Middle Tech

A media company exploring startups, technology, and entrepreneurship in Middle America.

[Middle Tech @middletechpod]

Jeff Cummins from Immersive Hearing Technologies: “All the features you get in AirPods you get with hearing aids as well.”
Modern hearing aids use DNN chips for AI-powered noise reduction and speech intelligibility. The tech has quietly become incredibly sophisticated.

[Middle Tech @middletechpod]

“The shortcut you’re looking for is in the work you’re avoiding.”

Logan reflects on joining Valent in 2025 and what it taught him about growth, discipline, and showing up.

Season 9 is officially live 🎙️

#Startups #Entrepreneurship #LexingtonKY

[Middle Tech @middletechpod]

Season 9 of Middle Tech is live.

The kickoff episode reflects on 2025:
• building a startup
• betting on community + content
• what worked, what didn’t, and what’s next

New episode out now.

Listen here: https://t.co/9dGOicRyYY

[Middle Tech @middletechpod]

Big ideas. Bold founders. Real momentum.

Huge congrats to the winners and every founder who took the stage at the 5 Across Finals.

Grateful to @awesomeinclex for powering Kentucky’s startup community.

This is 5 Across.

[Middle Tech @middletechpod]

“This isn’t an AI problem. It’s a we-stopped-building problem.”

Will Howard of Elementl Power breaks it down:
⚡ AI just exposed the cracks.
⚡ We need new power plants, now.
⚡ This is the moment to rebuild the grid.

Full episode https://t.co/9dGOicRyYY

[Middle Tech @middletechpod]

“Kentucky’s an amazing state for new nuclear.”

Will Howard from Elementl Power on why KY’s infrastructure, coal legacy, and water access make it ideal for next-gen energy projects - and why Google’s already scouting sites.

🎧 Full episode → https://t.co/9dGOicRyYY

[Middle Tech @middletechpod]

We asked founders the important questions:
their work soundtrack, their alternate-universe career, and the quirks that keep them building.

Don’t miss the 5 Across Finals TOMORROW hosted by @awesomeinclex - the perfect place to hear more from the people shaping Kentucky’s startup scene.

Get your tickets here: https://t.co/Sg7X7ifvV7

[Awesome Inc @awesomeinclex]

Grab your tickets from the link below before it's too late! 👇
https://t.co/kOVTTZuEmG

[Awesome Inc @awesomeinclex]

Finals Feature: Pitch Please 👅

This startup aims to revolutionize the creator economy by directly connecting influencers with prospective companies.

Hear more from founder Jen Hartmann this Wednesday at the 2025 5 Across Finals!

[Middle Tech @middletechpod]

What do a 60,000 sq. ft. facility, 5M AI insights/month & Inc. 5000 wins have in common?

They all started on the 5 Across stage.

Dec 3 → Celebrate 15 years of KY’s most iconic pitch event.
You don’t want to miss this one.

Get your tickets here: https://t.co/Sg7X7ig3KF

@awesomeinclex

[Middle Tech @middletechpod]

Chris Wiedmar of Hogshead on discovering a $100M+ bourbon problem: Brown-Forman couldn’t predict barrel yield.

That moment sparked a journey into whiskey-tech - and eventually, the launch of Hogshead.

🎧 Full story: https://t.co/9dGOicRyYY

[Awesome Inc @awesomeinclex]

Finals Feature: Essential Innovations ☀️

This mission-driven startup aims to unlock new potential by helping employers and nonprofits unlock tax and training credits to serve their workforce.

To hear more from CEO Ben Reno-Weber, check out the 5 Across Finals on December 3rd!

[Middle Tech @middletechpod]

“The bourbon market is worth billions - but it’s still incredibly opaque.”

Chris Wiedmar (Party Horses, Hogshead) is fixing that with a tech-driven marketplace for bourbon barrels.

Hear how a Kentucky startup is turning whiskey into a tradeable asset.

Full episode: https://t.co/Sg7X7ifvV7

[Middle Tech @middletechpod]

A Lexington biotech startup is turning bourbon waste into protein.

Pet food. Fish farms. Fertilizer.

This isn’t just innovation - it’s Kentucky’s future in the making.

Watch the story: https://t.co/9dGOicR19q

[Middle Tech @middletechpod]

Brandon Corace of Meridian Biotech on how it all began.

From early energy research to bourbon byproducts, Brandon shares how his team discovered a new way to turn distillery waste into sustainable materials.

Listen to our latest episode for the full story: https://t.co/Sg7X7ifvV7

[Awesome Inc @awesomeinclex]

Finals Feature: DataRovers 🤖

This startup is set on transforming the healthcare industry by using AI to streamline denial management to bring the focus back to patient care.

Hear more from Co-Founder and CEO Jawad Popalzai at 5 Across Finals on December 3rd!

[Awesome Inc @awesomeinclex]

Where you're going to have fun this week:
✅ 5 Across
✅ Fellowship Demo Day
❌ Your couch

Get your tickets today!
https://t.co/nZsuc1emUk
https://t.co/sqpJM1yhEQ

[Middle Tech @middletechpod]

On our latest episode: How a $40M deal with Buffalo Trace is turning bourbon waste into biotech gold. ♻️

Founder Brandon Corace of Meridian Biotech breaks it down.

Listen → https://t.co/9dGOicRyYY