
From Ideas to Impact: Kentucky’s Statewide Commercialization Approach with Kayla Meisner
Not every university has the resources to build and maintain a Tech Transfer office, and for many smaller institutions, that has long meant sitting on the sidelines. In Kentucky, leaders decided to try something different. Instead of each campus building its own program from scratch, they pooled efforts into a single statewide network. That collaboration became Kentucky Commercialization Ventures, or KCV, a model that’s now showing what inclusive innovation can look like in practice.
At the center of this work is Kayla Meisner, Executive Director of KCV, who has guided the initiative from an early concept into a growing program with national attention. Since its launch in 2020, KCV has more than tripled its funding, doubled its staff, and helped innovators at all levels find clear pathways into commercialization. By combining proof-of-concept funding with hands-on coaching and shared services, the team has turned early ideas into intellectual property, startups, and partnerships that feed back into Kentucky’s economy.
In this episode, Kayla explains what it takes to build trust across institutions, how programs like the Innovation Fellowship and KCV Invent are preparing the next generation of talent, and why partnerships outside of academia are strengthening the state’s innovation ecosystem. She also reflects on what other regions can learn from Kentucky’s experience, from getting state economic leaders on board to setting up governance that keeps everyone invested in long-term success.
In This Episode:
[03:18] Kayla shares the origins of KCV and how it fits within the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation’s 40-year mission.
[05:24] She explains how state dollars are invested into proof-of-concept funding and stipends to support innovators.
[06:30] Kayla describes the challenges Kentucky faced as an EPSCoR and NIH IDeA state and why collective action was needed.
[09:37] She outlines the gap analysis that showed most partner schools lacked IP policies and full-time tech transfer staff.
[12:15] The discussion turns to how KCV scaled its services while running on less than $1 million a year in the early days.
[15:30] Kayla highlights the importance of coaching and mentorship in turning early-stage disclosures into IP.
[17:40] The story of Dr. Rachel Tinius at Western Kentucky University illustrates how small investments can lead to major commercialization success.
[18:26] Kayla talks about the KCV Innovation Fellowship and how it prepares students and faculty for entrepreneurship.
[22:06] She explains how the fellowship has grown into a semester-based, cohort model that builds practical commercialization skills.
[24:11] The conversation shifts to Kentucky’s six regional innovation hubs and their statewide economic impact.
[29:01] Kayla details how KCV now requires assessments before opt-in, creating clearer pathways and buy-in for institutions and innovators.
[32:37] The IMPACT competition is discussed, with KCV celebrating its first-ever community and technical college winner.
[35:17] Kayla addresses the $8.25 million NSF EDGE award and the systemic barriers it is helping to solve at smaller institutions.
[46:28] She reflects on the challenge of securing sustainable funding and the importance of demonstrating ROI.
[49:57] Kayla highlights ecosystem partnerships with groups like the Kentucky Bar Association, USPTO, and Kentucky Distillers Association.
[54:30] The conversation explores talent development through internships and the launch of KCV Invent, funded by the NSF Excellence Program.
[56:43] Kayla offers three recommendations for other states interested in replicating the KCV model: build state relationships, conduct gap analyses, and establish governance.
[59:45] She reflects on what has surprised her most about the centralized approach and why it has proven so effective.
Resources:
Kayla Meisner - Kentucky Commercialization Ventures
Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation
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