Kentucky Enterprise Fund
The Kentucky Enterprise Fund provides seed-stage capital to Kentucky-based companies that are commercializing a technology-based product or process. The funds exist to stimulate private investment in Kentucky-based technology companies with high growth potential.
The Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC) administers the funds under contract with the Council on Postsecondary Education. For additional information, please contact Kelby Price at kprice@kstc.com.
Commonwealth Seed Capital LLC
Commonwealth Seed Capital, LLC (CSC) is an independent fund that makes debt or equity investments in early-stage Kentucky business entities to facilitate the commercialization of innovative ideas and technologies.
Investments are typically made in these specified innovation areas: health and human development; information technology and communications; bioscience; environmental and energy technologies; and materials science and advanced manufacturing.
CSC invests in companies that have a significant Kentucky presence, the prospect for substantial growth, and the potential to generate an appropriate rate of return. For additional information, please contact Gene Fuqua at
gene.fuqua@commonwealthseed.com.
SBIR-STTR Matching Funds Program
The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development will match, on a competitive basis, Phase 1 and Phase 2 federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards received by Kentucky high-tech small businesses and those willing to become Kentucky-based businesses.
This includes matching Phase 1 federal awards up to $150,000 to support the exploration of the technical merit or feasibility of an idea or technology, and up to $500,000 of federal Phase 2 awards, which support full-scale research and development.
Click here for additional information.
Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV)
To grow the commonwealth’s tech sector, Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV) provides the tools and expertise to translate innovations, research findings and intellectual property into market-ready products, services and job-creating startups.
At its core, KCV focuses on commercializing the best ideas from Kentucky’s public universities and colleges. KCV also serves as a commercialization resource for individual entrepreneurs and companies seeking to establish and grow their businesses in Kentucky.
No other state’s commercialization program combines the strength of all its public higher education institutions. That makes KCV unique and better positioned to compete for federal grants that support forward-thinking companies and entrepreneurs.
Click here to learn more.