7 Years Strong: Tech Incubator, Kinetic Partnership a Boon for Startups

By: Windstream Holdings via Business Wire

August 22, 2024 at 09:00 AM EDT

Kinetic and Kentucky-based tech incubator Awesome Inc provide free high-speed internet access to innovators, entrepreneurs, startups at ‘nearly the speed of light’
Partnership underscores Kinetic’s commitment to supporting tech startups and small businesses

Kinetic, a provider of residential and small business internet across 18 states, is proud to partner once again with Lexington-based tech incubator, Awesome Inc.

The partnership includes free, high-speed fiber internet for Awesome Inc, as well as the entrepreneurs who utilize the organization’s workspace and who may need the speeds one would find at a big-tech corporate headquarters, according to Kevin Mansur, director of strategic relationships at Awesome Inc.

The partnership also underscores Kinetic’s commitment to championing local entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses in the rural and suburban communities it serves, empowering them to uncover new and emerging technological opportunities with high-speed internet.

“We know the crucial role reliable, high-speed internet plays in not only launching a business but helping them grow and reach the next level of success,” said Ben Midanek, Kinetic’s chief marketing officer, who was also a founder of two startups. “This is exactly the reason why Kinetic continues to invest in Awesome Inc—we see the thriving entrepreneurial spirit here and we want to help empower innovators, big ideas, bold action and creativity through technology and engineering.”

Kinetic has provided Awesome Inc fiber internet since 2017 to help empower entrepreneurs and business owners at every stage of their journey.

Awesome Inc’s state-of-the-art coworking space, which features Kinetic’s multi-gig fiber internet, offers a creative, innovative environment for Kentucky entrepreneurs, small business owners and remote workers.

The ultra-fast connectivity contains enough bandwidth to support even the most demanding workloads—from video conferencing and virtual meetings to web development and graphic design.

“We want to offer the people who use our coworking space all the amenities that you would find at a big-tech corporate headquarters,” said Kevin Mansur, director of strategic relationships at Awesome Inc. “With Kinetic’s partnership and fiber connectivity, we can provide the speed and reliability many entrepreneurs need to conduct daily business. And we see the impact high-speed internet has on streamlining and creating efficiencies. Take upload wait periods, for example. Our in-house videographer tried to upload a video using his home internet several times but failed. He came to the office and had the video uploaded in less than a minute.”

Additionally, Kinetic also sponsors Awesome Inc’s 5 Across Competition, which offers five Kentucky entrepreneurs a chance to pitch their business ideas to judges and attendees in five minutes or less. Multiple sessions are held throughout the year, and the winners receive a prize of $500 and the chance to compete for $55,000 at the competition’s grand finale this December.

Kinetic leaders have also participated as 5 Across judges, providing feedback and support to several startups and small businesses in the community. The next iteration of the competition is Aug. 28 from 5-7 p.m. ET at the Mane on Main.

The 5 Across competition started in 2010. Notable winners from recent years include:

AirTrek Robotics (tech)
ValueBuddy (tech)
Wicked Technologies (tech)
CleanSpace (tech)
Kyndly Benefits (healthcare)
TitleWise (tech)
Feedcoyote Inc (tech)
Xena (tech)
Water Warriors (environmental services)
Party Horses (beverage),
Inphlu (tech)

Afterlife (beverage)
13 Layers (IT)
MentorVet (healthcare)
Level Up (healthcare)
Borderless Distribution (transportation)
EZ Chow (tech)
Stellar Plants (agriculture)
Kare Mobile (healthcare)
PascalTags (transportation)
EZ Gig (tech)
Moolathon (tech)

“Very thankful to have worked within the Awesome Inc ecosystem for the past year,” said Aram Street, co-founder of CleanSpace, an on-demand cleaning app. It has a “fantastic environment, exceptional people, and stellar resources for helping startups advance and scale.”

Kinetic’s fiber-optic broadband lets users download and upload, equally in both directions, at multi-gigabits per second. The Kinetic fiber network also transmits data at nearly the speed of light.

About Kinetic: Kinetic, a Windstream company, offers fiber-based broadband to residential and small business customers in 18 states. The company’s quality-first approach connects customers to new opportunities and possibilities by delivering a full suite of advanced communications services. Kinetic is one of three brands managed by Windstream. The company also offers managed cloud communications and security services to mid-to-large enterprises and government entities across the U.S. as well as customized wavelength and dark fiber solutions to carriers, content providers and hyperscalers in the U.S. and Canada. Windstream is a privately held company headquartered in Little Rock, Ark. Additional information about Kinetic is available at GoKinetic.com or windstream.com.

Category: Kinetic