UK's Von Allmen Center Supporting Pitch Competitions
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 23, 2014) — The University of Kentucky's Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship and the Lexington Office of the Kentucky Innovation Network, part of the Gatton College of Business and Economics, support regional pitch competitions around the state. The business pitch competitions are similar to the hit ABC television program, "Shark Tank." Entrepreneurs will be given seven minutes to present their business ideas to a group of Kentucky Angel Investors who provide resources for start-up companies.
"This is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to network with potential investors. Kentucky has a strong entrepreneurial spirit, and we want to expose more people to investment opportunities throughout the state," said Mandy Lambert, commissioner of business development at the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.
Lexington will hold the final competition of eight statewide pitch competitions hosted by the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, the Kentucky Innovation Network and Kentucky Angels. Preliminary competitions have already taken place in other Kentucky cities including Louisville, Murray, Elizabethtown, Pikeville, Richmond, Covington and Ashland. The winners will receive cash prizes as well as the opportunity to present their pitches to the entire Kentucky Angel Investors Network. The event will take place from 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, at Commerce Lexington, located at 330 East Main St., Suite 100.
The start-up companies cover a wide range of innovative technologies and products including independent game development, agriculture applications, software platforms and imaging technologies.
"The Lexington Office of the Kentucky Innovation Network is very pleased to be hosting this event which will showcase six of Bluegrass Region's early-stage technology companies," said Warren Nash, director of the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship and the Lexington Office of the Kentucky Innovation Network. "Events like this give entrepreneurs a great opportunity to hone their presentations, while at the same time, educate investors and others from the region about what is happening in the local entrepreneurial community."
The University of Kentucky Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship and Lexington Innovation Commercialization Center accelerate the Kentucky economy by commercializing UK research, facilitating university-industry collaborations, and assisting entrepreneurs and small businesses in creating jobs. They also work with faculty, clinicians, staff and student innovators to create start-ups and spinoff companies.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development began the Kentucky Angels Network in 2013. Kentucky Angels provides new ventures and brings accredited investors together via monthly online meetings, providing investors access to form deals and partnerships with entrepreneurs statewide. Membership is open to those accredited investors inside and outside the state who are passionate about investing in Kentucky companies. To learn more about Kentucky Angels, visit www.kyangels.net.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development is the primary state agency in Kentucky responsible for encouraging new employment opportunities and investment in the state. New capital investment announced in Kentucky in 2013 totaled more than $3.3 billion, producing more than 14,000 new jobs. For information on available industrial properties, workforce development assistance, incentive programs, community profiles, small business development and other economic development resources, visit www.ThinkKentucky.com.
For more information about the Kentucky Angles Regional Pitch Competition, click here. To register to attend the competition, click here.
MEDIA CONTACT: Parissa Zargar, Parissa.Zargar@uky.edu, 859-257-8716.