Three Kentucky startups and two companies from out state are joining the fall cohort of Launch Blue's Pre-Seed Accelerator.
The 12-week program is designed for technology-based startups that have the potential to grow into highly scalable, profitable ventures. Launch Blue does not take equity in startups admitted to the program, however, applicants are tasked with raising $500, which covers the program fees, according to a news release.
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 U.S. in the spring of 2022.
"Last spring, we experimented with opening up our Pre-Seed Accelerator to startups outside of Kentucky, while still prioritizing the Midwest and southeast regions of the United States," Launch Blue Executive Director Laura Halligan said in the release. "We found that diversifying our cohort led to a positive experience for our members, and we look forward to continuing to serve startups across the U.S. as we know there is a need for education and support at this pivotal pre-seed stage."
The fall 2022 cohort companies are:
- BoxHero (New York, New York), founded by Andrew Epstein and Sergey Makogon, is a platform that helps consumers return their online purchases without hassle — no printing labels, no boxes needed — and picked up, on-demand.
- CraftTech Innovations (Louisville), led by CEO Tony White, designs and manufactures unique products for the autobody collision repair market.
- Hot Route Analytics (Charlotte, North Carolina), co-founded by CEO Adonis Abdullah and Chief Data Officer Ty Birling, provides easy analytics to coaches and players of small college teams. Its online platform, HomeTeam, allows users to openly explore its college sports database and a suite of easy-to-use analytic tools that are designed to help give them an edge in their next matchup.
- NonBinary Solutions (Lexington, Kentucky), founded by CEO Amanda Ralston, is a technology and consulting firm that designs Clinical Decision Support Systems that improve the quality and efficacy of decision-making by offering a systematic and standardized approach to treatment planning.
- Seamly (Paducah, Kentucky), founded by CEO Susan L. Spencer, is a business-to-business design platform that solves fashion's problems with poor fit, low profits and changing consumer demand for physical and digital fashion.
Candidates were vetted through a competitive application and interview process, which placed an emphasis on traction and scalability, the release continued. The final selections for the Fall 2022 Cohort were determined by a selection committee that was appointed by the Launch Blue Advisory Board.
Starting this month, the startups will spend 12 weeks learning and applying the lean startup method while working to develop a scalable, repeatable business model while getting started on the path of seeking venture investment.
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 spring 2023 cohort later this fall.
Additionally, Launch Blue recently announced its fall UAccel cohort, a program created in in partnership with the University of Kentucky Office of Technology Commercialization and Kentucky Commercialization Ventures. It's designed to offer business development and an experiential learning opportunity to innovators in higher education interested in learning the best commercialization path for their technology.
Click here to read more about each of the 14 teams selected for UAccel.
