Vogt Awards
The Community Foundation of Louisville’s Vogt Invention & Innovation Awards offers entrepreneurs in the Louisville region a unique and exciting opportunity to take their businesses to the next level. Each year, up to six early-stage businesses receive $25,000 in non-dilutive grant funding, participation in a 10-week startup accelerator program, coaching, mentorship, strategic introductions, and recognition, all designed to boost the growth of their business. Unlike other business accelerator programs, the Vogt Awards allows founders to retain full ownership of their businesses.
Vogt Awards Demo Day is the culmination of the intensive, 10-week Vogt Invention and Innovation Awards accelerator program. Join the Community Foundation of Louisville for Vogt Awards Demo Day at 5:30 p.m. on October 10 at the Kentucky Derby Museum. During this free event, six dynamic founders will take center stage to showcase their big ideas and innovative solutions in AI technology, food security, solar energy, feminine hygiene, job searching, and mentorship. They’ll share how their pioneering businesses are impacting the local, regional, and national business community.
Registration is required as space is limited.
Meet RiverGuide
Kela Ivonye, founder of RiverGuide, remembers how difficult it was for him to find a mentor as a college student. He says there was no central location where students could go and be matched with an appropriate mentor – someone not only in the student’s chosen field but also interested and willing to be a mentor. That’s why Ivonye founded RiverGuide, a mentorship program platform for universities and entrepreneurial support organizations that uses AI to analyze the students’ goals and projects and makes the best mentor match from its existing pool of startup founders.
“RiverGuide is something I wanted while I was in college and it's something that can help more students become more successful,” said Ivonye. “We’re focused on college students who want to build generational companies.”
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2024 Vogt Awards Cohort
Credit: Abdul Sharif Photography
Back row (left to right): Sashil Chapagain, PhD, Peter Armstrong, PhD, Jack Manzella, and Blake Martin, PhD with Sofab Inks; Morgan Gao with EchoJobs; Kela Ivonye and Gautam Nain with RiverGuide. Front row (left to right): Amanda Miah with Besti Co.; Ace McGill with Value Buddy; and Anora Morton, JD, with Nori
The Community Foundation of Louisville recently announced the recipients of our 24th Vogt Invention and Innovation Awards. These six early-stage industry disruptors received $25,000 in non-dilutive grant funding, participation in a 10-week accelerator program, startup coaching, mentorship, strategic introductions, and recognition.
The 2024 Vogt Awards Selection Committee
Back row starting from left: Maggie Harlow, Greg Langdon, Mario Mazzone, Logan Burchett, Nick Phillips, Brett Moreno, Jake Miller, Steve Reid, Dana Cosby, Phoebe Wood, Buddy Bockweg, Chris Weidmar, Erik Steele
Front row starting from left: Julia Regan, Cynthia Brown, Kena Samuels-Stith, Grace Simrall, Haleh Karimi PhD, Pat Carver PhD, Raechele Smalls, Tendai Charasika, Susan Olson PhD, Alli Truttmann. Photo credit: Abdul Sharif Photography.
This year’s six early-stage businesses were chosen by a selection committee made up of leading entrepreneurs, investors, and service providers in the startup and business communities, and past Vogt Award recipients. This innovative, passionate group of trailblazers are experts in their fields and have firsthand experience in what it takes to build a company from the ground up. The committee was led by Chair Maggie Harlow, CEO of Signarama Downtown.
The competition was tough this year, and narrowing the field to six businesses was an enormous challenge. We want to thank each committee member for their leadership, guidance, and thoughtful consideration throughout the selection process.
The Tremendous Legacy behind the Vogt Awards
The Vogt Invention & Innovation Fund and Awards were established in 1999 through an endowment generously created by Henry V. Heuser Sr. This long-standing and prestigious program aims to strengthen Louisville’s economic health by supporting innovative businesses and inspiring entrepreneurship.
It’s an incredible story of generosity supporting a long-term vision that benefits economic development in our community.
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