On Friday, October 10, the Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College (SKYCTC) hosted its inaugural Entrepreneur Summit at the KATI Campus on Morgantown Road in Bowling Green. The daylong event — held from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. — was free and open to students, alumni, and the public, drawing attendees eager to learn how to start, fund, and grow small businesses in south-central Kentucky.
As Bowling Green’s economy continues to diversify beyond manufacturing, local leaders have increasingly emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship and small-business development. SKYCTC’s first-ever Entrepreneur Summit sought to bridge education and enterprise by equipping students and residents with real-world startup knowledge and connections.
The event featured three workshop tracks — “How to Start a Business in Kentucky,” “Funding Your Business,” and “Branding Your Business Story” — giving attendees access to actionable insight from business professionals and faculty mentors. A “Shark Tank-style” pitch competition closed out the summit, allowing students to present business ideas to local entrepreneurs and community investors.
Held at the KATI Campus, a hub for workforce training and innovation, the summit underscored the region’s collaborative focus on economic growth throughout Warren and Barren counties.
The summit offered hands-on experience and networking opportunities designed to help them graduate “already connected” to the local business community. Free, accessible sessions on startup planning, funding, and branding provided vital tools to lower the barriers to launching a business in south-central Kentucky.
Employers and business owners used the summit to scout talent, mentor students, and strengthen Bowling Green’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem. Events like this build long-term economic resilience by promoting local ownership, job creation, and innovation in Kentucky’s post-industrial economy.
“A lot of people are going to take this home … It gave them a lot of tools.”— Mason McDonald, Business Administration major, SKYCTC
The first SKYCTC Entrepreneur Summit marked a milestone for Bowling Green’s growing startup culture. From the buzzing workshops to the final pitch competition, the event showcased how education, mentorship, and community partnerships can spark real-world innovation. Organizers plan to make the summit an annual tradition — one that keeps Bowling Green’s entrepreneurial spirit thriving well into the future.
