Grads and Winning Teams! Entrepreneurs Bootcamp Spring 2021
Congrats Graduates & Winners of the Entrepreneurs Bootcamp Spring 2021 Program
April 2021 - The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship announced the winners from the Entrepreneurs Bootcamp 2.0 and 1.0 Spring 2021 program. Congratulations to these startups! Funds for these awards were provided by the Institute for the Study of Enterprise. We will be accepting applications for its Fall 2021 Bootcamp soon! More information about VACE and the Entrepreneurs Bootcamp can be found at http://vace.uky.edu/bootcamp/handbook
Spring 2021 Bootcamp 2.0 Winning Teams
1st place - $2,500 - Cameron Adams, Founder of Connect
Connect is a social networking App meant for people to go places, do things, and make meaningful connections. At present social media is used primarily to maintain existing acquaintances and friendships, but offers few and ineffective methods for developing new relationships and deepening those that already exist. Connect fills this gap. We take a better approach to meeting people online. Instead of matching people directly, we nudge them toward meaningful relationships by offering direct and group messaging within the context of a shared experience. In doing so Connect bridges the gap between online and in person meetings and establishes a social network that actually cultivates new and meaningful relationships.
“Thanks for everything that Mariam and the team at The Von Allmen Center has been doing to help get us exposed to people that have been starting businesses, and have gone through what we're going through. It is very helpful to hear their perspectives and opens your eyes to the way that other people are thinking. It’s also great to feel that you’re a part of the startup community.” - Cameron Adams, Gatton College of Business, Finance Alumni
2nd place - $1,500 - Daniel Gorash, Founder of Badland Wolves
Founder and CEO Daniel Gorash developed and illustrated Badland Wolves, a card-driven strategy game in which players make up the badland wolf pack. According to the Kickstarter page, players compete to be crowned the new “alpha of the badlands.” Daniel successfully raised over $20,000 on his Kickstarter campaign and is in process of fulfilling initial orders.
“It’s been a great experience to see how everybody's progressed and how we've all been able to be a part of each other’s journeys. The guest speakers have also been very helpful, because they are also still developing their business models. I look forward to the day when I can give back and readily help others that were beginning their startups.” - Daniel Gorash, Lexington community member
3rd place - $1,000 - Monica Stewart, Founder of Transitions Caregiver Solutions
Transitions Caregiver Solutions provides support and resources for families that have loved ones with health issues that inhibit daily functionality. The services and resources provided are determined by assessing individual family needs through a customized needs assessment. Transitions will have website, app and social media presence to provide services needed by families such as moving companies, painting services, real estate, legal, music therapy, etc. The organization will seek to partner with healthcare facilities, COVID rehab facilities, community agencies and local businesses to provide a whole spectrum of services based on the needs of the family. The references to services include but are not limited to caregiver group support, health seminars, music therapy, references for financial and estate planning, realtors, living facilities, COVID Rehab facilities, moving needs, physical therapy, medical equipment and safety essentials.
“I appreciate all the effort that goes into Bootcamp 2.0, and meeting us where we are in terms of our needs. It is not an easy task to help our startups at such various stages. I could not have gotten where I am today without the entire two semesters of the Bootcamp program and what is has to offer.”
- Monica Stewart, Louisville community member
4th place - $500 - Fara Williams, Founder of The Foundation for Unifying Networks
The Foundation for Unifying Networks will reach out to LSAMP alumni and others in order to raise funds that will be used to expand current opportunities and create new ones for students from underrepresented (URM) populations who complete degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Fara Williams has worked with Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) programs for over 13 years. She is now creating a non-profit organization – the Foundation for Unifying Networks. The purpose of the foundation is to expand the abilities of existing programs, create new programming and opportunities, and unify programs for an increase in a sense of national community, branding, and recognition.
“The Bootcamp 2.0 program’s individualized coaching sessions have made a world of difference in my progress from where I started in Bootcamp 1.0. I am very appreciative of all the attention to detail that has been put into our teams, and am thankful for the additional mentorship we have available to us beyond the regular sessions.” - Fara Williams, University of Kentucky, Staff member
Spring 2021 Bootcamp 1.0 Winning Teams
1st place - $1,000 - Grace Pentecost, Founder of Diabetic Difference
Undergraduate | College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
2nd place - $750 - Luke Allen and Josh Dunkelberger, Co-Founders of Teeth Relief
Undergraduates | Gatton College of Business and Economics
3rd place - $500 - Winston Duncan and Mack Hancock, Co-Founders of Beanstalk
Graduates | Gatton College of Business and Economics
4th place - $300 - Nik Hochstrasser, Founder of Ripple
UK Staff member, Center for Applied Energy and Research
