IMPACT REPORT
HELPING PEOPLE PURSUE THEIR DEFINITION OF
AWE S OME
ONTENT
A NOTE FROM OUR FO UND ER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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WHA T WE D O........ ........................................... .
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APAX SOFTWA RE... ............................................
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AWESOME INC U... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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FELLOWS HIP......... ........................................... .
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CO WORKING.................................................... .
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KENTUCKY E NTRE PR ENEUR H A L L O F FA M E. . . . . . . . .
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AWESOME FUND ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 EV ENTS............................................................ .
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O U TRE A CH + S TOR Y TEL L I NG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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TEAM ALPHA ........ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 SPONS ORS............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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WORK HARD. PLAY HARD.
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We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to pursue their definition of Awesome. This is the reason that we started Awesome Inc in 2009. We want people to discover their passion, enhance their strengths, and be comfortable owning their uniqueness while in pursuit of their dreams. We believe that creating a bustling startup community will allow more people to be able to pursue their dreams right here in Kentucky. To those who inspire us to keep pursuing OUR passions - startups, mentors, Team Alpha, community partners, sponsors, supporters, and friends - thank YOU! You are making Kentucky a better place to work and live!
Brian Raney Awesome Inc Cofounder
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WHAT WE DO
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Awesome Inc is building the tech and startup community in Kentucky by focusing on the creation and education of technology and entrepreneurship.
ED U CAT I O N
EN T RE P REN EU R S H I P
T ECHNO L O G Y
C R E A TIO N
OTHER PROGRAMS
star tu p
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9,412.6 CUPS O
F
41,215 DEVELOPMENT HOURS
$1.7M
INVESTED IN LOCAL COMMUNITY
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PROJECTS DELIVERED IN 2023
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E E C O N S UME
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As we wrap up another successful year at APAX Software, Awesome Inc's sister company, we're excited to celebrate our progress in developing custom software that meets our clients' business goals. As such, we're especially proud to have contributed to expanding Kentucky's tech landscape through our work. This year has been a testament to how our custom software solutions have aligned with our clients' business goals. We’ve partnered with key players like UK HealthCare, Keeneland, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), and Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC), delivering specialized software solutions for their distinct digital needs. Our strategic planning has empowered our clients to stay competitive, and our focus on product strategy and design, backed by real-user testing, has significantly reduced project risks. Looking ahead, we're enthusiastic about continuing this journey, driving innovation and growth. Here's to a future where technology and community go hand in hand.
14 YRS
LONGEST CLIENT RELATIONSHIP 10
Distinction Award Best Internet Homepage Healthcare System Distinction Award Best Provider Directory
Gold Website Refresh
Best Healthcare Mobile Website
Website Features Best User Experience General Websites Health Care Services
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT
Website Development
In a landmark project funded by the CDC, APAX developed Find Help Now (findhelpnow.org), a website designed to ease access to treatment for substance use disorder (SUD). In collaboration with KIPRC, we crafted a platform that offers a fast, user-friendly way for individuals and healthcare providers to find real-time treatment options. The responsive, mobile-friendly site features over 70 search filters, significantly reducing the time to locate treatment from 72 hours to just 6 minutes. This has not only streamlined processes for healthcare professionals but has also been a lifeline for families in urgent need. Our ongoing commitment to this project has led to its expansion across the United States, continuously enhancing the search and provider experience. This initiative, underlining our dedication to using technology for good, has recently been strengthened by a six-year partnership extension, highlighting our role in transforming public health access. This project is a prime example of technology's powerful role in advancing public health and wellness.
“APAX helped guide us through the careful kind of decision-making process that needed to occur.”
VALUE PROVIDED Strategy and Branding
Quality Assurance
UI/UX Design
Analytics & Optimization
Responsive Web Development
Data Reporting
Software Application Architecture
Training Materials
Tyler Jennings, KIPRC 11
Since Awesome Inc U’s launch in 2013, we have learned a lot about software development, but even more about people. We have seen experienced professionals blaze new paths by starting new careers in tech, including single mothers, people who were "too old", and people whose prior experience in blue collar or service work seemed like barriers. Our students continue to prove their naysayers wrong, and surpass what they thought was possible. Our youth students continue to excel, too. Coding is an exercise in literacy for a generation that has grown up with apps all around them. We have enjoyed growing partnerships with local non-profit organizations who help us make coding classes accessible to more students. If software is a key part of our world, shouldn't people all over the world be equipped to create it? If our youth students are any indication, Kentucky's developers are as good as any you will find in top tech hubs. We're excited for a future filled with better technology, built locally, by people who invest in themselves and our community.
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BOOTCAMP STUDENTS 12
67
JOBS LANDED IN TECH
86
YOUTH STUDENTS
16
STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS*
*WITH TOYOTA GRANT
CODE SOMETHING AWESOME Coming off of our largest cohort ever in the fall of 2022, the Web Developer Bootcamp program expanded in 2023 from two to three annual sessions. We offered the Winter and Summer sessions fully remote, adding flexibility for local students, as well as access to students outside of the Lexington area. The in-person fall program rounded out our year, with 28 students graduating from the Bootcamp in 2023. We've enjoyed seeing our grads landing jobs with new employers this year, including USA Soccer, Gray, and Jack Henry.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED DEVELOPER EDUCATION
In addition to continuing our perennial favorite, the Week of Code summer camp, our Youth Coding team has been focused on our C.O.D.E. program for high school students. In partnership with the entrepreneurship training program Boom KY, we've enjoyed expanding our initial pilot program from a small group of schools in Eastern Kentucky to schools across the state. We've gotten to work with more than 185 students at 12 schools in 2023.
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AWESOME FELLOWSHIP The Awesome Fellowship Program is dedicated to supporting Kentucky tech startups with a dynamic community and essential resources for scaling. Tailored for full-time founders, the program provides a year-long package of valuable resources, including accountability, coaching, design and video services, web development assistance, and access to accounting & legal resources.
$21,985,425 INVESTMENT RAISED
117.5
JOBS CREATED
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Connect with our growing network of mentors and startup founders by applying at fellowship.awesomeinc.org to elevate your startup! The Fellowship Program is made possible because of the generous support partnerships and donors. We'd like to thank Team Kentucky, Chase Bank, Kinetic, Dinsmore, DB Virtual Accounting, and the many founders from the Hall of Fame for their consistent and valuable support.
OUR 2023 PORTFOLIO OF COMPANIES
Wicked Technologies specializes in bedding and sleep products that both detect and mitigate issues associated with excess moisture. Their newest product, the Wicked Smart Pad, is a washable, sensorized pad that wirelessly transmits spill data to caregivers.
Smoove Creations specializes in crafting custom designs that reflect the unique branding and culture of each organization. With meticulous attention to detail and a passion for creativity, they transform sneakers into wearable works of art.
NonBinary Solutions’ software, Knowetic, brings standardization of clinical decision making to a highly variable service industry and helps personalize and optimize outcomes for the extremely heterogeneous group of people that share a single diagnostic label of autism.
Guide Book enhances the experiences of outdoor guides by dedicatedly linking adventure enthusiasts with the finest guides for their upcoming escapades. Guides undergo reviews from authentic users, ensuring unbiased assessments. With Guide Book, rest assured that your time and money are wisely invested in a memorable adventure.
Feedcoyote has created a groundbreaking collaboration platform that connects freelancers across the globe, fostering a sense of community and fueling efficiency. By providing a centralized hub for freelancers to connect, collaborate, and share resources, Feedcoyote transforms the freelance landscape into a vibrant and interconnected ecosystem.
Cartoonize My Pet takes pet customization to a whole new level. Their platform allows users to design and purchase accessories featuring charming cartoon versions of their beloved pets. Cartoonize My Pet offers over 1 trillion different options to showcase your furry friend in an adorable and personalized way.
Kyndly Benefits simplifies health insurance for both individuals and businesses. Their Kynd Choice insuretech platform empowers individuals to find equivalent insurance plans to their previous medicaid plans. It also provides businesses with the ability to go through state insurance markets at a lower cost than existing group insurance plans.
C2Keep streamlines the entire inventory management process, ensuring pharmacies have the right medications in stock when needed by seamlessly connecting with both wholesalers and prescription-filling software.
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COWORKING Awesome Inc's coworking space is a collaborative environment not just for the Awesome Inc team, but the greater startup and entrepreneur community. While 348 East Main Street hosts Awesome Inc, APAX Software, the Awesome Fellowship, and Awesome Inc U, it also serves as space for any founder, entrepreneur, or remote worker looking for a dedicated space to get their best work done. Our office includes 4 coworking areas and conference rooms, 22 private offices, phone booths, a breakroom, a garage flex space, and a room dedicated to software development courses. With these amenities, our office is equipped to accommodate a growing tech community in Lexington, KY. On track to have our best year since Awesome Inc's inception, we ended 2023 with an office occupancy of 86%. CleanSpace, a 5 Across winner and 13 Layers, a Fellowship Program alumni, both signed up for office space with us this year. Our growth has shown us that Lexington needs and desires an environment that promotes technology and entrepreneurship. Awesome Inc's coworking, private office, and event space has proven to be that. Even though Awesome Inc's community is generally tech-focused, we've seen companies from a wide range of industries seek out our coworking space. From property management, to marketing agencies, to several churches and a therapist, the coworking space has grown to be a melting pot for Lexington businesses. This year, our space has also flexed its ability to host a variety of events of all sizes. Events like Fellowship Demo Day with its presentation and demo-style elements, and networking events like Undrcvr Lex, where 20 different Lexington companies were showcased. 2023 showed us just how active a flourishing coworking space in Lexington can be.
18,000
SQ. FT. OF COWORKING SPACE 16
80
COMPANIES SERVED
40
NEW WORKSPACE MEMBERS
COWORKING SPACES RENOVATED: - GARAGE: AN INDOOR/OUTDOOR CASUAL SPACE - 3,200 SQ. FT. NEWLY ACQUIRED AND UPDATED CORPORATE SUITE
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT AppOmni is a provider of SaaS security software that makes it easy for security and IT teams to monitor and protect their SaaS applications. In 2023, they received Frost & Sullivan's Global Company of the Year award in the cateogry of SaaS Security Posture Management. With new workspace members like AppOmni, we have seen an influx of West Coast tech talent using our space every day. AppOmni originally made their home at Awesome Inc by renting two of our smaller private offices. After several months, they capitalized on an opportunity to make Awesome Inc their regional hub by moving into our newly acquired 3,200 square foot corporate suite. With 190 employees nationwide, they have already sent dozens of their regional remote employees to Awesome Inc as a central location. With their upgrade to the corporate suite set for January 1st, 2024, we are excited to see more and more of their team use our space. They have become a prime example of Awesome Inc's pursuit of promoting tech and entrepreneurship in the state of Kentucky.
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209,469
TOTAL FOUNDERS SERIES VIEWS
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The 2023 Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame ceremony proudly marked a new chapter for the organization. For the first time, the ceremony was held at the Central Bank Convention Center located in the heart of downtown Lexington. Support for the prestigious event continued to soar, with one of the highest attendance numbers in the past decade. The 2023 Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame Class
KENTUCKY ENTREPRENEUR HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
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FOUNDERS SERIES VIDEOS
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Jimmy Kirchdorfer
Tony Lamb
Donna Salyers
ISCO Industries
Kona Ice
Fabulous Furs
The Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame inductees are the roadmap to the success for the next generations of Kentucky entrepreneurs. And today, we have 55 inductees for the future generations to learn from. This includes the video series called the Founders Series we launched in 2013 in order to share the stories of Kentucky's most successful entrepreneurs. Each interview captures key moments from the entrepreneurs' journeys as well as their best life lessons and wisdom.
EMERGING ENTREPRENEURS
Jennifer Williams
Logan Burchett, Steven Plappert
Koby Hastings
Cuddle Clones
Forecastr
SalesRiver
Cuddle Clones capture all of the physical details and owner requested traits of one’s pet in an adorable stuffed animal form.
Forecastr is an out-of-the-box finance function for business. Make better decisions and succeed in fundraising.
SalesRiver is a comprehensive sales enablement platform serving enterprise customers with distributed sales teams in a variety of industries.
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2023 marks the realization of a dream that Awesome Inc has had since 2009, namely the launch our very own venture fund in Kentucky. Through the cultivation of relationships over the past 15 years, we have been able to raise millions in funding to invest in startups in and around Kentucky. We would not have been able to do this without our community's encouragement, support, and belief in our ability to shepherd startups in and around Kentucky. We have invested into four companies who we have had the pleasure of getting to know through 5 Across, our Coworking Space, and our Fellowship program. We continue to search for and connect with hundreds of entrepreneurs to identify companies which we believe will grow and provide outsized returns for the fund and the region.
$300,000 DOLLARS INVESTED
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COMPANIES INVESTED IN
$5M FUND
OUR FIRST INVESTMENTS Thynk Health, co-founded by Dr. Kevin Croce, is a medical technology platform which uses Natural Language Processing and AI to identify incidental findings of nodules and cancer from doctors notes and radiology images of the lungs. Implemented in 25 hospital systems, Thynk has been able to increase cancer findings by 5x on the same patient population at some hospitals. TitleWise, co-founded by Jennifer Mason, is a platform for title search companies to streamline the research and tracking of title searches for a variety of industries. After working in the industry for over a decade, Jennifer created a product which she wanted to use herself after not finding an existing solution on the market with plans to expand into the title insurance market over time. Holler Commerce, co-founded by Brad Luttrell and Zack Grimes, is an ecommerce platform which allows existing blogs and creators to better monetize their following through an easy to set up dropshipped store from top brands and partnerships. After launching with Bear Grylls, Holler has continued to land influencers and blogs with millions of followers to sell through. Kyndly Benefits, co-founded by Waleed Bahouth and Erik Anderson, both formerly from Humana, simplifies health insurance for both individuals and businesses. Their Kynd Choice insuretech platform empowers individuals to find equivalent insurance plans to their previous medicaid plans. It also provides businesses with the ability to go through state insurance markets at a lower cost than existing group insurance plans.
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EVENTS 2,640
PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE
78
EVENTS
Without community events, many founders across Kentucky would not be connected. At the heart of the events we host is a desire to bring people together over a common goal: To help each other pursue our definitions of Awesome. Throughout 2023, we worked with incredible community partners to put on 78 events. This year has brought with it many milestones for our flagship event, the 5 Across Pitch Competition. Multiple 300+ person events, $85,000+ in cash and investments to winners, and countless cheers, laughs, and pats on the back have made this a record year for entrepreneurship in Kentucky. Few things are as powerful as sharing a meal together; the conversations created and relationships built over the table are invaluable to the growth of the Lexington startup community. One of our Core Values at Aweosme Inc is Be A Friend. Between Bootcamp Demo Days, 5 Across Pitch Competitions, and many of our other events, over 2,500 meals were enjoyed by our friends. With more community involvement than ever, Awesome Inc is ready to capture the momentum we experienced in 2023 to catapult us into future events.
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EVENT SPOTLIGHT
The 5 Across season started and ended strong this year with two sold out shows! We filled every seat and then some at the Mane on Main and The Kentucky Theatre with over 300 people at each event. At the Finals in December, Wicked Technologies was victorious and took home $55,000 in cash and investments.
"Events like 5 Across are so important for a founder like myself. Not only for the prize money, but the networking and exposure can lead to so much more. From connections I've made at 5 Across, I've been able to secure $750,000 of investment into my startup." Alli Truttmann Founder & CEO of Wicked Technologies
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
-CLUB AIRWING VENTURES
College of Communication and Information Department of Communication
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OUTREACH + STORYTEL L I NG In 2023, Awesome Inc's content was viewed over 250,000 times. With a focus on social media, video content, and podcasts, we had a steady stream of fresh eyes on our mission and efforts. With a focus on exposure, our social media, video content, and podcasts had a steady stream of fresh eyes. This included Awesome Inc's 10 appearances on local television stations throughout 2023 to talk about events and entrepreneurship. Stations included FOX56, WKYT, and ABC36. Awesome Inc strengthened its existing partnerships with the Governor's Scholars Program, the Governor's School for Entrepreneurs, the University of Kentucky, Asbury University, and Eastern Kentucky University. We taught as guest lecturers and focused on the importance of experiential learning opportunities. Students were taught entrepreneurship basics and encouraged to put them into practice. Multiple engagement opportunities were given to students to see and interact with entrepreneurs at our 5 Across pitch competition.
2,075 STUDENTS REACHED
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255,434 CONTENT VIEWS + LISTENS
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PODCAST EPISODES
70
EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS
25
TEAM ALPHA 15,751
DA
21 INTERNS ACCEPTED
164
INTERNS APPLIED
13%
ACCEPTANCE RATE
RT
S THROWN
Our interns play an integral part in helping fulfill our mission to make Lexington, KY a better place to live and work. Awesome Inc continues to attract high-quality high school and college students who demonstrate passion, curiosity, determination, and a healthy disregard for the fear of failing. We treat our interns as team members, friends, and colleagues. We're thankful to be a launching pad for the next generation of talent in our city. Team Alpha includes: • The Design Team propels our visual presence with animated graphics, marketing templates, printed signage, informative pieces, and supportive brand elements. • The Marketing Team has four primary focuses that help interns build real-world marketing experience: Social Media, Copywriting, Analytics, and Video Content Creation. • The Video Team interns learn how to communicate impactful stories through all aspects of digital storytelling and videography and learn how to use professional gear in real settings. • The Web Development Team interns who work with other developers and team members to build customer-facing applications and websites that are used everyday.
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INTERN SPOTLIGHT
"My time at Awesome Inc was amazing, mainly thanks to the team. From day one, I felt welcomed and supported. The Awesome Inc team cared about more than the task at hand—they genuinely cared about my interests and unique career goals, and went out of their way to help me achieve them.” Autumn Hines Current Dean Dorton Employee + UK Graduate
OUR INTERNS HAVE COME FROM:
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DIFFERENT UNIVERSITIES
DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS
DIFFERENT COMMUNITY ORGS
PLACES INTERNS HAVE LANDED AFTER TEAM ALPHA Notable Tech Companies That Have Hired Team Alpha Alum Amazon, Eventbrite, Facebook, Google, HP, Instagram, Match, Microsoft, NASA, NBA, Paramount, Postmates, Spotify, and many others Universities for Undergrad and Graduate School (After Completed Internship) Case Western, Columbia, Eastern Kentucky University, FIDM, Georgia Tech, Harvard, New York University, Northwestern University, Stanford, Tulane University, University of Alabama, University of California San Diego, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Georgia, University of Houston, University of Kentucky, University of New Mexico, University of Southern California, University of Texas Austin, University of Washington, Vanderbilt, Washington University in St. Louis, West Point, Western Kentucky University
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AWESOME INC THANKS ITS SPONSORS
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Billy Harper Brian Luftman The W. Bruce Lunsford Foundation, Inc
Chip Mahan Cal Turner Jr. Chris T. Sullivan Foundation Chris Young Doug Cobb Dr. Walcott Dudley Webb Elizabeth Rounsavall James Crain Jess Correll Jim Booth Jim Host Jim Patterson Jimmy Kirchdorfer Joe Craft Joe Steier John Williams Kent Oyler Lee Todd Luke Murray Mike Davis Michael Mountjoy Morris Foundation Nate Morris Randy Bufford River Foundation Stephen Gray
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