Awesome Inc is proud to announce new partnerships with 11 colleges and universities across central and southern Kentucky to launch and support student-led entrepreneurship clubs. These clubs will serve as vital entry points into Kentucky’s startup ecosystem, offering students hands-on opportunities to develop their ideas, connect with local founders, and build ventures that solve real problems.

Each of these partnerships is tailored to support the unique identity and energy of its campus community, with Awesome Inc providing coaching, resources, training opportunities, and access to a statewide network of innovators. Here's a closer look at what’s happening on each campus:

Asbury University

At Asbury University, the entrepreneurship club is being launched in collaboration with the Dayton School of Business. With a strong foundation in values-based leadership and innovation, the club will focus on educating and engaging students through activities, guest speakers, and venture launches that align with the university’s mission of serving others through business. Students will participate in idea challenges and connect with alumni founders leading purpose-driven startups across Kentucky and beyond. 

Berea College

Berea College’s commitment to access and equity aligns perfectly with this partnership. The Berea Entrepreneurship Club will empower students from underserved backgrounds to see entrepreneurship as a path to economic mobility and community change. This club will closely partner with the Entrepreneurship for the Public Good program, already thriving on campus. With an additional focus on finding and supporting startups, the entrepreneurship club will bring a new lens to entrepreneurship in Appalachia and beyond. 

Campbellsville University

Campbellsville’s club will draw on the university’s two largest campuses, Campbellsville and Harrodsburg, which serve vastly different programs situated in tight-knit communities. This club is uniquely positioned to explore rural entrepreneurship and community reinvestment. Students will have the opportunity to pitch ideas, connect with regional founders, and learn how to launch businesses rooted in their values and skills that meet the needs of their communities. 

Centre College

Centre College is known for its strong academic rigor and commitment to student leadership. The entrepreneurship club will bring together students from across disciplines to collaborate on startups, compete in pitch events, and engage in cross-campus innovation challenges. The Centre Entrepreneurship Club is a student-led initiative to ignite and support entrepreneurial ambition at Centre College. Backed by a partnership with Awesome Inc the club is committed to introducing entrepreneurial thinking, providing access to resources, and fostering a startup ecosystem on campus. The Entrepreneurship Club will equip Centre students and recent alumni with the resources, knowledge, and support systems they need to transform ideas into viable ventures, while establishing Centre as a hub for student entrepreneurship in Kentucky and beyond.

Eastern Kentucky University

EKU has long been a hub for applied learning and real-world training, and its entrepreneurship club will reflect that spirit. Students will work on ventures that connect with the university’s strengths and will provide opportunities for students to take their knowledge, experience and ventures to their hometowns. With the school’s growing enrollment and EKU’s hands-on approach, the club will offer students the chance to test, iterate, and launch ideas with real impact.

Kentucky State University

Kentucky State’s entrepreneurship club will be student-driven and community-focused. With support from Awesome Inc and university leadership, the club will prioritize hands-on educational and practice opportunities, exposing students to opportunities through the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, regional founders, and state leadership. The entrepreneurship club at K State will provide opportunities to elevate existing student businesses on campus and connect them to resources to grow their companies by gaining access to mentorship, funding pathways, and startup training designed to increase founder diversity and support Black-owned and minority-led startups in Kentucky.

Lindsey Wilson University

Entrepreneurship at Lindsey Wilson will focus on innovation in rural communities, international business, and sustainable companies. Given the college’s strengths in business, competition, and international partnerships, students will learn and contribute to a global entrepreneurship movement. The club will bring together students passionate about service and introduce them to entrepreneurship as a tool for building sustainable, mission-driven solutions.

Midway University

As a university focused on career readiness and leadership development, Midway is the perfect partner for a high-impact entrepreneurship club. Students at Midway are already exploring e-commerce, finance, and local small business development, and the new club will give them the support and structure to turn those interests into realized ventures. With guidance from Awesome Inc and local business mentors, the club will become a launchpad for student innovation.

Transylvania University

Transy’s club is all about ideas in action. With its central location in downtown Lexington, students are already surrounded by the city’s startup energy. This new club will formalize connections with local founders and give students a front-row seat to the entrepreneurial process. Not only will they watch the businesses around them, but they will also be creating businesses and providing routes for their peers to join. Whether they’re majoring in business, computer science, or the arts, students will learn how to take risks, build prototypes, and pitch their ideas to real audiences with long-term impacts.

University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky is already home to a thriving innovation ecosystem, and this partnership will give undergraduate students even more access to startup pathways. The club continues to serve as a gathering point for student builders across campus, especially those outside of the formal innovation or business programs. With access to campus resources and Awesome Inc’s network and support, the club will connect students to startup founders, job shadowing opportunities, pitch competitions, and the broader Kentucky startup scene.

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These partnerships are just the beginning. At Awesome Inc, we believe Kentucky’s next great founders are already on these campuses, and with the right support, they’ll change the world.

If you're a student, faculty member, or alum who wants to get involved, reach out to your campus club or connect with us at Awesomeinc.org. Let’s build something awesome, together. 🚀

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