Launch Blue Announces Expanded Fourth Pre-Seed Accelerator Cohort
February 1, 2022
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. This is the first time that Launch Blue has accepted startups outside of Kentucky.
"While we typically focus on startups in Kentucky, we had strong candidates from outside our state so we decided to expand our offerings," said Laura Halligan, Executive Director of Launch Blue. "We are proud that our program was attracting these types of startups, and we believe that diversifying our cohorts in this way will add immense value to our participants."
Launch Blue's Pre-Seed Accelerator began in 2020 for Kentucky-based companies only. As the Launch Blue team and leadership quickly realized the demand for the program outside of the state, the program was expanded to serve founders across the United States.
The Pre-Seed Accelerator is for individuals with technology-based startups that have the potential to grow into a highly scalable, profitable venture. Candidates were vetted through a competitive application and interview process, which placed an emphasis on traction and scalability. Launch Blue does not take equity in startups admitted to the program, however, applicants are tasked with raising $500, which covers the program fees, as part of the admission interview. The final selections for the Spring 2022 Cohort were determined by a selection committee that was appointed by the Launch Blue Advisory Board.
Starting in February, the startups will spend 12 weeks learning and applying the lean startup method while working to develop a scalable, repeatable business model. The program's kill fast approach compels founders to prove their hypotheses through customer discovery and early customer traction.
The Pre-Seed Accelerator takes place twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Launch Blue will begin taking applications for the upcoming Fall 2022 Cohort this summer. (Click here to be notified when applications open)
Participants in the Spring 2022 Cohort are:
Dewi Kreckman, Co-Founder
Erik Kreckman, PA-C, Co-Founder
Decuremed is a telemedicine specializing in immigrant care. We want to help immigrants regain their health and achieve their American dream.
Prudence Minton, Ed.D
Sharleen Morris
Chiffon Rushford
Ashley Pichardo
Jonathan Dec
The IKEMBA EdX Platform offers BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) educators a social commerce platform to galvanize pockets of reform into an educational revolution. The mission is to provide grassroots solutions to the nation’s biggest problems in both education and social justice.
Michael Hoeft, CEO and Founder
Learnhall is a private education company focused on both domestic and international markets, with our first programs serving students in America for academic homework and test prep as well as students in Africa for professional development training for competitive careers in the technology industry.
Lecresha Sewell, DNP, APRN, Founder
Melanated Healthcare is a digital health platform that connects Black and people of color (POC) to culturally congruent health professionals. The aim is to decrease health disparities by increasing access to care. Available to download in the App Store and Google Play.
Mac Wilkinson, Founder
Moolathon is a social fundraising platform and fitness tracker. It gives groups, organizations and individuals the ability to raise money for any cause with miles you run, walk, or bike.
Les Anderson, PhD, Co-Founder
Justin Rhinehart, PhD, Co-Founder
X10D (pronounced “extend”) is a website and mobile app providing beef cattle producers a best-in-class tool for data collection and management and the ability to make decisions based upon sound data.
Sada Wane, Founder
XpressRun is a multi-carrier platform that enables same-day & next-day delivery for e-commerce businesses. Offering the best price and quickest delivery on the market with its Unified Last-Mile delivery API with more than two million couriers. Integrates seamlessly into numerous platforms, including Shopify, WooCommerce, Squarespace, Wix, Etsy, and more.