Launch Blue’s new programs to empower future innovation leaders

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 9, 2025) — UK Innovate’s Launch Blue, an immersive accelerator program for tech startups, has announced two new programs designed to support undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in becoming future leaders of innovation.

The two programs — the Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program (CILP) and the Entrepreneurial Leadership Program (ELP) — are designed to complement Launch Blue’s existing offerings, which include the national Pre-Seed Accelerator, the Regional NSF I-Corps Program and Launch Blue Learning Labs. These initiatives aim to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Kentucky and beyond.

Commercialization and Innovation Leadership Program (CILP)

CILP is open to undergraduate and graduate students and offers a comprehensive and immersive experience for those interested in technology transfer and commercialization.

Participants will gain foundational knowledge in academic technology transfer, as well as hands-on experience in the commercialization space. They will also benefit from professional development opportunities, including networking and resume-building workshops, while being mentored by experts in the field.

Entrepreneurial Leadership Program (ELP)

ELP is designed for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who are working to turn their research innovations into startup companies.

The program provides access to entrepreneurial mentors and experts in commercialization, as well as online learning content. ELP is a paid opportunity that supports students in accelerating the movement of university-based innovations into the marketplace.

“As a graduate student, I intentionally sought out opportunities that could build skills to complement my research but would also translate into a role outside the lab that would impact the community,” said Kendra Stenzel, Ph.D., director of innovation talent development. “My fellowship in UK’s technology transfer office, was pivotal in my career trajectory, and I saw an opportunity to expand that model into something larger, which led to the creation of CILP.”

Both CILP and ELP will offer students the opportunity to earn a micro-certification in innovation, commercialization and entrepreneurship upon completion of the program. The micro-certification is also open to anyone on campus wanting to learn more about innovation in an academic research setting.

Interested individuals can get involved by visiting https://www.launchblue.org/micro-cert or emailing Stenzel at keharg2@uky.edu.

About UK Innovate
UK Innovate at the University of Kentucky is the innovation, entrepreneurship and economic enterprise for University of Kentucky Research. Through technology commercialization, corporate partnerships, social innovation, innovation training and economic development initiatives related to UK’s research innovations, talent and community, UK Innovate works to move ideas into the world faster, where they can make the greatest social and economic impact possible. Learn more at www.research.uky.edu/ukinnovate.

About Launch Blue
Launch Blue nurtures promising startup founders and university innovators through intensive accelerator and incubator programs. These programs support entrepreneurs, innovators and emerging investors with hands-on training to create and sustain successful businesses and technologies that solve real-world problems in Kentucky and beyond.

Launch Blue is dedicated to growing the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem of Kentucky. Operating from the University of Kentucky, Launch Blue partners with stakeholders across the Commonwealth and beyond to nurture an environment that allows emerging technologies and social solutions to reach their full potential impact, serving UK’s land-grant mission to uplift Kentucky’s innovation economy. As a national startup accelerator, Launch Blue connects the Kentucky ecosystem with national talent, resources and capital.