app01 Fri, 07 Aug 2026 08:55:06 +0000 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) The Leading Ladies of Economic Development® - Episodes Tagged with “Kentucky Commercialization Ventures” https://www.llofed.com/tags/kentucky%20commercialization%20ventures Fri, 07 Aug 2026 04:00:00 -0400 This podcast is a safe place for female economic development professionals to share stories, insights, and challenges of the economic development industry. We hear from women leaders across the country about their careers in ED and how you can apply their experiences to your own economic development career goals. en-us episodic These are the women leading economic development across the US. Kaycee Bunch This podcast is a safe place for female economic development professionals to share stories, insights, and challenges of the economic development industry. We hear from women leaders across the country about their careers in ED and how you can apply their experiences to your own economic development career goals. no economic development, econ dev, development, community development, women, leadership Kaycee Bunch kayceegbunch@gmail.com From Lab to Launch: Democratizing Tech Transfer in Kentucky │Kayla Meisner https://www.llofed.com/season3-episode11-kayla-meisner 6dfe10c4-e095-46ad-a2eb-62316e4bdf79 Fri, 07 Aug 2026 04:00:00 -0400 Kaycee Bunch full 3 Kaycee Bunch 51:31 no <p>In this episode of <em>Leading Ladies of Economic Development</em>, Kaycee interviews Kayla Meisner, MEng, CLP, executive director of Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV), a statewide technology transfer and commercialization initiative housed within the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC). Meisner shares how an undergraduate internship at the University of Louisville’s tech transfer office shaped her career and explains how KCV was launched in 2020 as a public-private partnership to support technology transfer and research capacity at Kentucky’s non-R1 institutions and KCTCS. She discusses KCV’s role in advancing multi-institutional tech transfer models, including collaboration with Tennessee that helped inspire TTAC, and highlights successes such as startup formation (Bumped Up Labs and Eastern Scientific), SBIR/STTR wins, and an NSF EXLENT-funded KCV–NKU Invent program that provides virtual commercialization training and paid internships. Lastly, Meisner urges economic developers to build IP literacy, leverage regional assets, and collaborate rather than compete.</p> <p><strong>In this episode, we explore:</strong></p> <ul> <li><p>How Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV) is expanding technology transfer and commercialization opportunities across Kentucky’s regional universities and KCTCS through a statewide, collaborative model.</p></li> <li><p>How tech transfer turns university research into real-world impact, why intellectual property (IP) matters for economic development, and the often-overlooked work behind bringing innovations to market.</p></li> <li><p>Success stories from Kentucky, including startup launches, SBIR/STTR funding wins, and the NSF-funded Invent Fellowship, which provides commercialization training and paid internships for students.</p></li> <li><p>How partnerships across institutions—and even across state lines—are helping democratize access to innovation resources and strengthen Kentucky’s talent pipeline.</p></li> <li><p>Practical advice for economic developers on building intellectual property literacy, leveraging regional strengths, and collaborating to accelerate innovation-driven growth.</p></li> </ul> <p><strong>Quotable:</strong> “ Kentucky ideas will solve Kentucky problems, and Kentucky's problems are the world's problems.”</p> <p><strong>Resources and Links</strong><br> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-meisner/" rel="nofollow noopener">Connect with Kayla Meisner on LinkedIn</a><br> <a href="https://www.kycommercializationventures.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">Home | Kentucky Commercialization Ventures</a><br> <a href="https://www.kstc.org/" rel="nofollow noopener">Kentucky Science &amp; Technology Corporation | KSTC</a><br> <a href="https://nsbe.org/" rel="nofollow noopener">NSBE | National Society of Black Engineers</a><br> <a href="https://autm.net/" rel="nofollow noopener">AUTM | The Nonprofit Leader in Technology Transfer</a><br> <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/regional-innovation-engines/about-nsf-engines" rel="nofollow noopener">About NSF Engines - Regional Innovation Engines | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation</a><br> <a href="https://gamechangeengine.org/" rel="nofollow noopener">GAME CHANGE – Advancing carbon centric circular economy technologies for advanced manufacturing solutions (KY, TN)</a><br> <a href="https://launchtn.org/tennessee-technology-advancement-consortium-ttac/" rel="nofollow noopener">Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium (TTAC) - LaunchTN</a><br> <a href="https://launchtn.org/" rel="nofollow noopener">Home - LaunchTN</a><br> <a href="https://www.keyhorse.vc/" rel="nofollow noopener">Keyhorse Capital</a><br> <a href="https://federallabs.org/" rel="nofollow noopener">FLC | Home</a><br> <a href="https://launchtn.org/tennessee-novel-innovation-study/" rel="nofollow noopener">Launch Tennessee leads new national study to unlock heartland innovation, backed by Kauffman Foundation grant - LaunchTN</a><br> <a href="https://www.ncinnovation.org/" rel="nofollow noopener">NCInnovation | Putting Innovation to Work for All of North Carolina</a><br> <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/epscor" rel="nofollow noopener">Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation</a><br> <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/epscor/state-websites" rel="nofollow noopener">EPSCoR Jurisdiction Websites - Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation</a><br> <a href="https://bumptupapp.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">BumptUp – For a healthy pregnancy &amp; postpartum journey.</a><br> <a href="https://www.kyipa.org/post/innovator-spotlight-dr-jason-marion-on-using-intellectual-property-to-advance-water-quality-innova" rel="nofollow noopener">Innovator Spotlight: Dr. Jason Marion on Using Intellectual Property to Advance Water Quality Innovation</a><br> <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/exlent-experiential-learning-emerging-novel-technologies" rel="nofollow noopener">Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation</a><br> <a href="https://www.nku.edu/cob/centers/cie/" rel="nofollow noopener">Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region</a><br> <a href="https://www.kycommercializationventures.com/innovation-fellowship" rel="nofollow noopener">Innovation Fellowship | Kentucky Commercialization Ventures</a><br> <a href="https://www.kycommercializationventures.com/post/kcv-launches-startup-internship-program-in-partnership-with-nku" rel="nofollow noopener">KCV Launches Startup Internship Program in Partnership with NKU</a><br> <a href="https://www.kyipa.org/" rel="nofollow noopener">Welcome | Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance (KYIPA)</a><br> <a href="https://www.uspto.gov/" rel="nofollow noopener">United States Patent and Trademark Office</a> Special Guest: Kayla Meisner, MEng, CLP.</p> technology transfer, economic development, commercialization, innovation ecosystem, intellectual property, university research, research commercialization, startup ecosystem, entrepreneurship, university innovation, Kentucky Commercialization Ventures, KCV, Kayla Meisner, Kentucky innovation, SBIR, STTR, NSF, tech transfer, talent pipeline, regional innovation, university partnerships, economic competitiveness, innovation policy, commercialization strategies, higher education, research and development, startup funding, workforce development, KSTC, innovation leadership In this episode of Leading Ladies of Economic Development, Kaycee interviews Kayla Meisner, MEng, CLP, executive director of Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV), a statewide technology transfer and commercialization initiative housed within the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC). Meisner shares how an undergraduate internship at the University of Louisville’s tech transfer office shaped her career and explains how KCV was launched in 2020 as a public-private partnership to support technology transfer and research capacity at Kentucky’s non-R1 institutions and KCTCS. She discusses KCV’s role in advancing multi-institutional tech transfer models, including collaboration with Tennessee that helped inspire TTAC, and highlights successes such as startup formation (Bumped Up Labs and Eastern Scientific), SBIR/STTR wins, and an NSF EXLENT-funded KCV–NKU Invent program that provides virtual commercialization training and paid internships. Lastly, Meisner urges economic developers to build IP literacy, leverage regional assets, and collaborate rather than compete.

In this episode, we explore:

  • How Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV) is expanding technology transfer and commercialization opportunities across Kentucky’s regional universities and KCTCS through a statewide, collaborative model.

  • How tech transfer turns university research into real-world impact, why intellectual property (IP) matters for economic development, and the often-overlooked work behind bringing innovations to market.

  • Success stories from Kentucky, including startup launches, SBIR/STTR funding wins, and the NSF-funded Invent Fellowship, which provides commercialization training and paid internships for students.

  • How partnerships across institutions—and even across state lines—are helping democratize access to innovation resources and strengthen Kentucky’s talent pipeline.

  • Practical advice for economic developers on building intellectual property literacy, leveraging regional strengths, and collaborating to accelerate innovation-driven growth.

Quotable: “ Kentucky ideas will solve Kentucky problems, and Kentucky's problems are the world's problems.”

Resources and Links
Connect with Kayla Meisner on LinkedIn
Home | Kentucky Commercialization Ventures
Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation | KSTC
NSBE | National Society of Black Engineers
AUTM | The Nonprofit Leader in Technology Transfer
About NSF Engines - Regional Innovation Engines | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation
GAME CHANGE – Advancing carbon centric circular economy technologies for advanced manufacturing solutions (KY, TN)
Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium (TTAC) - LaunchTN
Home - LaunchTN
Keyhorse Capital
FLC | Home
Launch Tennessee leads new national study to unlock heartland innovation, backed by Kauffman Foundation grant - LaunchTN
NCInnovation | Putting Innovation to Work for All of North Carolina
Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation
EPSCoR Jurisdiction Websites - Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation
BumptUp – For a healthy pregnancy & postpartum journey.
Innovator Spotlight: Dr. Jason Marion on Using Intellectual Property to Advance Water Quality Innovation
Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation
Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region
Innovation Fellowship | Kentucky Commercialization Ventures
KCV Launches Startup Internship Program in Partnership with NKU
Welcome | Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance (KYIPA)
United States Patent and Trademark Office

Special Guest: Kayla Meisner, MEng, CLP.

]]> In this episode of Leading Ladies of Economic Development, Kaycee interviews Kayla Meisner, MEng, CLP, executive director of Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV), a statewide technology transfer and commercialization initiative housed within the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC). Meisner shares how an undergraduate internship at the University of Louisville’s tech transfer office shaped her career and explains how KCV was launched in 2020 as a public-private partnership to support technology transfer and research capacity at Kentucky’s non-R1 institutions and KCTCS. She discusses KCV’s role in advancing multi-institutional tech transfer models, including collaboration with Tennessee that helped inspire TTAC, and highlights successes such as startup formation (Bumped Up Labs and Eastern Scientific), SBIR/STTR wins, and an NSF EXLENT-funded KCV–NKU Invent program that provides virtual commercialization training and paid internships. Lastly, Meisner urges economic developers to build IP literacy, leverage regional assets, and collaborate rather than compete.

In this episode, we explore:

  • How Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV) is expanding technology transfer and commercialization opportunities across Kentucky’s regional universities and KCTCS through a statewide, collaborative model.

  • How tech transfer turns university research into real-world impact, why intellectual property (IP) matters for economic development, and the often-overlooked work behind bringing innovations to market.

  • Success stories from Kentucky, including startup launches, SBIR/STTR funding wins, and the NSF-funded Invent Fellowship, which provides commercialization training and paid internships for students.

  • How partnerships across institutions—and even across state lines—are helping democratize access to innovation resources and strengthen Kentucky’s talent pipeline.

  • Practical advice for economic developers on building intellectual property literacy, leveraging regional strengths, and collaborating to accelerate innovation-driven growth.

Quotable: “ Kentucky ideas will solve Kentucky problems, and Kentucky's problems are the world's problems.”

Resources and Links
Connect with Kayla Meisner on LinkedIn
Home | Kentucky Commercialization Ventures
Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation | KSTC
NSBE | National Society of Black Engineers
AUTM | The Nonprofit Leader in Technology Transfer
About NSF Engines - Regional Innovation Engines | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation
GAME CHANGE – Advancing carbon centric circular economy technologies for advanced manufacturing solutions (KY, TN)
Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium (TTAC) - LaunchTN
Home - LaunchTN
Keyhorse Capital
FLC | Home
Launch Tennessee leads new national study to unlock heartland innovation, backed by Kauffman Foundation grant - LaunchTN
NCInnovation | Putting Innovation to Work for All of North Carolina
Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation
EPSCoR Jurisdiction Websites - Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation
BumptUp – For a healthy pregnancy & postpartum journey.
Innovator Spotlight: Dr. Jason Marion on Using Intellectual Property to Advance Water Quality Innovation
Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation
Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region
Innovation Fellowship | Kentucky Commercialization Ventures
KCV Launches Startup Internship Program in Partnership with NKU
Welcome | Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance (KYIPA)
United States Patent and Trademark Office

Special Guest: Kayla Meisner, MEng, CLP.

]]>