Keyhorse Capital, in partnership with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development’s statewide #KYInnovation program and as an initiative of Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC), has announced that its current quarterly investment cycle is open through June 30th for eligible companies.
The windows for each quarterly investment cycle are:
- January 1 - March 31
- April 1 - June 30
- July 1 - September 30
- October 1 - December 31
Through the Kentucky Enterprise Fund and KSBCI 2.0, Keyhorse Capital and the Commonwealth of Kentucky have been investing in the future of Kentucky since 2002, leveraging over $105.9 million to support 328 Kentucky companies. Kentucky companies.
These funds make early-stage venture capital investments in high-growth startups and entrepreneurs based in or interested in relocating to Kentucky. Companies must be in the process of building an innovative, technology-enabled product, process, or service; have developed a prototype, be seeking product-market fit, or entering an early growth stage of development; and present a well-articulated market opportunity with some level of customer validation and a strong founding team.
In the first investment cycle of 2026, Keyhorse Capital announced $9.2M of investments in companies that included:
- Applied Industrials: AI agents for SMBs in the industrials sector that automate manual order entry, price quoting, customer support response, work instructions selection, and RFP response workflows to drive operational performance.
- Avana Health: Intrauterine delivery platform for treating abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).
- Besti: Synchronizable period care solutions offered through a subscription box model and OBGYN care platform.
- ConnectRate: Prospecting software for phone-first business-to-business sales teams that grades phone numbers by likelihood to answer and automates the entire list-building workflow.
- Content Credits: Platform enabling consumers to use micro-payments to access online material across a wide range of media sites.
- Dealer Trade Network: Data-driven trading and logistics platform enabling dealers to swap cars and manage inventory more effectively.
- Elixir Kombucha: Kombucha-focused food and beverage company with novel fermentation, packaging, and distribution capabilities.
- Essential Innovations: Workforce technology platform helping employers and non-profits access tax credits and training dollars and support workers.
- EQL Games: Digital lottery content studio, aggregator, and licensor to game studios and state lotteries.
- Forecastr: A financial forecasting platform to help companies model and manage cash flow.
- GoodMaps: Indoor digital mapping platform enhancing accessibility, safety, and productivity.
- Kanbol: Pulping technology and manufacturing that transforms agricultural fibers into molded fiber packaging.
- Leapfrog: Cross-border hiring readiness and eligibility software for recruiters and international candidates.
- Modica: Superfood-infused and low-sugar drink mixing products for health-conscious consumers.
- Nexosome Oncology: Cancer diagnostics platform focused on early detection using exosome-based technologies.
- Nichefire: Analytics software platform for identification of emerging cultural trends based on consumer data.
- OgMentum ARK: Integrated developer and provider of low-cost fiber-optic test equipment and hydrogen-sensing solutions.
- Parasight System Inc.: Quantitative diagnostic platform for veterinary fecal egg counts and parasite management.
- Pascal Tags: Producer of a label-and-reader system that tracks factory items and updates existing inventory systems in real time.
- PCC Hydrogen: Clean energy platform converting ethanol to hydrogen using patented catalytic processes.
- Pebble: Vendor management and payment infrastructure platform for large events.
- Scoop Tech: Messaging and broadcast platform for universities and member-based communities.
- Sofab Inks INC: Manufacturer of metal oxide nanoparticles used in perovskite solar cell technology.
- TalnFlo: Hiring platform that helps companies find, manage, and evaluate job candidates in one place.
- To The Market: Responsible sourcing platform helping enterprises buy from vetted factories and generate order-level impact, traceability, and compliance reporting.
- Toothsure: Oral-care convenience products for hospitals and post-acute facilities to simplify bedside hygiene.
- xRake: Walk-behind power rake and soil conditioning machinery.
Keyhorse Capital and KSTC have partnered with KY Innovation and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development to create an easy-to-navigate quarterly investment process for the state’s most promising startup companies. Together with an improved public application process and statewide communication strategy to increase access and the number of investment opportunities, Kentucky’s funds have seen a continued increase in award applications and reviews.
To learn more and apply for funding, visit: keyhorse.vc/
About Keyhorse Capital
Keyhorse Capital is a seed-stage venture capital firm focused on supporting a thriving community of entrepreneurs willing to go the distance to build and grow innovative companies. Keyhorse is focused on investing in early-stage companies based in Kentucky through a funding partnership with KYInnovation and KCED. Keyhorse Capital has provided financing to 298 companies. Their active portfolio of 176 companies has created more than 800 jobs and counting. Learn more at keyhorse.vc.
About KSTC
KSTC is a private, statewide non-profit corporation committed to advancing science, technology, and innovative economic development founded on Kentucky know-how. KSTC seeks to improve the capacity of people, companies, and organizations to build an innovation-driven economy in Kentucky. Learn more at kstc.org.
About KY Innovation
#KYInnovation is an initiative of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (KCED) that targets resources to support startups, traditional small businesses, and innovation-driven entrepreneurs across the business life-span with the aim of dramatically improving Kentucky’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and significantly increasing the number of new company startups annually. More about the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s investment and support for innovation can be found at kyinnovation.com.
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