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State of Startups: Kentucky Q4 FY26 Startup News
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The State of Startups: Kentucky report is shared live each quarter during an online update from Kentucky’s six regional innovation hubs. Read below for highlights from Q4 FY26 and register online to hear the next report in real time.
Welcome to Kentucky
We're pleased to welcome Kelly Wright, who has joined the CREATE innovation hub as Programs Director for the Bowling Green region.
We're also excited to welcome Annika Bontrager as Program Manager for the Blue North innovation hub, serving northern Kentucky.
Recent Wins
Congratulations to Wicked Smart, developed by Wicked Technologies to address challenges in senior care, on being selected among the top 4% of global applicants for the 2026 MedTech Innovator Accelerator cohort.
Julia Regan, co-founder of RxLighting, was elected board chair of Endeavor Southeast.
Four companies were selected for Awesome Inc's Fellowship program this spring: Due Gooder, Essential Innovations, Animasol and Pitch Please.
Blue North's BRINK program was recently named a finalist for the 2026 Cincinnati Business Courier's Fire Awards. BRINK works to close early-stage funding gaps for founders in their region and has supported 15 companies, deploying more than $430,000 while helping unlock more than $2 million in follow-on funding.
This summer, three founders relocated to Covington to build full-time at SparkHaus: Nate Royal of Due Gooder, Hank Veeneman of Saturn Safety Solutions and Lillian Bakri of Stacked. Blue North's Shinkle Fellows is a 12-week paid residency that provides early-stage founders a $10,000 stipend, weekly one-on-one mentorship alongside regional investors and operators and covers housing in Covington.
After relocating from Chicago to Northern Kentucky, Cooler Keg has taken its innovation global to soft launch in Australia. Their ultra-portable draft bar built into a class-size picnic cooler is gaining traction internationally, with plans to expand into Costa Rica and Dubai.
AquiSense, a UV-LED water disinfection company, was nominated Breakthrough Technology Company of the Year at the 2026 Global Water Awards. This took place at the Global Water Summit where the best innovators across the global water industry were recognized: spanning desalination, AI, reuse and water technology.
MoneyBot, a financial literacy education platform, was recently featured on WNKY for its pilot program with Bowling Green Independent School District.
Founder Jenny Jacobs of Defying Dementia was named a 2026 Pacesetter Award winner by the Kentucky Small Business Development Center, for their work in developing tools to prevent, detect and mitigate dementia while supporting individuals experiencing cognitive decline, their families and caregivers.
Congratulations to LeaderOracle.ai, an AI-driven geopolitical intelligence platform that anticipates adversary behavior for strategic analysts in government and business. Last week, CREATE named founder Kevin Modlin as winner of their inaugural Launch KY Idea Challenge.
The Kentucky Coffee Trail recently launched its iOS app, surpassing its goal of 1,000 users by September 2026 in just six days. Founded by Jenni Kaus, the mobile platform transforms visits to local coffee shops into an engaging and trackable journey, with nearly 90% of mobile check-ins representing first-time visits to participating businesses.
Callon Nanny, co-founder of OwnAChord, was featured in a national video highlighting rural founders across America, sharing the company's work supporting independent artists.
Sprig Aerospace has been selected by AG1 Growers as its primary provider for drone aerial application services, marking a major partnership in precision agriculture.
Finally, congratulations to EWagers for being selected to join the NVIDIA Inception Program, placing the company in a global network of startups striving to build the next generation of AI-driven technology.
Exits
A startup exit is when the founders and investors of a startup cash out — usually by selling the company or taking it public. It’s essentially the endgame for most startups, where all the effort (and risk) ideally turns into a financial reward.
We have no exits to celebrate this past quarter.
Capital
Since January 1 of this calendar year, Kentucky has had 50 startups funded with $109,582,019 in early-stage investment.
Of note this past quarter:
In the SOAR region, Eastern Light Distilling raised $16 million of early-stage capital from Tri-State Investment Group and other undisclosed investors.
In the Amplify region, Virtual Peaker raised $12.3 million of later-stage venture funding from Veriten and other undisclosed investors.
Kentucky Innovation Hubs News
Hosted by CREATE, the recent inaugural Venture Bridge Investor Network event marked the strengthening of the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Startups, investors and ecosystem partners were brought together, enabling meaningful connections and expanding access to capital.
The transition event, "Passing the Torch," from Larry Horn to Jenn Callahan was held with the Amplify startup community. With their board of directors and VIPs in attendance, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg proclaimed June 30th Amplify Day.
The launch of the West Kentucky ETA organization spearheaded the next wave of entrepreneurs in the Sprocket region.
About the Kentucky Innovation Hubs
The Kentucky Innovation Hubs, managed by KSTC and funded by KY Innovation at the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, are a network of six regional centers across the state with the purpose of driving economic development through entrepreneurship and innovation. Each Hub acts as their region’s “front door” to deliver services — while leveraging local partnerships and regional organizations — and assists entrepreneurs across industries and stages of development as they advance their businesses.
Key Services Provided by the Hubs for Tech Startups
Startup Coaching:
Provide tailored, consultative coaching to numerous startups, helping founders refine their business models and strategies.
Facilitate access to essential resources such as capital, customers, mentors, and talent.
Access to Capital:
Assist startups in securing funding through various channels, contributing to their financial stability and growth.
Organize pitch events and investor meetings to connect startups with potential investors.
Customer Acquisition:
Support startups in identifying and reaching their target markets, leading to increased customer acquisition.
Provided strategic introductions to key industry players and potential clients.
Mentorship Programs:
Match startups with experienced mentors who provided guidance and support throughout their entrepreneurial journey.
Conduct regular mentorship sessions and workshops to enhance the skills and knowledge of founders.
Talent Development:
Help startups in sourcing and recruiting top talent to build strong, capable teams.
Offer training programs and workshops to improve the capabilities of startup teams.
Strategic Introductions and Networking:
Facilitate networking events and strategic introductions that encourage collaboration and partnerships within the ecosystem.
Enable startups to connect with industry experts, potential partners, and other key stakeholders.
Through these initiatives, the Kentucky Innovation Hubs have significantly contributed to the growth and success of startups, strengthening the state's tech economy and fostering a thriving entrepreneurial environment. We are committed to maintaining this momentum and continuing to support the innovators and entrepreneurs who drive Kentucky's vibrant startup ecosystem.