Keyhorse Capital Launches Next Investment Cycle for Eligible Kentucky Companies

Keyhorse Capital, an initiative of Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation, in partnership with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, has announced applications for its fourth quarter investment cycle are open now through November 22, 2026.

‍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 $114 million to support 338 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 third investment cycle of 2026, Keyhorse Capital announced $1.32M of investments in companies through direct and programmatic investments that included:

• Airtrek Robotics: Autonomous mobile robots that enable complete automation of airport ground operations.
• DonateEquity : Software tool for nonprofits to receive and process private equity donations.
• Kanbol : Pulping technology and manufacturing that transforms agricultural fibers into molded fiber packaging.
• LiverRight : Virtual hepatology clinic that offers same-week access to liver specialists nationwide and powers white-labeled liver clinics for hospital systems.
• OgMentum ARK: Integrated developer and provider of low-cost fiber-optic test equipment and hydrogen-sensing solutions.
• Psympl: Enterprise software that adds psychographic motivation data to bank CRMs to improve outreach performance across acquisition, onboarding, and collections.
• SMB.co: AI-powered marketplace for valuing, buying, and selling small businesses.

Programmatic Investments

• BumptUp Labs : Evidence-based physical activity guidance platform for pregnant and postpartum women.
• Narratize: AI-driven platform that streamlines the creation of high-quality content for enterprises.

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: www.keyhorse.vc/pitch

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 336 companies. Their active portfolio of 212 companies has created more than 800 jobs and counting. Learn more at keyhorse.vc.

About Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation

Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC) is a private, statewide nonprofit championing innovation in knowledge, talent and investment to accelerate Kentucky’s economic growth and competitiveness and secure a better future for all Kentuckians. By strengthening research and knowledge transfer, cultivating an innovation-ready workforce, and supporting strategic investment in Kentucky businesses, KSTC helps launch, scale and grow the ideas and companies that power the state’s economy. Learn more at kstc.com.

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.