Over the past two decades Awesome Inc and APAX Software have made a significant impact on entrepreneurship and education throughout the Commonwealth. This timeline highlights the key events and successes of our organization.
June 1, 2007
In 2007, Matt Smith, Justin Raney, Ryan Hunter, and Brian Raney started APAX Software. This company would go on to be a key building block for all of the ensuing Awesome Inc programs, donating millions of dollars to the Kentucky startup and tech community.
April 1, 2009
In an effort to do for the masses what Lee Todd did for a couple of UK students in 2007, Awesome Inc was founded to create a place where entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts could pursue their definition of Awesome.
February 17, 2010
We set out to make startup pitch competitions a fun and exciting experience for participants and attendees. 5 Across features five early-stage startups pitching their concept for five minutes for a chance to win $5,500 in prize money and investment at each event and $55,000 in prize money and investment at the Finals event each year. 5 Across has hosted more pitch competitions than any other organization in the region. Participants have gone onto raise millions of dollars and even experience 8 figure exits.
November 17, 2010
The Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame is a physical and virtual destination that shares and celebrates the stories of Kentucky's most successful entrepreneurs. Its mission is to raise awareness of the impact that entrepreneurship has made in the Commonwealth and encourage others to pursue similar ambitious endeavors. The first KEHOF ceremony was hosted in the downstairs Awesome Inc space and had about 50 attendees (fun fact: there were live goldfish as the center pieces). The ceremony has grown to be the largest entrepreneurial event in Kentucky, with over 500 attendees each year.
January 1, 2013
After watching companies in Kentucky struggle to find tech talent (including our own APAX Software), we decided to task Nick Such with launching a coding school to train youth and adults to become programmers. As of 2025, Awesome Inc U has taught over 4,000 youth how to code and placed over 175 adults into full time jobs as web developers.
June 1, 2013
Part of the original vision of Awesome Inc in 2009 was to launch an accelerator program for emerging startups in the region. In 2013, we finally saw this dream come to life when we kicked off the Fellowship Program, a one year experience that offers startups mentorship, access to capital, access to technical resources, and much more. As of 2025, the Fellowship portfolio consists of 94 companies, which have raised over $210M in outside investment, and created nearly 900 jobs.
August 1, 2016
In August of 2016, Awesome Inc U partnered with APAX Software to launch the first cohort of the Web Developer Bootcamp. Matt Smith, APAX Co-founder and Senior Developer, led the class of nine students. Within months of graduation all nine students had received job offers. The bootcamp model had proven to be a success and as of 2025 over 175 students have graduated from the Awesome Inc U bootcamp with many companies hiring multiple graduates over the years.
October 15, 2017
One of our goals has always been to elevate the stories of the most successful entrepreneurs from the state of Kentucky. In 2017, we wrote a book titled Unbridled Spirit: Lessons in Life and Business from Kentucky's Most Successful Entrepreneurs. The book highlights the stories of 19 inductees within the first five classes (2010-2014) of the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. In 2022, we wrote volume two which included the life stories of the next 19 inductees.
August 13, 2020
In 2020 APAX Software hit a significant milestone and made the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest growing companies. APAX was the only company from Lexington to make the Inc. 5000 list in 2020.
January 1, 2022
As demand for flexible workspace in Lexington continued to grow, we expanded our footprint by opening a new upstairs coworking space. The addition gave Awesome Inc members more room to do their best work, with high-speed internet, conference rooms, and dedicated desks available throughout. This expansion allows our members to surround themselves with a vibrant mix of entrepreneurs, developers, and creatives, all building something great.
October 27, 2022
Building on the success of our first book, we released the second volume of Unbridled Spirit in 2022. Volume two captures the life stories of the next 19 inductees into the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, spanning classes 2015 through 2019. Together, both volumes now tell the stories of 38 of Kentucky's most accomplished and inspiring entrepreneurs.
August 1, 2023
After working closely with startups for two decades, we developed an aptitude to assess the makeup of successful startups. We had built a strong pipeline of high growth startups across the region. Our network of entrepreneurs, investors, and advisors enabled us to raise our first venture fund, the Awesome Fund, to invest in pre-seed and seed stage companies.
January 1, 2024
After nine incredible years, the Awesome Inc U Web Developer Bootcamp achieved what it set out to do. Nearly 200 graduates launched new careers, boosted their earning potential, and helped close the tech talent gap in Lexington's growing tech scene. Graduates went on to work at over 85 different companies, including many Fellowship portfolio companies. With the mission complete, our focus has shifted to supporting the tech ecosystem through and beyond the AI revolution.
December 3, 2025
Within two decades of putting early-stage founders in the spotlight, the 5 Across Finals hit a new milestone in 2025, becoming the largest entrepreneurial pitch event in Kentucky. The 2025 5 Across Finals filled the historic Kentucky Theatre with over 750 attendees from across the state. What started as a fun, startup pitch competition has grown into a marquee celebration of the Commonwealth's startup community, drawing hundreds of attendees and showcasing the best emerging companies in the region.
