288. Awesome Inc: Brian Raney on Building Kentucky's Startup Ecosystem

Middle Tech

Brian Raney is the CEO and Co-Founder of Awesome Inc - a company that exists to create and grow high tech startups through a variety of initiatives, such as hosting community events, leading technology education courses, and offering a shared workspace environment.This episode was part of a live recording event in collaboration with Awesome Inc and Chase Bank. Brian shared stories from the early days of Awesome Inc, how permission to fail was the advice that encouraged him to start the company, and how they’ve built the startup community that we know today.

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00:00 Permission to Fail: Embracing Entrepreneurship

00:37 Introduction to Middle Tech Podcast

01:15 Sponsorship Acknowledgements

02:57 Brian Rainey's Journey: From College to Entrepreneurship

06:23 The Birth of Awesome Inc.

09:38 Challenges and Early Days of Awesome Inc.

15:13 The Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame

18:49 Common Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs

21:28 Personal Impact Stories

23:15 The Genesis of Fuji and Entrepreneurial Beginnings

23:48 The Role of Awesome Inc. in Entrepreneurial Growth

24:35 Community and Team Effort in Entrepreneurship

26:16 Teaching and Cultivating Entrepreneurship

29:09 The Awesome Fund and Addressing Capital Needs

32:00 Success Stories and Talent Retention in Kentucky

34:55 The Future of Kentucky's Startup Ecosystem

40:07 Engagement and the Entrepreneurial Life Cycle

45:03 Upcoming Events and Final Thoughts