2020 Best Tech Startups in Kentucky
The Tech Tribune staff has compiled the very best tech startups in Kentucky. In doing our research, we considered several factors including but not limited to:
- Revenue potential
- Leadership team
- Brand/product traction
- Competitive landscape
Additionally, all companies must be independent (unacquired), privately owned, at most 10 years old, and have received at least one round of funding in order to qualify.
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1. Enlighten
Founded: 2016
Also honored in:
- 2019 Best Tech Startups in Bowling Green
- 2019 Best Tech Startups in Kentucky
- 2018 Best Tech Startups in Kentucky
“Enlighten is an enterprise technology solution managed by a team with a collective 20 years of experience serving Fortune 500 companies, first-class retailers and top-end brands all over the world. Enlighten brings cutting edge retail technology to the cannabis industry. With an education forward approach, Enlighten helps its partners grow their brand and build relationships with their customers through a variety of solutions. Its technology solutions are intended to increase revenue and awareness and keep customers engaged. As an aggregation of several notable companies from both inside and outside of cannabis, Enlighten is one of the most well-funded, wide reaching and longest tenured companies in cannabis.”
2. SentryHealth
Founded: 2011
Also honored in: 2019 Best Tech Startups in Kentucky
“SentryHealth delivers world-class care at the work place, featuring programs and solutions by the world-famous Johns Hopkins Medicine.”
3. SkuVault
Founded: 2011
Also honored in:
“SkuVault inventory and warehouse management system is a cloud-based software designed for small-medium and enterprise companies looking to scale and compete in the eCommerce and omni-channel markets.
SkuVault deals with your actual, physical inventory. We scan it into and out of your warehouse or store, and use this real-time data to sync with your online marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, or Walmart. Real-time quantity syncs prevent out of stocks, barcoding and quality control reduce picking and shipping errors, and our smart re-order reports ensure that your purchasing decisions are backed by hard data.”
4. EdjAnalytics
Founded: 2013
Also honored in:
- 2020 Best Tech Startups in Louisville
- 2019 Best Tech Startups in Kentucky
- 2019 Best Tech Startups in Louisville
- 2018 Best Tech Startups in Kentucky
- 2018 Best Tech Startups in Louisville
“EdjAnalytics provides “edge” to companies and people in competitive markets. We do this by solving very complex problems in unique and creative ways that allow us to look at each question as if it is a game to be won or lost. Each game is structured so that the outcome is optimized for the users’ unique requirements. This approach has been helpful to clients as diverse as professional football teams, commodity traders and corporate executives. We believe that this method can be used for scores of other applications, and we’re in the process of building our business to meet those needs.”
5. Fooji
Founded: 2015
Also honored in:
- 2020 Best Tech Startups in Lexington
- 2019 Best Tech Startups in Kentucky
- 2019 Best Tech Startups in Lexington
- 2018 Best Tech Startups in Kentucky
- 2018 Best Tech Startups in Lexington
“Fooji helps the world’s most beloved brands acquire and engage fans through award-winning giveaways, sweepstakes, and promotions.
The Fooji platform is used by top brands, including: ABC, Adidas, Amazon Studios, Budweiser, Disney, FOX, GSK, MINI, Netflix, Paramount Pictures, Patron, Pepsi, Sony Pictures, Toyota, Turner Broadcasting, Verizon, Warner Bros, and YouTube.
Fooji has 3 global offices: Lexington, KY (HQ), Los Angeles, CA, and Lisbon, Portugal.”
6. Xooker
Founded: 2017
Also honored in:
- 2020 Best Tech Startups in Lexington
- 2019 Best Tech Startups in Kentucky
- 2019 Best Tech Startups in Lexington
- 2018 Best Tech Startups in Kentucky
- 2018 Best Tech Startups in Lexington
“Founded in 2013, Xooker (pronounced “Zooker”), is headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. The Xooker app launched Oct. 1, 2015, as a next-generation merchant and consumer engagement platform that is mobile, location-aware, personalized and fun. Xooker overlays analytics with a powerful combination of engagement tools that includes messaging, deals, coupons, automatic check-in, games and rewards. This unique mobile-first consumer engagement platform enables local and national merchants to both get new clients, and keep them as profitable repeat customers. The platform includes a suite of games that can be branded so even local, independent merchants can keep consumers engaged in a fun way.”
7. OnPoint Warranty Solutions
Founded: 2015
Also honored in: 2019 Best Tech Startups in Kentucky
“To businesses and consumers wanting to feel connected, protected and cared for, OnPoint Warranty has the reputable talent for connecting brands and consumers through dynamic warranty products and support service experiences designed to reduce risk, increase efficiency, delight customers and improve your bottom line.”
8. GoWild
Founded: 2017
“GoWild is the fastest growing and most sophisticated platform for hunting, fishing and the outdoors. We provide users with an app customized to fit their lifestyle, and brands a place to find their exact target audience.
GoWild is on a mission is to craft and curate a community where outdoorsmen and women can engage, interact and learn. With a supportive space for hunters and anglers, GoWild is creating a platform to increase the number of people enjoying the outdoors, which has a direct impact on conservation.”
9. Onovative
Founded: 2013
Also honored in: 2020 Best Tech Startups in Louisville
“We help banks grow by providing them with stunningly simple software that automates Customer Onboarding Communications, Email/Print/SMS Marketing, Cross Selling, Customer Surveys, and Reporting…all connected to your core banking system.
Onovative is not your typical banking software company. We don’t believe in making customers sign long-term contracts or pay exorbitant fees in order to benefit from great software. Community banks and credit unions deserve software that is simple to use and affordable.”
10. Red e App
Founded: 2011
Also honored in:
- 2019 Best Tech Startups in Louisville
- 2018 Best Tech Startups in Kentucky
- 2018 Best Tech Startups in Louisville
“Red e App is the other side of the enterprise productivity coin. One side of the coin is Box, Salesforce, Office365, Yammer, and Slack that were designed for the needs of a knowledge-based, @company.com email carrying workforce.
Red e App, however, is a mobile workflow communication and file distribution platform architected specifically for the more than 2.1 billion non-desk and hourly workers who do not have access to @company.com email.”