Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati, Lexington: The Midwest Startup Corridor We’ve Been Ignoring

Last night, my cofounder Dan O’Keeffe and I were at a small startup event in Lexington—a members-only gathering hosted by Invest Blue. Tucked into a private speakeasy, it was the kind of off-the-radar meetup you hope still exists. No slides. No name tags. Just real conversations.

In the room: a founder who’s taken two companies public. A couple of entrepreneurs backed by Shark Tank investors. Heavy hitters from P&G, Walmart, and AT&T—one of whom spent decades working with Carlos Slim. These weren’t dreamers—they were operators.

But the theme was the same one I’ve been hearing for years: We have what it takes in Kentucky, but we still haven’t pulled it all together.

Everyone agrees—what we need is a big win.

What a Win Really Means

Let’s be clear: a big win isn’t about headlines or vibes. It’s when a company hits it big and everyone around it feels the impact. Employees make real money. Some stay on. Some go build the next thing. Local talent gets its shot. Founders reinvest.

I’ve seen it. I helped build dotloop in Cincinnati. When we sold to Zillow, it didn’t just change my life—it sent ripples. Some of the people who were part of that journey are now running their own companies. Others are investing. I took what I made and put it back into real estate, local companies, and now into Content Credits, the business Dan and I are building from Northern Kentucky.

We didn’t raise a big round. We’re funding it ourselves. Our team includes developers, PR pros, and creatives I met along the way—people who’ve been in the trenches and know what it takes.

Northern Kentucky Is Built for This—We Just Haven’t Acted Like It

We’re not some backwoods startup scene. We’re in one of the most strategic locations in the country.

We’ve got CVG, one of the fastest-growing cargo airports in North America. Amazon, DHL, and Wayfair already use it as a hub. We’ve got the Ohio River, the largest inland port in the country. And I-75—a direct line to half the U.S. population.

The logistics infrastructure here is unmatched. And that’s just one lane.

Aerospace? GE Aerospace is headquartered in Cincinnati. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is right up the road. Eastern Kentucky University has a nationally respected flight program. We manufacture three times more aerospace components here than the national average.

But having all the pieces doesn’t matter if there’s no engine pulling it all together.

SparkHaus: What We’ve Been Missing

Right now, the most important thing happening in the region is SparkHaus.

It’s not just a building—it’s a bet. A partnership between Kenton County, the Northern Kentucky Port Authority, and Blue North, led by Dave Knox, who’s been pushing for real startup infrastructure in this region for years.

SparkHaus is exactly what we’ve needed:

• Flexible space that grows with startups
• Capital sources under the same roof
• Real support, not just “mentorship”
• And no ridiculous leases or bloat

It’s a launchpad that actually works for founders.

And it’s already attracting the right players. eGateway Capital, Kentucky’s largest venture firm, is relocating their HQ to SparkHaus. I know because they started inside my coworking space, CovWorx, before expanding into their own office. Now they’re moving again, and this time they’re planting their flag in the middle of Northern Kentucky’s next big bet.

Led by Chad Summe, eGateway just raised a $94 million fund focused on tech, logistics, and digital infrastructure. These aren’t tourists—they’re here to build.

Patriot Boot Camp and Building Something Bigger

SparkHaus isn’t just for high-growth startups. They’ve partnered with Disabled American Veterans (DAV) to host the Patriot Boot Camp initiative, making Northern Kentucky the national hub for veteran-led entrepreneurship.

That’s the kind of move that brings in talent, purpose, and funding from outside the usual startup bubble.

And they’re hiring. SparkHaus is looking for an Operations Manager right now—someone who wants to help shape something real from day one.

This isn’t smoke. It’s fire. You can feel it.

The Thread That Ties It Together

Blue North, the nonprofit running SparkHaus, is one of Kentucky’s official Innovation Hubs. But what they actually do is much more important: they connect founders to capital, customers, partners, and each other. They’re building what most cities still talk about like it’s a future goal.

Here, it’s already in motion.

Time to Stop Asking for Permission

I left Lexington last night thinking: the time for hoping is over. We’ve got the people. We’ve got the infrastructure. We’ve got the tools.

Now it’s on us to use them.

Let’s stop waiting for validation from the coasts. Let’s stop trying to be “the next Austin.” Let’s build the first Northern Kentucky. A region where you don’t have to leave to make it. Where a big exit sparks five new ones. Where founders stay and reinvest.

The belief is back. The groundwork is laid. And finally, the pieces are coming together.

Now let’s make it count.