Applications Open for Launch Blue and Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp Summer 2026 UAccel Cohort

Launch Blue and the Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp (BADC) have opened applications for the Summer 2026 UAccel: AgTech I-Corps program, a specialized initiative designed to support agricultural innovation in Kentucky. The six-week virtual program focuses on helping early-stage startup founders and academic researchers identify commercialization pathways through a rigorous customer discovery process. This collaboration aims to strengthen the regional AgTech ecosystem by providing innovators with the mentorship and industry expertise necessary to transform agricultural research into viable businesses.

The UAccel: AgTech program is a regional iteration of the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I-Corps) model, delivered through a partnership between the University of Kentucky-based Launch Blue and the Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp (BADC). The curriculum is specifically tailored for individuals developing agriculture-related solutions, offering access to guest speakers and mentors with deep industry knowledge. Participants will engage in a six-week virtual immersive training process to evaluate the market potential of their technologies, bridging the gap between laboratory invention and real-world application.

BADC, which was established in 2022, serves as a strategic collaborator by bringing together the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, and global animal health leader Alltech. Jacob Ball, executive director of BADC, emphasized that providing resources to researchers and founders is critical for growing impactful AgTech businesses. The organization also hosts an annual Challenge Grant Program that awards funding to transformative startups focused on the future of food, farming, and sustainability.

The program is organized in conjunction with UK Innovate and Kentucky Commercialization Ventures, utilizing the University of Kentucky’s position as a member of the Mid-South I-Corps Hub. Laura Halligan, executive director of Launch Blue, noted that the initiative is designed to help Kentucky’s agricultural innovators understand the specific steps required to move from innovation to application. Selection for the cohort will be conducted by a committee appointed by the organizing partners, with applications currently hosted on the Launch Blue website for the upcoming summer session.