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Every year, WGT$? recognizes entrepreneurial companies in Lexington that are contributing to the long-term growth and prosperity of our community. These entrepreneurs are the mechanism for growing new businesses and jobs that form the basis for a knowledge-based economy. Participants of the Lexington Entrepreneurship Impact Survey help to shine light on the bright future for start-ups and entrepreneurs in the Bluegrass Region.
2021 SPONSORS
2021 PARTICIPANTS
Recognizing these are challenging times, we value and appreciate the bright ideas and impact our entrepreneurs make on the Lexington community. This year WGT$? celebrates 70 entrepreneurs and early-stage companies that responded to its annual survey.
Advanced Semiconductor
Processing Technology
APAX Software Development, LLC
Atterogen
Avast Therapeutics Inc.
Aviation Safety Resources, Inc.
Awesome Center for Entrepreneurship
Cerelux, LLC
CoPlex Therapeutics, LLC
Equine Diagnostic Solutions, LLC
Fishback Management & Research, Inc.
GGI Corporation
Gismo Therapeutics Inc
IOPtic, Inc.
Kitchen Automation Technologies
Minerva Systems & Technologies, LLC
MyVocalHealth
ORB Technologies LLC
VerraGlo, LLC
W-Z Biotech, LLC
Whoo.ai
Wild Dog Physics LLC
2021 RESULTS
$52.1 million
Investments (grants, equity, debt)
$77.5 million
Revenue Generated
$64,000
Average Salary for FT Employees
110 new jobs
623 employed
Results calculated from self-reported numbers from FY2021 that were provided by 70 Lexington, KY startups.
2021 AWARDS
eAchievers
This award recognizes those companies, who reported on their annual survey that during July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, that their company raised $1 million or more in funding from all sources (i.e. grants, equity etc.) and/or the company hired five or more full-time employees.
W-Z Biotech, LLC
2021 Female Founded Startup of the Year
In a study of over 350 startups, researchers discovered that companies founded by women generated more than two times as much revenue per dollar invested than those founded by men. However, the distribution of investment is not equitable – nearly 98% of venture capital is invested in male founded startups.
This award celebrates the ingenuity, entrepreneurship and the successful venture funding efforts of one of our own female-founded companies, despite these existing barriers. Our 2021 Female Founded Startup of the Year award is presented to Kate VanPelt, cofounder of Synaptek.
Co-founder and CEO of Synaptek, Kate Van Pelt, grew frustrated with how her research was not translating into easier concussion care for clinicians. Her experiences as a collegiate hockey player and concussion researcher made her decide it was time to create a solution. Now, with Synaptek’s concussion management platform, she can provide the much needed all-in-one solution to optimize concussion care. This intuitive, mobile-first platform allows athletic trainers to spend more time on athlete well-being, and less time managing data.
This award is sponsored by Marrow, a Lexington-based branding agency for startups and challenger brands. Marrow is doing its part to change the narrative by investing strategic resources in this years winner. Through brand development engagement, they will refine and amplify the winner’s brand story for a world in need of female perspective, talent and innovation.
2021 Stand Out Award
The Stand Out award recognizes the indomitable entrepreneurial spirit of a local startup that has had impressive revenue growth and success in raising capital. This year we are excited to recognize PowerTech Water, who has thrived as a business during the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
“Commerce Lexington has provided funding to incubators and programs like 5-Across which was critical in the founding of ElcetraMet. We would not be here today without that event and the support provided by Commerce Lexington. Through its network, we were able to connect with advisors and investors that saw the potential of our technology early on and provided us with valuable resources along our path to commercialization. Our team has experienced incredible growth over the last year and we have no plans to slow down.”
– Cameron Lippert, Co-Founder and CEO at PowerTech Water
2021 STARTUP RESOURCES
