AccelerateKY
AccelerateKY is a nonprofit organization focused on unleashing the potential of Kentucky's innovators and entrepreneurs.
We provide a central place where Kentuckians from entrepreneur, corporate, education, risk capital, government, and other economic support communities can collaborate on initiatives that strengthen the Bluegrass State's capacity for innovation. AccelerateKY focuses on reaching leaders across business sectors, across stakeholder groups, across the state—and beyond our borders.
Our mission is to engage people to dream what's possible for the Bluegrass State by:
- connecting Kentuckians to one another and to needed resources
- informing Kentuckians about opportunities, risks, and research
- inspiring Kentuckians with visions for the state's future
AccelerateKY's origins began in 2017 when a set of Kentuckians came together to imagine the Future of Work in the state, working with labs at MIT and USC. This led to Kentucky becoming the first U.S. region ever accepted into MIT's Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program.
AccelerateKY strives to be a connector, conduit, and catalyst to improving Kentucky's capacity to support innovation and entrepreneurship.
Our Team
“What's happening in Kentucky right now is, if we're lucky, 20 years ahead of what's going to happen elsewhere. Huge numbers of Americans, including those in booming coastal cities like Boston, are going to need help re-imagining themselves. We all need to hope MIT learns as much as it can from Kentucky.”