Middle Tech

In February 2021, Winter Storm Uri plunged Texas into darkness, exposing the fragility of the modern American grid. For Will Howard, it was a call to action.In this episode, Will joins us to discuss his journey from data science to the forefront of the nuclear renaissance as a Project Developer for Elementl Power. He explains how Elementl is pioneering a new "developer model" for the industry, acting as the "quarterback" to secure land, navigate regulations, and de-risk projects for major buyers.The conversation covers Elementl’s partnership with Google to power AI data centers, the concept of "Energy Realism," and why the "Iron Law of Power" means reliability will always win. Will also breaks down the Texas model for nuclear advocacy and outlines the massive opportunity for Kentucky to leverage its industrial legacy in this new atomic age.Hosted by Logan JonesMiddle Tech is proudly supported by:KY Innovation → kyinnovation.comAwesome Inc → awesomeinc.org

A new digital marketplace is modernizing how bourbon barrels are bought, sold, and valued across Kentucky’s signature industry.In this episode, Hogshead co-founder and CEO Chris Wiedmar joins us to share how his company is bringing transparency and technology to the bourbon supply chain - transforming a relationship-driven trade into a data-driven market.From his early experience launching the NFT-powered brand Party Horses to building a two-sided platform used by distilleries, brokers, and investors, Chris explains how Hogshead is helping the industry adapt to a world where barrels are not just aging whiskey, but appreciating assets.The conversation explores how Hogshead is positioning Kentucky at the center of a global market for barrel-aged spirits - connecting tradition, technology, and entrepreneurship in one of the state’s most iconic sectors.Hosted by Logan JonesMiddle Tech is proudly supported by:KY Innovation → kyinnovation.comAwesome Inc → awesomeinc.org

A $40 million partnership with Buffalo Trace is giving new life to one of bourbon’s biggest byproducts: stillage.In this episode, Meridian Biotech founder Brandon Corace joins us to share how his company is transforming distillery waste into sustainable products that fuel industries like aquaculture, pet food, and fertilizer. From winning a “reverse pitch” competition with the Governor’s Office to relocating from Austin to Lexington, Brandon’s story shows how innovation, biotech, and Kentucky’s bourbon heritage are coming together to create the state’s next major industry.Hosted by Logan JonesMiddle Tech is proudly supported by:KY Innovation → kyinnovation.comAwesome Inc → awesomeinc.org

Steve Long is the CEO of Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) - a company bringing a multi-billion-dollar nuclear fuel facility to Paducah, Kentucky, marking one of the most significant energy investments in the state’s history. In this episode, we sit down with Steve to understand how GLE’s laser enrichment technology could reshape the U.S. nuclear supply chain and what it means for Kentucky’s evolving role in the energy economy.We discuss how the project builds on Paducah’s long history in uranium enrichment, how laser enrichment can convert legacy materials into usable fuel, and why reliable, carbon-free power is becoming increasingly important in the age of AI and advanced manufacturing. Steve also shares how the project could create new opportunities for Kentucky’s workforce and support long-term innovation in U.S. energy.Middle Tech is proudly supported by:KY Innovation → kyinnovation.comAwesome Inc → awesomeinc.org

In this episode, we sit down with Cameron Lippert, co-founder of ElectraMet, and Chris Young, President of Bluegrass Angels, to explore how a hard-tech startup spun out of university research is solving one of industry’s biggest challenges: removing metals and oxidants from wastewater. By turning costly waste streams into valuable resources, ElectraMet is helping critical sectors like semiconductors, mining, battery recycling, and defense.Expect to learn how university research in Kentucky sparked the idea that became ElectraMet, why early investors and mentors were crucial to navigating commercialization, how the team pivoted from desalination to metals recovery, and why ElectraMet’s journey is a blueprint for the type of circular economy manufacturing that the GAME Change initiative aims to grow.Middle Tech is proudly supported by:KY Innovation → kyinnovation.comAwesome Inc → awesomeinc.org

Tim Rausch is the soon-to-be-retired Chief Nuclear Officer for the Tennessee Valley Authority - the utility responsible for providing power to homes and businesses across the Tennessee Valley. In this episode, we sit down with Tim to explore the future of nuclear energy, TVA’s role in advancing next-generation reactor technologies, and what it looks like to build a long-term career in one of the country’s most critical industries.This episode goes beyond a single interview. Middle Tech was invited for a rare behind-the-scenes tour of TVA’s Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, led by Fire Marshal Jake Carroll. Alongside Alex Mercer of Able Construction, we explored the control room, turbine deck, and cooling towers, capturing audio along the way to give you an immersive look inside one of the nation’s largest sources of carbon-free power.We cover the surging demand for energy driven by AI and advanced manufacturing, why TVA believes in a diverse energy portfolio, how the Southeast is becoming a hub for innovation in energy

In this episode, we sit down with Eric Hauck, founder and CEO of Parasight Systems, to explore how a biotech hardware startup based in Lexington is solving one of veterinary medicine’s most overlooked problems: parasite resistance caused by overmedication. From pasture animals to household pets, Parasight is building AI-powered diagnostic machines that make fecal testing easy, accurate, and accessible—replacing outdated lab work with push-button automation.Expect to learn how SBIR matching grants brought Hauck to Kentucky and helped launch a scalable biotech business, why animal diagnostics is a $100B opportunity growing 8% annually, how Parasight uses 3D printing and machine learning to rapidly iterate and improve its hardware, and why Lexington's mix of research, funding, and quality of life makes it a rising hub for hard tech innovation.Middle Tech is proudly supported by:KY Innovation → kyinnovation.comAwesome Inc → awesomeinc.orgDon't miss Awesome Inc's September 5 Across → ⁠⁠⁠Free Ticket for

In this episode, we sit down with Raechele Smalls, Director of Invest Blue, and Eric Hartman, Senior Associate Director at UK Innovate, to explore how Invest Blue is building a mission-driven community of angel investors dedicated to backing Kentucky startups. Through a founder-friendly syndicate model, Invest Blue is making early-stage investing more accessible—connecting small checks with big ideas to fuel innovation across the Commonwealth.Expect to learn why the real barrier to capital isn’t money but know-how and networks, how Invest Blue is helping first-time investors deploy smart capital alongside experienced operators, what role the University of Kentucky plays in commercializing deep tech and attracting follow-on funding, and how this syndicate is creating a pipeline of future fund managers, super angels, and ecosystem builders—all rooted in Kentucky.

Justin Maierhofer is the Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the Tennessee Valley Authority and serves as TVA’s representative on the newly formed Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority. With more than two decades of experience in public power and federal energy policy, he’s helping lead TVA through a landmark moment: becoming the first U.S. utility to advance a small modular reactor (SMR) construction permit through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s initial review phase.What does this milestone mean for America’s energy future? Why are SMRs such a big deal - and why now? And how does Kentucky fit into this next-generation nuclear conversation?Expect to learn why TVA’s Clinch River SMR project is seen as a blueprint for clean, scalable baseload power, how AI and data centers are reshaping electricity demand, the opportunity Kentucky has to repurpose coal infrastructure for nuclear, what the newly established Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority is working on, and how public-priv

In this special live recording from our Lexington AI Meetup, we sit down with Steve Crossan, a founding member of Google DeepMind’s AlphaFold team and former Google product leader. Steve helped launch groundbreaking AI research as part of the team that built AlphaFold, the model that cracked one of biology’s grand challenges.AlphaFold can predict a protein’s 3D structure using only its amino acid sequence - a task that once took scientists months or years now completed in minutes. With the release of AlphaFold 3, the model now maps not just proteins, but how they interact with DNA, RNA, drugs, and antibodies - a huge leap for drug discovery and synthetic biology.Steve breaks down the origin story of AlphaFold, the future of AI-powered science, and what’s next for healthcare, drug development, and beyond. A special thank you to Brent Seales and Randall Stevens for helping us coordinate Steve's talk during his visit in Lexington!If you'd like to stay up to date about upcoming Middle Tech events, subscri

What happens when Cincinnati’s first nine-figure startup exit gets reinvested into the region’s next big opportunity?In this episode, we’re joined by Adam Koehler, the Covington-based entrepreneur behind Content Credits. After being part of the Dotloop exit to Zillow for $108 million in 2015, Adam didn’t head for the coast. Instead, he reinvested his capital into Northern Kentucky, launching Content Credits to tackle one of publishing’s most pressing issues: the paywall.Content Credits gives readers an alternative to subscriptions by letting them pay $0.25 to unlock a single article, helping publishers capture revenue from audiences they’re currently turning away.We cover how Dotloop was built during the housing crash, what it was like selling to Zillow, how Content Credits is addressing broken media monetization models, and the role that large exits play in building a regional “startup flywheel”.Timestamps:00:00 – Adam’s early design career02:00 – Building Dotloop during the housing crisis06:30 – Selling Dot

In this episode, we sit down with Wes Keltner, founder & CEO of Gun Interactive, to unpack how his Lexington-grown studio turned cult-classic horror IPs like Friday the 13th and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre into viral, multiplayer blockbusters. Wes walks us through his “make fear fun” philosophy, his jouney from Second Life storefronts to server-melting game launches, and how a network of Kentucky investors helped build a global horror-gaming powerhouse from Lexington.Expect to learn why asymmetrical multiplayer makes horror so addictive, how Gun mixes Hollywood partnerships with Kickstarter-style funding to de-risk launches, what it takes to scale servers when 7x more players show up than expected, and how community-driven design keeps fans glued between updates.Middle Tech is proudly supported by:KY Innovation → kyinnovation.com

In this episode, we sit down with Valent co-founders Evan Knowles and Ryan Rudd to explore how their Lexington-based startup is transforming how teams respond to RFPs. Through a concept they call Decision Rooms, Valent empowers human teams to collaborate directly with AI agents - streamlining proposal workflows, unlocking collective intelligence, and accelerating revenue across RFP-driven industries like government contracting, IT, and engineering.Expect to learn how teams are collaborating with AI agents to win government and enterprise contracts faster, why traditional software can’t handle the complexity of RFP workflows, how Valent's “Decision Rooms” are reimagining business collaboration from the ground up, and what it takes to build a lean AI startup tackling trillion-dollar workflows - right from Lexington, KY.Check out Valent at getvalent.comMiddle Tech is proudly supported by:KY Innovation → kyinnovation.com

This episode marks Part 3 of a special mini-series - produced by Middle Tech in collaboration with the GAME Change coalition. Over the course of three episodes, we’ll explore how Kentucky and Tennessee are working to become a national hub for circular economy innovation and sustainable manufacturing. This initiative is part of a regional effort to secure a $160 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Engines Program.Two years ago, a small group of visionaries began mapping out a bold idea: to build the U.S. innovation hub for circular economy technologies right here in the Southeast Commerce Corridor. That idea has grown into GAME Change - a 400+ member coalition of universities, national labs, policy leaders, and private industry partners reshaping the future of manufacturing in Kentucky and Tennessee.Middle Tech has been closely embedded in this journey from the start, documenting key moments, stakeholder voices, and the growing momentum behind a new vision for regional economic developmentGAME

This episode marks Part 2 of a special mini-series - produced by Middle Tech in collaboration with the GAME Change coalition. Over the course of three episodes, we’ll explore how Kentucky and Tennessee are working to become a national hub for circular economy innovation and sustainable manufacturing. This initiative is part of a regional effort to secure a $160 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Engines Program.Two years ago, a small group of visionaries began mapping out a bold idea: to build the U.S. innovation hub for circular economy technologies right here in the Southeast Commerce Corridor. That idea has grown into GAME Change - a 400+ member coalition of universities, national labs, policy leaders, and private industry partners reshaping the future of manufacturing in Kentucky and Tennessee.Middle Tech has been closely embedded in this journey from the start, documenting key moments, stakeholder voices, and the growing momentum behind a new vision for regional economic developmentGAME

Lepidext is a Lexington-based biotech company developing a natural, non-chemical solution to control one of agriculture’s most damaging pests - the corn earworm. Founded by Dr. Bruce Webb, a University of Kentucky professor emeritus and virus researcher, Lepidext uses a modified virus to sterilize pest populations without harming the environment.The technology originated from research into a major equine reproductive crisis in Kentucky and evolved into a scalable product with the potential to replace traditional pesticides in the field. With a regulatory decision pending from the EPA, Lepidext is preparing for commercial rollout with a focus on farmer partnerships and sustainable impact.In this episode, Bruce and research scientist Dr. Mary Wallace share the journey from university research to ag-tech startup, the science behind their approach, and what’s next for Lepidext as they bring biological pest control to market.Expect to learn how a virus discovered in nature became the foundation for a new kind of p

This episode marks Part 1 of a special mini-series - produced by Middle Tech in collaboration with the GAME Change coalition. Over the course of three episodes, we’ll explore how Kentucky and Tennessee are working to become a national hub for circular economy innovation and sustainable manufacturing. This initiative is part of a regional effort to secure a $160 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Engines Program.Two years ago, a small group of visionaries began mapping out a bold idea: to build the U.S. innovation hub for circular economy technologies right here in the Southeast Commerce Corridor. That idea has grown into GAME Change - a 400+ member coalition of universities, national labs, policy leaders, and private industry partners reshaping the future of manufacturing in Kentucky and Tennessee.Middle Tech has been closely embedded in this journey from the start, documenting key moments, stakeholder voices, and the growing momentum behind a new vision for regional economic developmentGAME

Silas Deane is a founder, serial entrepreneur, and University of Kentucky graduate who bootstrapped his company, VendEngine, from a back-of-the-napkin idea to an $84 million exit. VendEngine serves correctional facilities, providing a solution that transforms how families support incarcerated loved ones. With no outside funding, Silas grew the company steadily over 12 years, leading to an $84 million acquisition by Tyler Technologies. His accomplishments recently earned him a place in UK's Gatton College of Business and Economics Hall of Fame, a recognition of his successes since his time at UK.In this episode, Silas shares how he navigated the Dot-Com boom and bust, the challenges of bootstrapping a tech company, and the strategies he used to scale VendEngine in a complex industry. Expect to learn how Silas approached building technology solutions for underserved markets, why he never raised capital for the business, and what advice he has for entrepreneurs looking to grow without outside capital.Middle Tech

Nick Touran is a nuclear engineer, educator, and advocate who spent nearly 16 years designing advanced reactors at TerraPower and building one of the most trusted resources in nuclear education, WhatIsNuclear.com. Now, he’s on a mission to help America rethink its relationship with nuclear energy - and its future.What would it take for nuclear to fuel America's next era of innovation? Why did we fall behind - and can we catch up before it's too late?Expect to learn why Nick believes a nuclear renaissance is critical for the U.S., how China’s aggressive investment in nuclear is reshaping global energy leadership, the biggest myths still holding nuclear back, the reality behind nuclear waste and radiation fears, and why advanced reactor designs could change everything.Middle Tech is proudly supported by:KY Innovation → kyinnovation.com

In this episode, we’re joined by Courtland Leer, co-founder of Plastic Labs, to explore how AI can be made more personal, contextual, and aligned to individual users. Courtland walks us through his team’s mission to “decentralize alignment” and build agents that don’t just process inputs - they understand who you are.We dive into:- The philosophy and tech behind Honcho, a natural language memory layer for AI apps.- Why post-training alignment is more scalable and flexible than pre-training.- How synthetic identity lets agents model users more accurately.- The link between education and AI—and how Courtland’s background as a teacher shapes his thinking.- A wild story about meme coins, agent grants, and AI agents with crypto wallets.This one goes deep on AI, identity, education, and the frontier of decentralized tech. If you’re building in the AI space or thinking about the future of human-agent collaboration, don’t miss it.