerator Cohort
Launch Blue welcomes six promising tech startups as participants in the Fall 2024 Pre-Seed Accelerator Cohort.
6 Teams Selected for Fall ‘24 UAccel Quick Start + I-Corps Cohort
Launch Blue is pleased to announce that 6 teams have been selected to participate in the UAccel Quick Start and I-Corps Fall 2024 cohort.
12 Teams Selected for Summer ‘24 UAccel Quick Start + I-Corps Cohort
Launch Blue is pleased to announce that 12 teams have been selected to participate in the UAccel Quick Start and I-Corps Summer 2024 cohort.
11 Teams Selected for Spring ‘24 UAccel Quick Start + I-Corps Cohort
Launch Blue is pleased to announce that 11 teams have been selected to participate in the UAccel Quick Start and I-Corps Spring 2024 cohort.
14 Teams Selected for UAccel Quick Start and I-Corps 9th Cohort
Launch Blue is pleased to announce that 14 teams have been selected to participate in the UAccel Quick Start and I-Corps fall cohort.
6 Teams Selected for UAccel Quick Start and I-Corps Summer Cohort
Launch Blue is pleased to announce that six teams have been selected to participate in the UAccel Quick Start and I-Corps Summer Cohort, which takes place July 14 through August 18.
11 Teams Complete Launch Blue’s I-Corps Pilot
Launch Blue is pleased to announce that 11 teams completed the pilot of its new regional I-Corps program. These 11 teams represented a variety of industries and were led by a mix of university researchers and Kentucky-based innovators.
Launch Blue I-Corps Expands Opportunities for Successful Research, Technology
The UK I-Corps Program provides experiential entrepreneurial training to academic researchers across all fields of science and engineering. It expands programming offered to innovators through Launch Blue as a part of UK Innovate.
Capital Factory Co-Founder, Chairman Gordon Daugherty to Instruct Launch Blue Investment Lab
Launch Blue is pleased to announce that Capital Factory Co-Founder and Chairman Gordon Daugherty will be instructing at its 2023 Investment Lab, a two-day educational event in Lexington, Kentucky for tech startup founders and investors.
Launch Blue to Host 'Advancing a Startup Ecosystem' Discussion Featuring Capital Factory Chairman Gordon Daugherty
Launch Blue is hosting a discussion with Capital Factory Co-Founder and Chairman Gordon Daugherty who will be sharing lessons learned from building the Austin, Texas startup ecosystem and how Kentucky, and the region, can become the next major technology hub.
Launch Blue Announces Sixth Pre-Seed Accelerator Cohort
Launch Blue is pleased to announce that six promising technology startups will participate in its 12-week Spring 2023 Pre-Seed Accelerator.
Launch Blue Announces Sixth UAccel Cohort
Launch Blue is pleased to announce that 12 teams have been selected to participate in the 12-week Spring 2023 UAccel program.
Launch Blue adds NSF I-Corps to Program Offerings as part of new Mid-South Innovation Corps Hub
NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Hubs provide experiential entrepreneurial training to academic researchers across all fields of science and engineering. I-Corps Hubs form the operational backbone of the National Innovation Network.
Launch Blue Announces Fifth Pre-Seed Accelerator Cohort
Launch Blue is pleased to announce that five promising technology startups will participate in its 12-week Fall 2022 Pre-Seed Accelerator.
Launch Blue Announces Fifth UAccel Cohort
Launch Blue is pleased to announce that 14 teams have been selected to participate in the 12-week Fall 2022 UAccel program.
19 Innovators Complete Launch Blue's UAccel Program
Launch Blue completed its fourth UAccel Program cohort this past spring. The UAccel program offers business development and an experiential learning opportunity to innovators in higher education and helps determine the best commercialization path for technologies.
Launch Blue Demo Day to Feature 9 Startups to Stonks.com Global Audience
Launch Blue, an intensive accelerator for tech startups, is hosting its annual Demo Day on Stonks.com June 15 at 2pm ET. The virtual event will feature nine startups, based in the Midwest and southeast regions, seeking investment.
Two Launch Blue Startups Earn Kentucky SBIR/STTR Matching Funds
Two Launch Blue startups were part of a group of nine innovative Kentucky companies to receive SBIR/STTR Matching Funds grants to support high-paying jobs and technology development in the commonwealth.
Launch Blue Announces Expanded Fourth Pre-Seed Accelerator Cohort
Launch Blue is pleased to announce that seven promising technology startups will participate in its 12-week Spring 2022 Pre-Seed Accelerator.
This incoming cohort of startups includes four teams from Kentucky and three teams from outside the state.
Synaptek Named 2021 Female Founded Startup of the Year
Launch Blue member Synaptek, led by CEO Kate Van Pelt, was named the 2021 Female Founded Startup of the Year in the annual Who Got the Money report assembled by Commerce Lexington Economic Development and the University of Kentucky Office of Technology Commercialization.
Launch Blue Announces Third Pre-Seed Accelerator Cohort
Launch Blue is pleased to announce that five Kentucky-based technology startups will participate in its Fall 2021 Pre-Seed Accelerator program.
Launch Blue Announces Third UAccel Cohort
Launch Blue is pleased to announce the Fall 2021 UAccel University Technology Commercialization Focused Cohort. Thirteen technologies from Kentucky universities were selected to participate in the 12-week UAccel program.
FreshEyes Solutions takes 1st Place in Wildly Possible Competition
Launch Blue alum Kelly Wright, CEO/Founder of FreshEyes Solutions, took first place in the 2nd Annual Wildly Possible Startup Contest.
UAccel alum Marion wins coveted global health innovation prize
Launch Blue UAccel alum Dr. Jason Marion has received a global health innovation prize for his water purification research to help low-resource countries like Kenya and rural counties in Kentucky.
Four Launch Blue Startups Earn Kentucky Matching Funds
Four Launch Blue Startups earned grants through Kentucky’s SBIR and STTR Matching Funds program to support high-paying jobs and technology development in the commonwealth.
Launch Blue Ventures to support venture capital for Kentucky startups
Launch Blue Ventures is a venture capital management services program supporting the development, provision, and management of venture capital to benefit Kentucky startups.
Launch Blue Announces Second UAccel Cohort
Launch Blue is pleased to announce the Spring 2021 UAccel University Technology Commercialization Focused Cohort. Seven Kentucky university technologies were selected to participate in the twelve-week UAccel program.
Launch Blue Announces Second Cohort
Launch Blue has chosen its second cohort. After a lengthy application and interview process, five Kentucky technology startups were selected to participate in the Spring 2021 Pre-Seed Accelerator program.
Six Emerging Kentucky Startups Receive Investments
Launch Blue and the Bluegrass Angels (BGA) announce investments totaling $270,000 into six Kentucky startup companies based on their performances in the recent KY270 startup pitch competition.
EDA Grant to fund Growth of Launch Blue
The three year, $600,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration Build to Scale Program will help the Launch Blue accelerator program launch nationally competitive Kentucky startups.
Launch Blue Announces KY-270 Pitch Competition Finalists
Launch Blue in partnership with Bluegrass Angels is excited to announce the top twelve finalists for the KY-270 Pitch Competition. The finalists will compete in a virtual pitch competition on October 22nd.
Launch Blue Announces UAccel Cohort
Launch Blue is pleased to announce the fall 2020 UAccel University Technology Commercialization Focused Cohort. Six Kentucky university technologies were selected to participate in the fall 2020 UAccel program.
Launch Blue Announces First Cohort
Launch Blue has chosen its first cohort. After a lengthy application and interview process, six Kentucky technology startups were selected to participate in the fall 2020 Pre-Seed Accelerator program.
Press Release: KY-270 Pitch Competition
A new funding opportunity for Kentucky early-stage technology startup companies will inject $270,000 of capital into the Kentucky startup ecosystem through a pitch competition presented by Launch Blue and the Bluegrass Angels (BGA) investor group. The Kentucky 270 (KY270) competition will result in six investments ranging from $30,000 to $90,000.
Base110 Announces BaseEDU
When Fayette County Public Schools announced a virtual start to the fall semester, parents and businesses realized they needed to figure out how to balance working remotely and homeschooling their kids. For entrepreneurs and small businesses, this presents a particularly challenging situation.
Launch Blue Helps Accelerate Success for Tech Start-ups
For entrepreneurs, finding a path from idea to launch can be an arduous process. But, with help from some of Central Kentucky’s best entrepreneurial resources, a new program that is hoping to set entrepreneurs on the path to success.
UK OTC Announces Enhanced UKAccel Program in Partnership with Launch Blue.
Press Release: New program for Kentucky tech startups
LEXINGTON,KY - Kentucky tech startups are now able to apply to Launch Blue, a pre-seed accelerator program designed to nurture the most promising Kentucky founders with scalable, technology-based startup ideas and empower them to move from the idea stage to successful launch.