Kentucky Science and Technology Corp
Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC) is a public charity based in Lexington, Kentucky. Its programs include support for Kentucky technology companies, education and workforce initiatives, economic development, research and development, and student learning through space-related projects.
Kentucky Science and Technology Corp at a glance
- Total assets
- $23,675,490
- +0.1% vs 2022
- Revenue (2023)
- $7,233,929
- +29.8% vs 2022
- Expenses (2023)
- $7,497,370
- +25.9% vs 2022
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2023; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Kentucky Science and Technology Corp
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1049, Lexington, KY 40588-1049
Phone: (859) 233-3502
Website: https://kstc.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Kentucky Science and Technology Corp funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 66 (35%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
KSTC’s startup investment programs support companies in Kentucky. The website requires companies to meet its Kentucky-based criteria: at least 51 percent of property and payroll in the state, or a principal place of business in Kentucky. The filing also describes programs serving Kentucky schools, businesses, students, and organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Is Kentucky Science and Technology Corp open to new grantees?
74%
first-time grantees, 2021
In 2021, 17 of 23 grantees (74%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $149K; repeat grants $132K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $110K repeat.
- 26% of 2021 grantees were also funded in 2020. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2021). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2020) to $16.8M (2019). In 2021 it made 23 grants totaling $3.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hippo Software Lexington, KY | Economic Development / R&D | $500,000 |
| Plastiblok Ltd Paducha, KY | Economic Development / R&D | $500,000 |
| Cloverleaf Covington, KY | Economic Development / R&D | $374,997 |
| Go Wild Alpha Inc Louisville, KY | Economic Development / R&D | $300,000 |
| Beha VR Elizabethtown, KY | Economic Development / R&D | $250,000 |
| MEP Equine Solutions Lexington, KY | Economic Development / R&D | $250,000 |
| Griffin Residuals Owensboro, KY | Economic Development / R&D | $200,000 |
| Orgvitals Louisville, KY | Economic Development / R&D | $150,000 |
| Wearware Lexington, KY | Economic Development / R&D | $150,000 |
| Kentucky Community & Technical College System Versailles, KY | Economic Development / R&D | $116,675 |
Ready to take the next step with Kentucky Science and Technology Corp?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $23,675,490 | $7,233,929 | $7,497,370 | — | — | — |
| 2022 | $23,640,627 | $5,574,534 | $5,954,247 | — | — | — |
| 2021 | $24,173,441 | $8,586,687 | $8,461,735 | $3,329,699 | 23 | $19,214 |
| 2020 | $21,953,282 | $6,206,221 | $6,260,927 | $1,436,604 | 11 | $4,946 |
| 2019 | $6,558,788 | $7,157,640 | $7,098,211 | $16,774,826 | 32 | $131,821 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
KSTC’s stated mission is to enhance the capacity of people, companies, and organizations to develop and apply science and technology and compete responsibly in the global marketplace. Its stated strategies include bringing business, government, and education together around Kentucky’s innovation opportunities; contributing to entrepreneurial companies and jobs; promoting technology development and transfer; and strengthening education’s role in innovation.
The organization’s filing describes programs in education, economic development, research and development, and space education. These include AdvanceKentucky, which supports teacher training and student participation in Advanced Placement and pre-AP courses; programs supporting early-stage technology commercialization; technical assistance for businesses seeking to improve profitability through innovation and more efficient operations; and KentuckySpace, a student-driven small-satellite design, build, launch, and operations effort.
Through Startups@KSTC, KSTC provides pre-seed and seed-stage funding and resources to Kentucky-based companies. Its website identifies life sciences, software, materials, environmental, and energy sectors, and describes investments through the Kentucky Enterprise Fund and the Kentucky New Energy Ventures Fund. The website also describes Kentucky FoundersLab, which provides seed funding and assistance to startups founded by Kentucky students.
Grantmaking
The IRS filing reports grants totaling $3,329,699 across 23 grants in 2021. It reports no grants in 2022 or 2023. The available information does not identify recent grantees, grant amounts by recipient, or a typical grant size. KSTC’s website describes startup funding as investments: $20,000 pre-seed investments and seed-stage equity investments of $50,000 to $250,000. It reports an average of 2–5 new seed-stage and 8–12 new pre-seed investments per year.
KSTC’s website says companies may apply at any time and that its due diligence process typically takes 2–3 months. Applicants are assessed on whether they are addressing a specific problem, working with customers to understand the value of their solution, and have a team suited to serve customers and build the business. Companies must be Kentucky-based, demonstrated by having at least 51 percent of property and payroll in Kentucky or their principal place of business in Kentucky. Companies receiving investment must be organized as an LLC or C-Corp. Before closing an investment, KSTC requires governing and investment documents, matching private investment, a Kentucky-based assertion letter, and a side letter agreement. For KNEV grants, the website lists governing documents, a funding agreement, a budget and milestones, and a Kentucky-based assertion letter.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists Sam Burchett as chair; Mark Kristy as vice-chair; Susan Weiss as secretary/treasurer; and James W. Gardner, Shiela Medina, Mike Norman, Kevin Gardner, Ian McClure, and Charles Beach IV as directors. It lists K. Daniel Seevers as an executive committee member. The Startups@KSTC website lists Kelby Price as fund director, Paul Ehlinger as fund manager, and Shari Ball as administrative assistant.
Kentucky Science and Technology Corp is led by Anthony Mires, Executive Director since 2020 (on filings since 2019); 11 of 29 officers listed in 2023 are compensated.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Anthony Mires
Executive Director
Director of Education Serv → Executive Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
45 hrs/week
$120K (2019) → $133K (2023)
Ft Samuel Jr.
President
On filings since 2019
45 hrs/week
$206K (2019) → $217K (2023)
Kelby Price
Executive Director
Fund Director → Executive Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
45 hrs/week
$122K (2019) → $132K (2023)
Maria Labreveux
Executive Director
Program Director of R & D → Executive Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
45 hrs/week
$120K (2019) → $119K (2023)
Nancy Brown
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
45 hrs/week
$115K (2022) → $122K (2023)
Lisa Bajorinas
Executive Director
New on the 2023 filing
45 hrs/week
$100K (2023)
Sam Burchett
Chair
Vice Chairman → Director, 2020
Director → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lew Acampora
Senior Content Director
On filings since 2019
45 hrs/week
$95K (2019) → $101K (2023)
Chris Baker
It Director
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$101K (2020) → $100K (2023)
Monique Rice
Senior Content Director
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$89K (2020) → $96K (2023)
Annette Williams
Senior Content Director
On filings since 2021
45 hrs/week
$86K (2021) → $94K (2023)
James W. Gardner
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shiela Medina
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ian McClure
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Gardner
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Norman
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angelique Johnson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles Beach IV
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Naashom Marx
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sally Sugg
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Samantha Langley
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angelica Vega
Director
New on the 2023 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brett Traver
Director
New on the 2023 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeni Al Bahrani
Director
New on the 2023 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Otieno
Director
New on the 2023 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Pelphrey
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2019
45 hrs/week
$114K (2019) → $137K (2023)
K. Daniel Seevers
Executive Committee Member
Director → Executive Committee Member, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Kristy
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Weiss
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Blaine Ferrell (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Monique Kuyendoll Quarterman (2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Oj Oleka (2022) — Director
- Former: Darrall Henderson (2019–2021) — Program Manager
- Former: Richard Johnson (2019–2021) — Associate Vice President
- Former: Arnold Gaither (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Bruce L. Walcott (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Eli Capilouto (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Gary Cox (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Joanna E. Haas (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: John Wehrele (2019–2020) — Vice President Finance
- Former: Barbara Flexter (2019) — Office Manager
- Former: Christopher Baker (2019) — Chief Information Officer
- Former: J. Ronald Geoghegan (2019) — Chairman
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $217K, to Ft Samuel Jr (President). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Kentucky Science and Technology Corp
How large is Kentucky Science and Technology Corp?
Kentucky Science and Technology Corp reported $23.7M in total assets on its 2023 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.2M.
What does Kentucky Science and Technology Corp fund?
KSTC’s stated mission is to enhance the capacity of people, companies, and organizations to develop and apply science and technology and compete responsibly in the global marketplace. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Kentucky Science and Technology Corp?
Kentucky Science and Technology Corp has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check kstc.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Kentucky Science and Technology Corp make grants?
KSTC’s startup investment programs support companies in Kentucky. The website requires companies to meet its Kentucky-based criteria: at least 51 percent of property and payroll in the state, or a principal place of business in Kentucky. The filing also describes programs serving Kentucky schools, businesses, students, and organizations.
What is Kentucky Science and Technology Corp's EIN?
Kentucky Science and Technology Corp's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1135362. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2023.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 17, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 15, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
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