The City of Covington and start-up accelerator UpTech are in the early stages of a process designed to enhance the innovation mindset at City Hall while also helping fledgling companies get valuable customer insights. The so-called UpTech partner program was approved by the City Commission in August. Basic details call for representatives of each of the six companies in UpTech’s newly minted class to hold at least one meeting with city staff appropriate for the customer profile of each start-up.

The partnership is driven on the following principles:

1. Build a more purposeful relationship between UpTech and Covington in the spirit of enhancing innovation and new business creation in Covington.

2. Provide the UpTech startups with the opportunity to pitch their businesses to city officials. Startups will gain invaluable feedback and connections. City officials will be exposed to new businesses located in Covington while possibly identifying how the city could use these innovations where applicable.

3. Explore events and methods to help the city become more innovative through hack-a-thons and mentorship opportunities.

“The City of Covington has been one of UpTech’s biggest supporters since 2013,” said JB Woodruff, Managing Director of UpTech. “We are very excited to expand that support into an active partnership that will be mutually beneficial to the city and our startups. Additionally, helping to solve some of the city’s most challenging problems through entrepreneurship is one of the best ways we feel we can provide a return to the city’s investment in our program.”

Additional information can be found at https://www.uptechideas.org and https://www.covingtonky.gov.