Launch Blue Announces Spring ‘26 UAccel I-Corps Cohort
Launch Blue announces 11 teams have been selected for the Spring 2026 UAccel I-Corps program, including four teams that will participate in the UAccel: Health Care track.
The UAccel I-Corps program offers an experiential learning opportunity to innovators in higher education interested in learning the best commercialization path for their solutions. The goal is to advance the solution toward commercialization, including preparations for federal grant applications, the creation of a startup or licensing of the solution to an established company. The UAccel: Health Care track includes tailored curriculum elements, coaches and mentors for those with health care-related ideas and solutions.
UAccel I-Corps is a regional Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Program. The U.S. National Science Foundation's I-Corps program is an immersive, entrepreneurial training program that facilitates the transformation of invention to impact. The University of Kentucky (UK) is a member of the Mid-South I-Corps Hub. Run by Launch Blue, UAccel I-Corps is organized in partnership with UK Innovate and Kentucky Commercialization Ventures.
The cohort was selected through a competitive application and interview process by a selection committee appointed by the organizing partners. Applications for the Summer 2026 UAccel I-Corps program will open in the spring of 2026.
The following teams are participating in the Spring 2026 UAccel program:
Jaleesa Wells, Ph.D., Gosia Chwatko, Ph.D., Morgan Gilbert
Alchromatic
An artist-grade modeling material that uses renewable, lower-impact inputs such as plant-based and animal by-product-derived components.
Jill Abney, Ph.D
Gen AI Instruction Tool
An educational resource that provides a common vocabulary for students and instructors to communicate about the uses of Gen AI in the context of their learning environments.
Jennifer Taylor
Licensure Compact
A tool for social workers to prepare for multi-state practice within the Social Work Licensure Compact.
Alex Lamb
Mountainview Geosystems:
Additive manufacturing for drone systems and other robotics and electronics.
Bill Meehan; Tyler Barzee, Ph.D., Gosia Chwatko, Ph.D.
Spirited
PHA (biodegradable plastic) at the cost of petroleum plastic.
Carlie Martindale, Shane Tedder
Sustainability Learning Hub
An applied learning hub housed within UK Sustainability that is centered around the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals
Nitil Hiremath
UKBLU
Silicon carbide (SiC) composites that offer the flexibility, biocompatibility and chemical resistance of silicone with the exceptional hardness, thermal conductivity and durability of SiC ceramics.
Elizabeth Rhodus, Ph.D.
Alz Telehealth Intervention
An evidence-based occupational therapy telehealth intervention program that supports aging in place for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Shawn Lawson, Adda Weathers, Jared Luyster, Jaylen Scott
Edgnxus
Wearables combined with tailored software to help women in perimenopause and during and post-menopause.
Alaine Reschke Hernandez, Ph.D., Ella Russell
IMAGN Lab
A brief, scalable behavioral observation tool for dementia care.
Jeremy Ross, Ph.D.
Intrepid Sport Science Solutions
A process to improve training readiness monitoring through existing wearable tech.