Louisville AI Week Startup Showcase
February 10th • 3-5 PM • Mellwood Art Center
What to Expect
The Louisville AI Week Startup Showcase is a curated, two-hour pitch session connecting growth-stage AI startups with qualified buyers, operators, and innovation leaders actively seeking solutions for pilots and deployment.
It is a focused opportunity for proven AI companies to present directly to organizations evaluating, piloting, and adopting AI solutions right now.
Selected startups will pitch to a high-intent audience and engage in follow-up conversations centered on real use cases, pilots, and partnerships as part of Louisville AI Week.
Who is the showcase for?
Designed for Louisville AI startups that are ready to sell, test, & scale.
Participating companies should be prepared to:
→ Present real-world AI solutions
→ Discuss customer use cases and deployment paths
→ Engage in pilot, proof-of-value, or partnership conversations
→ Build direct relationships with decision-makers
Startup Eligibility
This showcase is application-based and highly selective.
To qualify as an AI Startup for this program, companies must:
→ Be well-funded (Seed stage or later)
→ Have existing customers or active deployments
→ Be prepared to support pilot programs or proof-of-value engagements
Pre-seed, concept-only, or idea-stage companies will not be considered.
What Participating Startups Receive
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Dedicated Pitch Opportunity
Each participating startup receives a focused pitch slot to present directly to qualified potential customers who are actively evaluating AI solutions.
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Direct Access to Decision-Makers
Founders engage face-to-face with enterprise, SMB, and public-sector leaders who influence purchasing, partnerships, and adoption decisions.
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Buyer-Ready Audience Exposure
Startups gain visibility with organizations that are actively budgeting and planning for AI initiatives in the near term.
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Structured, Outcome-Driven Networking
Startups gain visibility with organizations that are actively budgeting and planning for AI initiatives in the near term.
Join the Post-Showase Community Happy Hour!
Following the showcase, startups are invited to participate in a two-hour community happy hour designed to extend conversations beyond the pitch.
This networking-focused session gives founders the opportunity to:
→ Engage directly with audience members in a relaxed setting
→ Continue pilot and partnership conversations
→ Build authentic relationships with potential customers, partners, and peers
Startups are welcome to bring:
→ Company banners
→ Marketing materials and collateral
→ Demo devices or visuals to support conversations
This portion of the evening is intentionally unstructured to prioritize relationship-building and meaningful follow-up.