(Louisville, KY) – The application period for the 2019 Vogt Awards opens today to startup companies across the region. The Vogt Awards are dedicated to helping early-stage startup companies develop into viable and successful businesses by providing non-dilutive funding, dedicated mentorship, workshops, and support to participants. Applications for eligible companies will be accepted through May 31st.
The Vogt Awards program supports innovation by providing robust mentorship and support services to early-stage entrepreneurs. Each winner will receive $25,000 in non-dilutive funding, along with an additional package of valuable services designed for startups. Entrepreneurs from the Greater Louisville area that have the potential to create a scalable business based on innovative, technology-enabled products are encouraged to apply.
Beginning this year, the revenue cap for 2019 applicants will allow $50,000 per year—an increase from the cap of $50,000 of lifetime revenue in years past. This change allows companies that may have charged for pilot tests, or had early adopters, to apply for the program. This allows for a broader field of acceptable applicants.
“By providing non-dilutive money that doesn’t force entrepreneurs to give up a stake in their companies in order to get them off the ground, the Vogt Awards program empowers entrepreneurs to realize their full vision without having to compromise,” said Ellie Puckett, Commercialization Director for GLI’s EnterpriseCorp. “That dedication to empowering local startups is invaluable in growing our entrepreneurial community.”
Henry Vogt Heuser Sr., who established the Vogt Invention & Innovation Fund at the Community Foundation of Louisville, had a strong vision for growing innovation in Greater Louisville. Heuser pioneered the creation of multiple inventions during his career. The Vogt Invention & Innovation Fund, an endowment at the Community Foundation of Louisville, was created to help support entrepreneurial efforts of engineers and innovators to fund the product development and commercialization of their ideas. The Vogt Awards program is the Fund’s marquee program, and Greater Louisville’s longest running accelerator.
“Every year, we see innovative companies with the drive to break the glass across countless industry sectors, as was Henry Heuser’s vision for what the Vogt Awards would one day do,” said Susan Barry, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Louisville. “We look forward to seeing a diverse selection of applicants ready to take on those challenges.”
Vogt Award winners will be selected in August. After which, EnterpriseCorp will begin to conduct the 10-week mentoring and support program throughout the fall. The full roster of partners and mentors will be released at a later date.
The program’s annual Vogt Demo Day in November concludes the program, giving each winner the opportunity to showcase their business to the entrepreneurial community and display the progress they made, thanks to the Vogt Awards program.
Applications are being accepted from April 3 to May 31, 2019, and are open to entrepreneurs based in Louisville, surrounding Kentucky counties, and Southern Indiana. For all criteria and to apply, visit http://www.vogtawards.com/
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About The Vogt Awards & Henry Heuser
Henry Vogt Heuser, who died in 1999, was an exemplary corporate citizen and a gifted inventor and entrepreneur. He was a native of Louisville who spent his entire career working for Henry Vogt Machine Company, including 28 years as its president. Whenever Henry had an idea about how to make something better, quicker, or easier, all he had to do was walk out to the shop floor to assess its viability and commercial potential. The endowment he created at the Community Foundation of Louisville to establish this award will allow engineers and entrepreneurs to access the same kinds of resources. The Vogt Award is intended not only to memorialize Henry’s legacy, but also to inspire more inventors to pursue their goals right here in Louisville.
The Community Foundation of Louisville is a force for good. As a leader in philanthropy, we connect donors, nonprofits, and civic partners to create lasting impact in community so people and place thrive. Founded in 1984, the Community Foundation is the largest charitable foundation in Kentucky with more than $500 million in assets and more than 1,600 charitable funds. Each fund has its own name and charitable purpose as defined by its donors. In 2018, these funds made over 10,000 grants totaling $86 million, approximately 84% of which stayed in Kentucky and Southern Indiana to support area nonprofits. To learn how you can be a part of this force for good, visit www.cflouisville.org.
About EnterpriseCorp
EnterpriseCorp is the entrepreneurial arm of Greater Louisville Inc.– the region’s leading economic development organization and the Louisville Regional Office for the Kentucky Innovation Network (KIN). GLI’s EnterpriseCorp is dedicated to building a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and culture for early stage and fast growth companies. For more information, visit EnterpriseCorp.com.
About Greater Louisville Inc.
Greater Louisville Inc. – the Metro Chamber of Commerce is focused on growing the regional economy. As the region’s largest convener of business leadership, GLI leads economic and global outreach strategies focused on business attraction; nurtures the entrepreneurial eco-system; and champions the development of the community’s talent base. As the voice of Greater Louisville’s business community, GLI advocates for a pro-business environment and facilitates businesses engagement on issues that impact regional competitiveness. For more information, visit www.GreaterLouisville.com.
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