Vogt Awards
The Community Foundation of Louisville’s Vogt Invention & Innovation Awards, focused on supporting entrepreneurship in the Louisville region, is the longest-standing program of its kind. Through an endowment left by Henry V. Heuser, Sr. in 1999, the Vogt Awards uniquely allows founders to retain full ownership of their business as they leverage a 10-week startup education program and mentorship in addition to an infusion of capital to accelerate their company’s growth. Established by Henry Vogt Heuser, Sr., the Vogt Fund and Awards were created to strengthen Louisville’s economic health by supporting innovative startups and inspiring entrepreneurship. This initiative plays a critical role in our community’s economic growth as a city that’s poised to be a break-out for startups: ensuring the support and success for new and future businesses.
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Meet the 2021 Vogt Awards Cohort
Pictured left to right: Brian Olivier, Tanner Wilcox, Ryan Harris, Kendall Weihe, Evan Knowles, Maya McClendon, Hishem Alsalman, Carlos Acevedo, and Amber Fields. Not pictured: Michael Brizendine | Photo credit: Creative Photography LLC
Join us!
The Community Foundation of Louisville is proud to announce the recipients of its 21st annual Vogt Invention and Innovation Awards. These six early-stage companies will receive $25,000 in non-dilutive grant funding, participation in a 10-week accelerator program, startup coaching, mentorship from industry veterans, strategic introductions and recognition. The program will culminate with introduction of the founders and company pitches at Demo Day on Wednesday, October 13, at 5:00 PM at Waterfront Botanical Gardens, 1435 Frankfort Ave. sponsored by Louisville Public Media. Register today!
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Did you Miss Demo Day?
The 2020 Vogt Invention and Innovation Award winners present their companies and the progress they've made to the startup, investor, and business communities.
Watch the Vogt Awards Demo Day here
Vogt Awards by the Numbers
Celebrating 20 Years of the Vogt Invention & Innovation Awards
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Vogt Awards, this insert from Louisville Business First was published in 2020 to showcase the history and impact of this long-standing initiative.
Take your early-stage business idea to the next level, with the prestigious Vogt Awards prize money and accelerator workshops.
Be connected with experienced CEOs and investors who will mentor you through the development of your innovative, technology-enabled product.
Benefit From a Long History of Successful Entrepreneurs
Henry V. Heuser, Sr. was the former president of the Henry Vogt Machine Co., a high-tech tinkerer, corporate leader, and philanthropist. Before his passing in November 1999, he made a $5 million endowed gift to create and perpetually finance The Vogt Invention and Innovation Fund.
The Fund’s purpose is to memorialize the Vogt engineering tradition in the Louisville region by providing engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs with grants to fund the product development and commercialization of their ideas. The Vogt Awards were created to help fulfill this purpose.
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