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      For Your Small Business Abby Hobrough October 16, 2026

      Old National Bank Foundation 20 for 20 Grantee Profiles: Amplify Louisville Helps Entrepreneurs Turn Ideas into Opportunity

      As part of its 20th anniversary celebration, and two decades of helping build stronger, more vibrant and prosperous communities, the Old National Bank Foundation in 2026 is donating a total of $20,000 to 20 nonprofit organizations throughout its nine-state footprint, including Amplify Louisville in Kentucky.

      Starting a business can be exciting, but also overwhelming. Many entrepreneurs have strong ideas but need help identifying next steps, connecting with the right people, preparing for funding, and building momentum. Amplify Louisville was created to help fill that gap, providing founders with the resources, relationships, and support needed to move their businesses forward.

      Amplify Louisville: coaching and business support

      Serving a 12-county region across Greater Louisville and Kentucky, Amplify Louisville helps entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of starting and growing a business through coaching, workshops, peer learning opportunities, and introductions to mentors, customers, funders, and ecosystem partners.

      “Amplify was built to make it easier for founders to move forward,” said Jenn Callahan, CEO. “Sometimes that means coaching. Sometimes it means an introduction. Sometimes it means helping a founder get ready for a customer, lender, or investor conversation. Our job is to help entrepreneurs take the next right step.”

      The impact continues to grow throughout the region. As of September 2026, Amplify Louisville:

      • Served 197 startups in the third quarter of 2026 alone
      • Advanced 14 startups and referred 76 others to additional resources
      • Hosted 12 entrepreneurial events with 453 participants
      • Helped eight startups secure funding
      • Supported $22.4 million in startup investment
      • Contributed to the creation of 139 new jobs

      By helping founders access the support they need at critical moments, Amplify Louisville is strengthening the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem and creating new opportunities for economic growth.

      Success stories and building momentum for innovation

      One recent success story is Revitalized Solutions, a Louisville startup creating turnkey virtual nursing solutions designed to improve patient outcomes and address health care workforce challenges.

      Amplify worked closely with the founder before, during, and after participation in the Vogt Awards, helping facilitate connections to fellow founders, pilot opportunities, technical collaborators, and partners focused on customer discovery. The organization also helped increase the company's visibility through opportunities such as Venture Connectors, where the founder presented the company's work to a broader audience.

      “What makes this story meaningful is that it shows how founder support really works,” Callahan said. “It is not just one meeting or one event. It is ongoing help, the right introductions, and people walking alongside a founder as they test, learn, and grow.”

      Today, Revitalized Solutions serves as an example of what can happen when entrepreneurs receive the right support at the right time: connections become opportunities, opportunities build momentum, and momentum helps turn innovative ideas into businesses with real-world impact.

      Old National Bank and supporting founders behind the scenes

      As demand for entrepreneurial support continues to grow, partnerships play an important role in helping Amplify Louisville expand its reach and serve more founders across the region.

      Old National Bank Foundation's support helps fund the behind-the-scenes capacity that makes Amplify's work possible, including coaching programs, partner outreach, communications, fundraising efforts, and systems that help track founder progress and outcomes.

      “Old National's investment helps us serve more entrepreneurs with more consistent support,” Callahan said. “Their support helps us do the everyday work that founders depend on: coaching, connecting, following up, and helping entrepreneurs turn an idea or opportunity into real progress.”

      To learn more about Amplify Louisville, click here.

      Each year, the Old National Bank Foundation endeavors to fund as many initiatives that meet our funding priorities as possible across our footprint. For more information on grants or the Old National Bank Foundation, click here.

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