The Community Foundation of Louisville today announced 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 Oct. 13.
The winners are:
- Black UX Labs connects Black and Brown User Experience (UX) practitioners to hiring managers through a fun and innovative professional development platform. Founder is Amber Fields.
- Gluconfidence improves outcomes and reduces the daily burden for insulin-taking people with diabetes through a combination of real-time data driven guidance and automated glucose delivery. Founder is Brian Olivier.
- Legal Gantt provides law firms with a client portal to facilitate communication, case status and progress with their clients. Founders are Hishem Alsalman and Carlos Acevedo.
- Sports Metaphor offers Timeout, a mobile app that uses AI and gamification to improve athlete mental health with personal recommendations and therapy-based exercises. Founder is Maya McClendon.
- Symba empowers real estate agents with a mobile-first CRM to grow and manage their business with clients. Founders are Ryan Harris, Evan Knowles, Kendall Weihe and Tanner Wilcox.
- Yornest is developing a group messaging platform that brings the fun of social media functions into group chats. Founder is Michael Brizendine.
The Vogt Awards are funded by the Vogt Invention and Innovation Fund at the Community Foundation of Louisville, an endowment established in 1999 thanks to the generosity of businessman and philanthropist Henry Vogt Heuser Sr. The purpose of this charitable fund is to strengthen Louisville’s economic health by providing funding and support to innovative startups and inspiring entrepreneurs. The Fund’s originating $5 million principal is still intact today after providing non-dilutive grants to 96 startup companies totaling more than $3.7 million.
Winners were chosen by a selection committee made up of leading entrepreneurs and investors in the startup community and past Vogt Award winners.
