Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation

The Center for Entrepreneurial Growth (CEG) program at Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation (KHIC), located in London KY, has assisted 75 companies and has helped create or sustain more than 180 jobs in businesses that range from high technology product development to family companies that support the needs of the community. All companies are welcome to join and participate fully in the program.

The CEG progarm provides three components to help start-up and early stage companies obtain the needed knowledge and expertise to become fundable and sustainable businesses.

First, seminars targeted at the entrepreneur and his/her management team, are conducted to address the fundamental and practical aspects of starting and running a new enterprise. These topics not only address the “what to do’s” but the reasons behind the answers.

Second, mentoring and coaching are provided by experienced entrepreneurs and managers that have the working knowledge of growing organizations in both the settings of start-up enterprises and large Fortune 500 companies. Attention is given to guiding the entrepreneur through the transitions needed to move from a project-by-project mentality to a high quality, repeatable process and along a path that will create the opportunities to gather validations indicating that the company is becoming viable through the acceptance of partners, investors, and customers.

Finally, the CEG program prepares the entrepreneur for success in seeking capital. Whether the money needed is in the form of a loan or from investors, the principles of preparing for the event are the same; a strong milestone driven plan with a solid business model and customer understanding.