Attendees are pictured during the networking period at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
The first time Noah Fulk came to Louisville was “strictly for food” — the Cuban culinary delights of La Bodeguita de Mima, in particular.
The second time, he met with investors.
The third time — Tuesday — was to accept the award as being one of our KY Inno Startups to Watch on behalf of his Paducah, Kentucky-based company, Ewagers, a wagering technology company for esports. The sold-out event, combined food, investors and many other members of Kentucky and Southern Indiana’s startup community inside the confines of Noble Funk Brewing Co. in Louisville.
Check out photos of the 2024 Startups to Watch event below.
2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch Event
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A total of 20 Louisville, greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana startups were recognized at this year’s KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program.
Christopher Fryer
Attendees look on during the awards program at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
This year’s KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program was held at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Attendees are pictured during the networking period at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Tendai Charasika, left, and Keith Seales network ahead of the awards program during the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
From left, Vanessa Omeokchie, Eddie Fieldhouse and Brittany Moneymaker are pictured during the networking period at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Attendees network ahead of the the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Vanessa Omeokchie, left, chats with Louisville Business First Reporter and KY Inno Lead Stephen P. Schmidt during the networking period at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Danielle Mann, right, CEO and co-founder of Rivergreen Cocktails, is pictured during the networking period at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Attendees are pictured during the networking period at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Terri Lykins, left, founder and CEO of My Food, My Choice, is pictured during the networking period at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Connor Wall, right, and Terry Samuel are pictured during the networking period at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Attendees are pictured during the networking period at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Dawn Yankeelov, right, and Will Metcalf, network ahead of the awards program during the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Attendees are pictured during the networking period at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Will Metcalf, associate vice president of Research and Innovation in the UofL Office of Research and Innovation, initiates a toast while delivering sponsor remarks during the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
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Louisville Business First Editor-in-chief Shea Van Hoy speaks ahead of the awards program during the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
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Kristine McNiel, project manager with KY Innovation – Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, delivers sponsor remarks ahead of the awards program during the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
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Terry Samuel, president of Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation, delivers sponsor remarks ahead of the awards program during the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
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Aron Patrick, director research and development at LG&E and KU Energy, delivers sponsor remarks ahead of the awards program during the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
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Amplify Louisville CEO Larry Horn delivers sponsor remarks ahead of the awards program the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Downtown Louisville.
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Haley Cawthon, Louisville Business First assistant managing editor—digital, delivers remarks before introducing the first group of honorees during the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
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Jacob Knight with Holler Commerce speaks after being recognized during the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Eddie Fieldhouse with The Kentucky Hug speaks after being recognized during the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Limitless Minds co-founder Harry Wilson speaks after being recognized during the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Amanda Havard, founder and CEO of Lunae, after being recognized during the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Mac Wilkinson, founder and CEO of Moolathon, speaks after being recognized during the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Terri Lykins, founder and CEO of My Food, My Choice, speaks after being recognized during the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
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Michael Howard with Nichefire speaks after being recognized during the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
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Tahsa O'Bryan with pac-IQ speaks after being recognized during the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
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Danielle Mann, CEO and co-founder of Rivergreen Cocktails, speaks after being recognized during the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch awards program at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Dan Ross-Li, left, of Affinna is pictured with Jenn Callahan of Amplify Louisville after the company was recognized during the awards program at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Jacey Dakin, right, with Armadillo Home Solutions is pictured with Jenn Callahan of Amplify Louisville after the company was recognized during the awards program at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Besti Co. founder Amanda Miah, left, is pictured with Jenn Callahan of Amplify Louisville after the company was recognized during the awards program at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Representatives with Dais are pictured after the company was recognized during the awards program at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Noah Fulk, left, co-founder and CEO of Ewagers is pictured with Jenn Callahan of Amplify Louisville after the company was recognized during the awards program at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Riya Shah, left, founder and president of Fetal Life, is pictured with Jenn Callahan of Amplify Louisville after the company was recognized during the awards program at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Jacob Knight with Holler Commerce, left, is pictured with Jenn Callahan of Amplify Louisville after the company was recognized during the awards program at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Eddie Fieldhouse, left, with The Kentucky Hug, is pictured with Jenn Callahan of Amplify Louisville after the company was recognized during the awards program at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Limitless Minds co-founder Harry Wilson, left, is pictured with Jenn Callahan of Amplify Louisville after the company was recognized during the awards program at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Amanda Havard, right, founder and CEO of Lunae, is pictured with Jenn Callahan of Amplify Louisville after the company was recognized during the awards program at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Mac Wilkinson, left, founder and CEO of Moolathon, is pictured with Jenn Callahan of Amplify Louisville after the company was recognized during the awards program at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Terri Lykins, left, founder and CEO of My Food, My Choice, is pictured with Jenn Callahan of Amplify Louisville after the company was recognized during the awards program at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Representatives from Nichfire are pictured after the company was recognized during the awards program at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
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Mandy Ralston, left, founder and CEO of NonBinary Solutions, is pictured with Jenn Callahan of Amplify Louisville after the company was recognized during the awards program at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Representatives from OrganiLock are pictured after the company was recognized during the awards program at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
Representatives from Rivergreen Cocktails are pictured after the company was recognized during the awards program at the 2024 KY Inno Startups to Watch event at Noble Funk Brewing Company in Old Louisville.
Christopher Fryer
“This event was excellent. I mean, connecting with the founders was huge … Just the synergy of an event like this is — it’s invaluable. Being able to connect, learn from each other, share connections with one another, it’s huge,” said Fulk, a native of Carbondale, Illinois, who moved to Paducah as part of the 1ST50K program in 2022 that was co-sponsored by Sprocket.
Christi Mckim and Karim Elatroush, co-founders of Louisville-based Dais, arrived at the event as newcomers to the startup scene — as one of the 20 honorees.
“It just felt like it was going to be our big launchpad,” said McKim about her startup, which is seeking to create a wheelchair-accessible rideshare service. “I was looking forward to just meeting people in the [startup] community. This is where we want to start. This is where we live.”
“This is the start and the beginning that we thought about,” Elatroush added.
Now in its third year, the event was sponsored by three KY Inno's founding partners — KY Innovation, the Kentucky Science & Technology Corp. and LG&E — as well as Amplify Louisville (award sponsor) and the University of Louisville (toast sponsor).
“What I love about this event is the fact that it is a full statewide picture/snapshot of the latest and greatest in technology and innovation coming together and celebration — and the fact that that happens on a statewide level [is] so important for a state of our size,” said Lisa Bajorinas, KY Innovation hubs program executive director and the program director of the Community of Louisville Foundation’s Vogt Awards.
Added Larry Horn, the CEO of Amplify Louisville: “It’s important for communities to come together and celebrate the wins of founders. … This room was a melting pot of founders, investors, community stakeholders — all supporting each other and lifting up the community. When you have more opportunities to do things like this, the better off we’re going to be in the long run.”
