Gatton Welcomes Leading Social Innovators to 2023 PNC Innovation Summit

The Gatton College of Business and Economics is pleased to announce its continued collaboration with PNC Bank to host the 2023 PNC Innovation Summit, a two-day event that includes the PNC Innovation Conference and PNC Wildcat Pitch Competition, April 21-22, 2023.

Now in its third year, the PNC Innovation Conference provides UK students with insights into the startup arena and real-world challenges unique to early-stage organizations, while delivering opportunities for attendees to learn from and connect with distinguished business leaders and alumni. This year’s conference, “Managing High Growth Companies Through Times of Uncertainty,” will focus on implementing new social practices and innovations in a wide range of business applications and scenarios. The action-packed, in-person event will be held April 21 and is open to all members of the University of Kentucky and Lexington communities.

Cassidy Rouse, senior vice president of Strategy and Corporate Development for Eight Sleep and a Gatton alumnus, will serve as the event’s keynote speaker. Rouse will examine the challenges of managing a business when faced with societal and market adversity, drawing upon experience from his current role and his previous position as senior vice president of business development for Peloton.

"In today's dynamic business environment, embracing change has never been more important, and the PNC Innovation Summit celebrates what is possible when entrepreneurs and business leaders lean into this business imperative," said John Gohmann, PNC regional president for Lexington. "All of us are PNC recognize UK's essential role in shaping our regions's future entrepreneurs and business leaders, and we look forward to joining students, faculty, speakers and community members for a time of learning and inspiration." 

On April 22, select undergraduate and graduate students will participate in the full-day PNC Wildcat Pitch Competition, also in its third year, with $20,000 in seed funding to be awarded for innovative business plans.

“We are delighted to team up with PNC to offer UK students the chance to build their entrepreneurial skills and showcase their business ideas for ground-breaking products and services to a panel of judges – including UK alumni – who contribute to the region’s business sector,” said Simon Sheather, dean of the Gatton College of Business and Economics.

The PNC Innovation Conference is an in-person event, offered at no charge to all members of the University of Kentucky and Lexington communities. The PNC Wildcat Pitch Competition, open to select students, is a hybrid event, to be held virtually and in-person at the Gatton College of Business and Economics. Founding presenting sponsor PNC Bank recently renewed its support for the two-day event through 2025.

For more information and to register for the PNC Innovation Summit, visit https://gatton.uky.edu/innovation-summit.

PNC Bank

PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.