The Russell Technology Business Incubator (RTBI) is the first business incubator for black entrepreneurs in West Louisville.   The incubator is under the umbrella of AMPED, the Academy of Music Production Education and Development, which is a free music program for kids in Louisville. The founder, Dave Christopher, said the idea for the business incubator came about in 2020 as black-owned businesses were struggling in the COVID-19 pandemic significantly more than their counterparts.

Mr. Christopher, an entrepreneur himself, has experienced challenges with having access to resources and programs that are equipped to assist and understand black entrepreneurs’ unique struggles.

Through RTBI, black business owners now have access to services and resources to help them get started, research their goals, create generational wealth, create jobs, give back to the community, and to continue to grow for years to come.

The incubator is a year-long program that challenges entrepreneurs to go on a learning journey that will expand their knowledge, increase confidence, and grow their businesses.  The program is specifically designed to reduce failure for black entrepreneurs by keeping their unique challenges in mind.  The program offers courses in business planning, business accounting, marketing, capital strategies, technology, business communication, and life balance.  In addition, each entrepreneur participating in the program is assigned a professional business coach for support and guidance on handling their business’ specific challenges.  RTBI gives so many resources that are designed to reduce the barriers that black-owned business experience and increases the success rate in the black communities of Louisville.

The incubator received a grant $500,000 grant from the Rockefeller Foundation to get started and since has received more than $3 million in funding from other donations. Mr. Christopher and his staff, donors, and supporters are committed to reducing the racial wealth gap across the nation.  It is projected that RTBI to become a national model within three to five years.

The Metals Innovation Initiative was born out of an idea, an idea that doesn’t have a ready-made playbook: How can we create an industry-led organization that collaborates with governmental, educational, and other stakeholders to solve the most pressing challenges and capture opportunities that our organizations cannot easily address on their own? There are numerous examples of collaboration between industry and education, government and industry, and government and education. MI2’s concept is to bring those collaborations under one roof to form an ecosystem, guide it, and empower it to drive innovation and shape the future of the metal industry.
 

Capital Connections at the Optimize 2022 conference is where investors and entrepreneurs have the opportunity to connect and meet.  As the world leading aging innovation discovery group, Aging2.0 is assembling world class investors and innovators in Louisville, KY during the Optimize 2022 conference.  Investors will have the opportunity to meet other investors who are helping to grow amazing companies that provide tremendous financial opportunities, but also have a major societal impact.  This will help promote the syndication of investments between these various investors.  Innovations are becoming more important every day as the aging population requires more and more resources.  Capital Connections will also connect investors with innovators who are directly addressing the challenges associated with our aging population.  

Founded in 2012 by Katy Fike and Stephen Johnston, Aging2.0 strives to accelerate innovation to address the biggest challenges and opportunities in aging. Aging2.0’s international, interdisciplinary and intergenerational community has grown to 40k+ innovators across 31 countries. Aging2.0 was acquired by CEOc (formerly Louisville Healthcare CEO Council) in 2022 moving the headquarters from San Francisco, CA to Louisville, KY. This acquisition is exciting as it broadens the resources, network, and engagement.

Our volunteer-run chapter network, which spans over 130 cities, has hosted more than 1,000+ events around the world. 

OVERVIEW: 

The Global Innovation Search (GIS) provides innovators from around the world with an opportunity to showcase their interoperabilily solutions and gain access to customers, clients, capital and mentorship.

Eight GIS finalists will be selected to participate in the "CareTech Pitch" competition at our preeminent aging innovation conference "OPTIMIZE", held in September of 2022. The winners will receive great exposure, a generous prize package and a paid pilot with industry-leading companies. 

The LHCC Discovery Lab Findings 2022 - Interoperability Report provides additional information on the opportunities for innovation with interoperability.  The Global Innovation Search is targeting innovations that address the Wishlist items discussed in the report. 

Join us for Capital Connections at the 2023 OPTIMIZE conference this Sept. 27 and 28 in Louisville, Kentucky! 

With multiple activities and sessions throughout OPTIMIZE, Capital Connections allows you to meet with leading investors in agetech and get insights from decision makers at the largest aging and healthcare organizations worldwide. Capital Connections is the can’t-miss networking event for innovators in the healthcare and aging space.
 
Open to innovators of all stages – those seeking pilots, pre-seed, seed, Series A funding and beyond – Capital Connections will provide both pre-scheduled and open times for one-on-one networking opportunities with vetted investors.



A principled service provider delivering high quality, individualised care and support within a person-centred approach.

CareTech supports adults with complex needs and care for children and young people, offering carefully designed programmes in specialist services, many of which have schools and residential services attached.

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The Sheltowee Christian Entrepreneurs is a Community Portal that provides resources and information for Christian entrepreneurs.  In Timoty 3:14 it says: "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived".  We see this more and more each day.  So many individuals and organizations are telling us that our belief in our Saviour and moral framework is flawed.  These voices are becoming louder and more militant.  This Community is here to provide resources, inspiration and help for Christian brothers and sisters who have chosen to walk the entrepreneurial path.  

We invite all Christian brothers and sisters to join us in our efforts to help entrepreneurs build their businesses.  We will work together to build businesses that help humanity, and reflect the love of Christ at the same time.  The Sheltowee Christian Entrepreneurs Community Portal is supported by Sheltowee LLC.  

Romans 12:6-8 "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."

Louisville Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programs, or LEAP, offers resources, including educational series, networking events and mentorship opportunities tailored for healthcare startups of all stages. LEAP is where innovators come to meet corporate leaders, understand their pain points, access data available nowhere else, and bridge the gap between product and market.