Keyhorse Capital, in partnership with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development’s statewide #KYInnovation program and as an initiative of Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC), has announced that its current quarterly investment cycle is open through June 30th for eligible companies.
The windows for each quarterly investment cycle are:
- January 1 - March 31
- April 1 - June 30
- July 1 - September 30
- October 1 - December 31
Through the Kentucky Enterprise Fund and KSBCI 2.0, Keyhorse Capital and the Commonwealth of Kentucky have been investing in the future of Kentucky since 2002, leveraging over $50.1 million to support 239 Kentucky companies.
These funds make early-stage venture capital investments in high-growth startups and entrepreneurs based in or interested in relocating to Kentucky. Companies must be in the process of building an innovative, technology-enabled product, process, or service; have developed a prototype, be seeking product-market fit, or entering an early growth stage of development; and present a well-articulated market opportunity with some level of customer validation and a strong founding team.
In the first investment cycle of 2024, Keyhorse Capital announced $3.2M of investments in companies that included:
- Affinna: Simplified ticketing platform software for businesses and event organizers.
- Airtrek Robotics: Developer of autonomous mobile robots that enable complete automation of airport ground operations.
- Avana Health: Developer of treatments for women who experience Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB) and Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH)
- Bailout Systems: Developer of the world’s smallest, hands-free descent device, enabling a user to anchor, jump, and lower to the ground safely without any additional input from the user.
- Besti Co.: Synchronizable period care solution platform offering a subscription box business model.
- BioGlitz: Developer of a biodegradable product line that includes a high-quality biodegradable, plant-based shine that appeals to many and has many environmental considerations and benefits.
- Brite Trace (Birthwrite Technologies): Healthcare SaaS platform that empowers caregivers serving individuals diagnosed with dementia.
- CleanSpace Corporation: Developer of a SaaS platform designed to help cleaning companies streamline their operations, improve efficiency, and deliver a better experience to their customers.
- Deepshot (Deepshot Labs): Developer of a customizable dialogue generation and replacement software, allowing users to easily create professional-looking videos.
- Feedcoyote: B2B/B2C freelance collaboration network and project management platform.
- FlyWire (WearWare): Video technology that translates fishing data into catch tracking, monitoring, & reporting
- GoWild: Activity-based social commerce platform for outdoor enthusiasts
- Immersive Hearing Technologies (Immersive Audiology): Developer of a virtual reality software application that lets a patient "test drive" what hearing aids will sound like in real-life settings.
- Kidvestors: Developer of financial curriculum software for K-12 students.
- Kyndly Technologies (aka Kyndly Benefits): Developer of an automated health insurance decision support & enrollment assistance platform.
- Louisville Vegan Jerky Co.: Manufacturer of jerky and toppings made from non-GMO certified whole soybeans, paired with freshly sourced combinations of flavor.
- NonBinary Solutions Corporation: Clinical decision support system software for autism service providers.
- PreventScripts (Personal Medicine Plus): Health management platform and remote patient monitoring for diabetes and hypertension.
- Purchaser Inc: Developer of a software platform that improves the overall purchasing efficiency of clients in the manufacturing industry.
- Ridgerunner Outdoors: Developer of an all-in-one automated SaaS-based enterprise-level commerce cloud connected to the only vertical e-commerce marketplace for outdoor brands.
- Scrub Step: Manufacturer of a foldable step stool that saves kitchen space and helps kids wash their hands.
- Smoove Creations: Digital design platform where users can customize different types of footwear.
- Stuccco: Online interior design, virtual staging, and home goods platform.
- Seamly Systems: Digital custom/tailored pattern platform for fashion designers.
- Swell Health (Sage Health Labs): Developer of tech-enabled therapy for military families
- To The Market (Survivor Made Goods): Information services platform providing sustainability and supply chain transparency data to businesses and retailers.
- Untitled (Untitled Holding Company): Data pipeline management software for data source connectivity, visualization/reporting, and business intelligence/analysis.
- Value Buddy: Software platform for business valuation, benchmarking, and appraisal.
- Wicked Sheets (Wicked Technologies): Bedding and sleep products that detect and mitigate issues associated with excess moisture.
- Yornest: Messaging platform designed to create close social groups for large or small audiences
Keyhorse Capital and KSTC have partnered with KY Innovation and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development to create an easy-to-navigate quarterly investment process for the state’s most promising startup companies. Together with an improved public application process and statewide communication strategy to increase access and the number of investment opportunities, Kentucky’s funds have seen a continued increase in award applications and reviews.
To learn more and apply for funding, visit: keyhorse.vc/
About Keyhorse Capital:
Keyhorse Capital is a seed-stage venture capital firm focused on supporting a thriving community of entrepreneurs willing to go the distance to build and grow innovative companies. Keyhorse is focused on investing in early-stage companies based in Kentucky through a funding partnership with KYInnovation and KCED. Keyhorse Capital has provided financing to 243 companies. Their active portfolio of 137 companies has created more than 800 jobs and counting. Learn more at keyhorse.vc.
About KSTC:
KSTC is a private, statewide non-profit corporation committed to advancing science, technology, and innovative economic development founded on Kentucky know-how. KSTC seeks to improve the capacity of people, companies, and organizations to build an innovation-driven economy in Kentucky. Learn more at kstc.org.
About the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and KY Innovation:
#KYInnovation is an initiative of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (KCED) that targets resources to support startups, traditional small businesses, and innovation-driven entrepreneurs across the business life-span with the aim of dramatically improving Kentucky’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and significantly increasing the number of new company startups annually. More about the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s investment and support for innovation can be found at kyinnovation.com.
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