Launch Blue and the Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp (BADC) announced the members of the Summer 2026 UAccel: AgTech I-Corps program.
The UAccel: AgTech I-Corps program includes tailored curriculum elements, guest speakers and mentors for individuals with agriculture-related solutions. Throughout the six-week virtual program, members will explore the best commercialization pathway for their technologies by engaging in a customer discovery process.
UAccel is a regional Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Program funded by the National Science Foundation and organized in partnership with the University of Kentucky's UK Innovate and Kentucky Commercialization Ventures. UK is a member of the Mid-South I-Corps Hub and offers a regional I-Corps program through Launch Blue.
"This cohort reflects the kind of innovation ecosystem we are working to build across the region. One that brings together talented founders, researchers and problem-solvers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines," said Laura Halligan, executive director of Launch Blue. "In collaboration with exceptional partners like BADC, we are excited to help these teams strengthen their customer discovery skills, validate real-world needs and move promising ideas closer to meaningful impact."
Launched in 2022, BADC serves as a partnership of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) and Alltech. It hosts an annual Challenge Grant Program that supports transformative agricultural startups helping reshape the future of food, farming and sustainability in Kentucky.
"BADC exists to accelerate AgTech innovation that benefits Kentucky farmers," said Jacob Ball, executive director at BADC. "Partnering with Launch Blue on this I-Corps program is a direct extension of that work. We are building an ecosystem where founders don't just get funding; they get the mentorship, market intelligence and commercialization structure to turn breakthrough ideas into lasting companies. This summer's cohort brings serious talent to the table, and I'm confident this program will sharpen their ventures in ways that pay dividends well beyond the program to move Kentucky agriculture forward."
BADC brings industry expertise to Launch Blue's regional I-Corps program, which started May 15 with an introductory panel of local industry leaders including:
- Linda Gorton, Lexington mayor
- Lesley Oliver, associate director, Research Office and Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station, Martin-Gatton CAFE
- Rebecca Delles, innovation and analytics manager, Alltech
Participants in this summer's AgTech I-Corps program will hear from experienced regional AgTech innovators including:
- Seth DeBolt, Ph.D., co-founder, RedLeaf Biologics and director, James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits
- Eric Hauck, CEO, Parasight System Inc.
- Bruce Webb, CEO, Lepidext and program alum
- Aardra Kachroo, Ph.D., co-founder, PhytoGenesis and professor of biotechnology, Martin-Gatton CAFE
Summer participants are:
- FarmSense: Brian King
- Clear Grain: Gene Ligman
- Verdant Equus: Jun Oh
- Urban AgStarz: Trevor Claiborn
- PhenoShield: Juan Feng and Rianna Mueller
- Invictus Informatics: Ted Kalbfleisch and Andy Steen
- Vets: Yosra Helmy
- FoodChain: Dorcas Lukwesa, Leandra Forman, Kristin Hughes, Maxxwell Alviar and Annika Maxey
- Biofish Solutions: Sandrine Umutesi, Ilerioluwase Rhema Oyedele and Janelle Hager
- Your Dog Days: Karin Pekarchik
Programs reported in this publication are supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Award Number 2229521. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation.
