The Vogt Awards

The Community Foundation of Louisville's Vogt Award offers entrepreneurs in the Louisville region a unique opportunity to take their business to the next level.

Each year, up to six (6) early-stage businesses receive up to $25,000 in non-dilutive grant funding and participate in a 10-week accelerator program that provides coaching, mentorship, and strategic introductions – all designed to boost the growth of the business. Further, award recipients may qualify for an additional $25,000 in additional capital from a participating program partner through a SAFE note (Simple Agreement for Future Equity). Unlike other business accelerator programs, the Vogt Awards allow founders to retain full ownership of their businesses should they wish.

The Vogt Awards support early-stage businesses that are developing innovative products or services and are actively working to build a sustainable and scalable company. These businesses have progressed beyond the idea stage – they must have created a prototype, and will ideally have done initial testing and engagement with early customers to better understand their market. Some may be pre-revenue, while others have modest sales or have raised small amounts of funding, but all are still in the formative stages of growth. 

We are sector-agnostic and welcome applications from businesses across industries. What we’re looking for are bold ideas, thoughtful planning, and founders who are ready to take meaningful steps toward growth with the support of funding, mentorship, and a connected community. 

Companies are selected based upon their concept’s merits of innovation, technical excellence, strategic business planning, competitive positioning, potential market value, time to market, and anticipated social/economic benefit for the Greater Louisville area. 

For more information about the Vogt Awards, including previous recipients, please visit www.VogtAwards.com.  

Requirements that must be true for application consideration:
If you do NOT meet these criteria, please visit Amplify for access to other business startup assistance.

• The business is a for-profit entity.


• The business is headquartered in the following counties.
  
  
  
  • Indiana – Clark, Floyd, or Harrison counties
  
  
  • Kentucky – Bullitt, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, or Spencer counties
  
  
  
  


• The business is registered with either the Indiana or Kentucky Secretary of State and in good standing (business can be organized in another state, e.g.: Delaware):
  
  
  
  • Indiana: https://bsd.sos.in.gov/publicbusinesssearch
  
  
  • Kentucky: https://sosbes.sos.ky.gov/BusSearchNProfile/search.aspx  
  
  
  
  


• The business is beyond the concept/idea stage and has an early prototype of the technology.


• The business is developing an innovative product/service.


• The business has customer revenue of less than $250,000/year to date.


• The business has a lifetime funding maximum of $1,000,000 as of application submittal (this includes grants, investments, and loans but excludes founders’ personal investments).


• The business is independent, not a subsidiary of another business or corporate spinout.

Applications will be given stronger consideration by the Selection Committee if these aspects are included and well-described in a founder’s application: 

• The business:




• Is using technology to develop a new product or service


• Is solving a pain point


• Has conducted customer discovery to validate their product/service


• Has a large market


• Has a unique competitive advantage and


• Is developing a scalable business model




• The product or service being developed does not require a long regulatory approval cycle (for example, companies working on a new drug may be excluded).

About the Community Foundation

The Vogt Awards are a program of The Community Foundation of Louisville, that brings together donors, nonprofits, businesses, and civic partners to transform our community through charitable giving, and the generosity of Mr. Henry Vogt Heuser Sr., former president of the Henry Vogt Machine Company, whose generous gift in 1999 has fueled this program that past 25 years. For additional information or questions about the application, contact vogtawards@cflouisville.org.

• Aerospace
• Business Products
• Business Services
• Chemicals and Chemical Products
• Consumer Products
• Consumer Services
• Digital Marketing
• Education
• Electronics / Instrumentation
• Fintech
• Food and Beverage
• Gaming
• Healthcare Services
• Industrial/Energy
• Media and Entertainment
• Mobile
• Oil and Gas
• Robotics
• Security
• Software
• Telecommunications

• Louisville, KY, US

• Capital Seeking
• - $50,001
• Valuation
• -