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 Prayer Warriors Monday Morning Community was founded by Roger Griggs and Steve Campbell.  The group has a call each Monday morning at 7:00 AM Eastern Time.  We dedicate our first efforts of the new week to encourage one another, please the Lord and make Satan angry.  Below is a prayer for you:

Father God, walk beside me as I endure the challenges of today. Give me the strength I need to challenge the week ahead. May I walk in faith and in Your strength. Send Your
angels to guard over me throughout this week, as You lead me into my divine purpose.Bless all that I lay my hands upon. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray,
Amen

The Morehead Space Science Center Konexon's Community Portal provides information and resources for entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs.  You will be able to find the information and resources you need to commercialize technologies here.  

At the heart of MSU's Department of Physics, Earth Science and Space Systems Engineering is the Ronald G. Eaglin Space Science Center (SSC). The facility houses state-of-the-art equipment and laboratories that will give you valuable hands-on learning experiences. The Space Science Center is home to MSU's Program of Distinction, the Bachelor of Science in Space Systems Engineering.

MSU's Space Science Center was recently named the best aerospace research and development center in Kentucky by Southern Business and Development magazine, beating out research and development programs at Eastern Kentucky University, the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville.

The SSC has become an important center for research in nanosatellite technologies. CubeSats are "loaf of bread" or smaller-sized nanosatellites that have become the defacto world-wide standard for small satellite technologies. CubeSats are 10 x 10 x 10 cm (or by 20 or 30 cm in length) satellites that weigh under 1 kg per unit. The recent evolution of micro/nanotechnologies and microelectronics has facilitated the development of these inexpensive, highly capable small satellites that are now being flown by NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, aerospace companies and universities around the globe. CubeSats, including those developed at the SSC, are used for a wide variety of applications ranging from tactical defense to scientific research (including astrophysics research and Earth phenomena and resource monitoring) to practical applications ranging from communications to relaying data from ground sensors. CubeSats are considered "disruptive technology" by the world-wide aerospace industry because they can provide some of the same services as conventional satellites at a fraction of the cost and with short development times - and MSU is at the forefront of this emerging technology.

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.
 

The Louisville Konexon's Community Portal is maintained by the Sheltowee Business Network. On this Community Portal you will find the resources that entrepreneurs need for growing their businesses.  If you have resources or information that you think could be helpful to the Louisville entrepreneurial ecosystem, please feel to reach out to us.  We hope that you find this portal to be helpful and a resource that you come back to.  

The Louisville Healthcare CEO Council (LHCC) was formed in 2017 to leverage the strengths and assets of its members to solve important problems that extend beyond the scope of any one single member company. LHCC board members include CEOs from Kindred, Humana, Trilogy Health Services, Norton Healthcare, Hosparus Health, Anthem, Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Signature Healthcare, Galen College of Nursing, Baptist Healthcare System, and BrightSpring Health Services. These companies are the titans in the industry, collectively representing over 450,000 employees, $120 billion in revenue and 80 million lives touched. 

The Louisville Healthcare CEO Council (LHCC) is excited to announce the Healthcare Ventures Challenge powered by AARP Innovation Labs. LHCC is seeking proposals for innovations that address barriers to Affordable Healthcare Solutions for older adults. 6-8 finalists will be selected to present at a virtual Healthcare Ventures Challenge on August 5th, 2021. Finalists will have the opportunity to showcase their interventions to investors and healthcare executives that span the entire continuum of care. One winner will be selected to move forward and pitch at the AARP Innovation Labs Grand Finale Pitch Competition this fall.

The Derby City Angels is an angel investor group in Louisville, KY that is part of the Sheltowee Angel Network.  

The Bowling Green Konexon's Community Portal is here to help entrepreneurs in Bowling Green and the surrounding area, find the resources and information they need to assist them in growing their businesses.  

The AccelerateKY Connect. Inform. Inspire. Community Portal, has been established for the participants of the October 15th event and for those interested in participating with AccelerateKY in assisting entrepreneurs and innovators from across the Commonwealth of Kentucky.