The Louisville Entrepreneurship Summit, presented by the , brought together more than 300 innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and supporters from throughout the region for a fireside chat, startup expo, networking and signing of Case’s new book, “.”��

“Entrepreneurship and innovation is so core to what we do and who we are as a university, whether that’s by educating the next generation of founders, developing research-backed products or launching new companies,” said Kevin Gardner, UofL’s executive vice president for research and innovation, who leads the organizing office and gave opening remarks. “We’re proud to work with Case and our community partners to support startups here and beyond.”

In addition to Case, speakers included Elliott Parker, CEO of Indianapolis venture firm, High Alpha Innovation; Jonathan Webb, founder of Kentucky-born agtech startup, AppHarvest; and Monique Quarterman, executive director of KY Innovation. Selected entrepreneurs also participated in a roundtable and had the chance to pitch their ideas to Case’s venture capital firm, Revolution LLC, which invests in early-stage companies located outside of major startup hubs, like New York City or San Francisco.

This event, held at the university’s newly renovated Angel’s Envy Bourbon Club, marked Case’s third visit to UofL and the region; in 2016, he toured UofL engineering facilities and FirstBuild makerspace, and in 2018, he heard pitches from Louisville startups that resulted in a $100,000 investment in a company born from UofL research. Case said Louisville’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has huge potential.

“Louisville has so many of the right elements in place for a robust startup ecosystem, including a great research university,” Case said. “I’m excited by what I’ve seen here, and look forward to following the city’s startups and future success stories.”

At UofL, the Office of Research and Innovation has launched a number of key supports driving regional entrepreneurship. That includes , a new team led by Will Metcalf, associate vice president for research development and strategic partnerships, dedicated to launching and growing innovative new companies to move research-backed technologies to market.

“We’ve had a lot of success and built momentum with these efforts to spur entrepreneurship and innovation on our campus and beyond,” said Metcalf, who emceed the Louisville Entrepreneurship Summit. “Our work at UofL, and this event, are meant to accelerate that momentum throughout our regional ecosystem, creating meaningful impact through translational research, innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development.”

Metcalf said those seeking to become more engaged can contact the UofL New Ventures team directly or to learn more about resources for entrepreneurs, such as the eight-week product innovation bootcamp (enrolling now for the spring 2023 session).����

The Louisville Entrepreneurship Summit was powered by Donna and Charles Denny, the Dan Jones Family,��Frost Brown Todd,��AppHarvest, AMPED, PNC, Blue Sky Ventures and��UofL.

Before the competition, held last week at the Speed Art Museum on UofL’s Belknap campus, new president Dr. Neeli Bendapudi moderated a fireside chat between Case, co-founder of America Online, and Bill Ready, chief operating officer of PayPal.

They talked entrepreneurship and innovation before the judges heard from seven Louisville startup companies and chose one — Inscope — for an investment from the .

Many of the presenting companies had a connection to UofL. Five went through training programs such as LaunchIt or RevIt offered by the UofL Forcht Center for Entrepreneurship, and/or received a startup grant to grow their business here. Some, like FreshFry and Mailhaven, are led by UofL alumni.

For Inscope, the connections are deep.

“This was born at the business school — room 222, with Dr. Van Clouse,” said CEO Maggie Galloway, who pitched at the Rise of the Rest event. “Now we’ve got a product on the market that could save lives.”

Galloway co-founded the company, which produces a suction laryngoscope device for clearing patient airways, as part of a student team in the Entrepreneurship MBA program at the College of Business.

There, they worked with Clouse, chair of entrepreneurship and director of the Forcht Center. The Inscope team built up the company, and won after after for their business plan and pitch.

“I am very proud of Incsope’s continuing success,” Clouse said. “In addition to launching a high performance new venture, the team continues to give generously of their time to the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

The UofL Office of Technology Transfer worked with the company on commercialization and provided advice on the patenting process. Inscope just recently , the Inscope Direct, and is now finishing up a new product that incorporates video.

And they’re still winning pitch contests — like Rise of the Rest.

“We are absolutely overwhelmed for Inscope; it’s a fantastic achievement and they’ve worked so hard,” said Dr. Holly Clark, deputy director of OTT. “The team and technology started with a great idea to address a critical medical need. With the team’s skill, determination, and dedication, they’ll continue to go far.”

The “Rise of the Rest” seed fund is backed by Revolution, an investment firm led by Case. The fund invests in early-stage companies located outside of major startup hubs, like New York City or San Francisco.

Louisville was the last stop of the 2018 Rise of the Rest tour, after Dallas, Memphis, Birmingham and Chattanooga. There’s a video on the Louisville leg of the tour .��

The is backed by Revolution, an investment firm led by America Online co-founder, Steve Case. The fund invests in early-stage companies located outside of major startup hubs, like New York City or San Francisco.

Those in Louisville, for example.

Local startups , , and others each will have the chance to pitch when the fund comes to Louisville on Friday, May 11.

The is at 4 p.m. at the Speed Art Museum on the Belknap campus.

According to the Rise of the Rest website, the evening will include networking, an open bar and a fireside chat with Case and J.D. Vance, the seed fund’s managing partner and author of

After that, the Louisville entrepreneurs will pitch their their companies to the judges for a shot at $100,000. The judges include Case, Vance, Revolution partner David Hall, and Google for Entrepreneurs director Mary Grove.

This is a return for Case, who also came to with Rise of the Rest. Then, he attended an Innovation Showcase at the UofL Engineering Garage and spoke at the PNC Club at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.

Louisville is the last stop of the 2018 Rise of the Rest tour, after Dallas, Memphis, Birmingham and Chattanooga.

The showcase brings together area entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders to highlight UofLl’s groundbreaking work in science, manufacturing and business. Held at the IPR’s Engineering Garage, the event treated attendees to tours of the adjoining FirstBuild and the Additive Manufacturing Competency Center, as well as a panel presentation from university administrators and members of the business community.

Case, who is currently CEO of the Washington, D.C. investment firm Revolution LLC, shared his experience on becoming one of the most successful and impactful entrepreneurs in American history and emphasized the importance of disruptive innovation in moving the economy forward. He challenged the idea that hotbeds of innovation can only be found in Silicon Valley or New York City and listed the qualities that make Louisville an ideal home for startups, including��its central location, thriving foodservice and healthcare industries and strong business community.

Additionally, Case touted the IPR as a unique engine of innovation, and a nexus of manufacturing expertise, cutting-edge technology and public involvement. He praised the Institute’s willingness to push the envelope as essential to the future of enterprise in the city and cautioned business leaders in the audience not to rest on their laurels.

“If you want to know what a city will look like in 25 years, look at the state of its startups now,” Case said. “You have to constantly reinvent yourself, or you’ll get left behind.”

Case, who played��a significant role in getting mainstream America connected to the Internet, is now investigating how his brainchild is being reinvented in his book The Third Wave, free copies of which were provided to attendees.

In addition to the presentation, representatives from the Speed School and College of Business demonstrated what their departments had to offer, including a custom prosthetic hand, a 3D printed heart and an Entrepreneurship MBA program ranked 23rd in the nation. Overall, the event’s atmosphere was one of optimism and excitement for innovation and potential.

“Two hundred and fifty years ago, America itself was just a startup,” said Case, reminding the audience that anything is��possible.

See .��

Video from the event is available below:��