“If you’re going to build a product for everyone, you need to have a team that represents everyone.” ― Ramya Raghavan, Google
Today’s issue:
February 23, 2021
AGENTS OF CHANGE
Data science and inclusivity 
Image by metamorworks for Shutterstock
The Harvard Business Review called the data scientist the “Sexiest Job of the 21th Century.” Touted for its high job availability and potential for high salaries, the role of data science is becoming pervasive in all walks of life.
However, research bears out that data science has the lowest diversity of all tech fields. Recent estimates show that Black people make up just 3 percent of data and analytics professionals.
There are a lot of reasons behind these numbers: lack of early STEM education and lack of mentorship and funding opportunities for minorities as well as exclusionary workplace cultures.
The lack of diversity not only hurts minorities trying to break into data research, but it is also a serious issue in terms of the quality of research and products being turned out. Data algorithms are susceptible to bias so to build them correctly, you have to have a team that includes a wide range of views and experiences in order to ask the right questions.
Two schools taking a deliberate approach
Funding for minority education and startups is increasing, but a couple of universities in Kentucky are being very purposeful in what they are doing with those funding dollars.
Two programs have been launched at the University of Kentucky that are aimed at creating a more inclusive research and development innovation ecosystem: the Engaging Researchers and Innovators for Commercialization at HBCUs (EnRICH) program and Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV). Each received a $25,000 prize as part of the “Visionary” category in the new Lab-to-Market (L2M) Inclusive Innovation Ecosystem Prize Competition.
Bellarmine University is taking a practical approach to inclusion with The Butterfly Project, a virtual, paid internship opportunity between Bellarmine and Central High School. The program is backed by Louisville's Future Work Initiative, Louisville Urban League, and TECH-Nique, Inc.
In the program, teenage students will be teamed up with university students to learn how to collect and use data and innovative technology as a way to show racial disparities in the five areas of housing, health, education, jobs, and justice.
“The students will have had an opportunity to see how harnessing the power of data can be used to further social justice efforts,” Alisia McClain, co-founder of this project, said in a statement.
Is your organization taking concrete steps to rewrite the narrative on inclusiveness in data science? If so, we’d like to hear from you! Just send us a note here. Share this story!
PARTNER PODCAST With Refinery Ventures
Innovative frontiers from Toronto and Cleveland to Dubai If you enjoy discovering innovation in surprising places and hearing stories from entrepreneurial leaders, Fast Frontiers is your new must-listen to podcast. Host Tim Schigel, Managing Partner of Refinery Ventures, brings you interviews form leading funders, ecosystem builders, corporate innovators, and startup founders. Your next big idea is one episode away! Startup growth lessons from Dubai — S2: E4 Recognized by Forbes magazine as one of the “World’s Top 50 Women in Tech," entrepreneur and investor Noor Sweid shares insight on scaling up and bringing a company public. How do you achieve 100x growth? — S2: E5 Whether you're building a startup or an innovation ecosystem, you need to hear insights from Cleveland Foundation's Baiju Shah. The veteran executive, investor, and entrepreneur shares stories about his passion for growth, Cleveland, and the next generation of healthcare. A chemical engineer excels in early tech investing — S2: E6 Michelle McBane is passionate about working with technology entrepreneurs. As the managing director of Standup Ventures, she leads investments in early stage technology companies led or co-led by women founders. Hear what she looks for in founders and get an insight into Toronto's innovation ecosystem. You can find the Fast Frontiers podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, or their website.
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HOT COFFEE! 
GE announces Innovation Studio GE Appliances has announced its Innovation Studio by GE Profile, which will be a testing and development facility, staffed by engineers and designers, for innovating technology solutions. David Calzi joins UofL A former partner of Ernst & Young has been selected by UofL to guide industry engagement as part of its Office of Research and Innovation. David Calzi will serve as the point of contact for companies looking to engage across the university to find talent, solve problems, and innovate. Another clinical trial for UofL UofL is partnering with Eli Lilly for a Phase 3 monoclonal antibody clinical trial of bamlanivimab to be focused on area long-term care facilities. It's the first and only location in Kentucky that has been green-lighted for the opportunity. T2 licenses its Bluetooth LC3 Louisville’s T2 Software, which makes next-generation Bluetooth software solutions, announced that it has licensed its implementation of the Bluetooth LC3 to Nordic Semiconductor, a large supplier of Bluetooth chips. Minority investment from Susquehanna Growth Equity Seek Now, Inc., a Louisville technology-enabled inspection platform and services provider to the property & casualty insurance industry, has received a significant minority investment from Susquehanna Growth Equity, LLC, a growth equity firm focused on internet, software, and information services companies. Share these stories!
INNOVATION SPOTLIGHT With InvestMidwest
Midwest Venture Showcase — April 27-28, 2021 
With a blend of on-demand and live sessions, the virtual 2021 program is designed to provide you with the latest industry updates and flexibility to view content and company pitches according to your schedule. Co-produced by InvestMidwest and the Midwest Growth Capital Symposium. Register HERE. Share this event!
ON OUR RADAR
What innovators do you want to know about? 
Louisville Future created the Innovation Radar so you have a resource to track and connect to the most innovative companies and people in our region.
Discover local innovative companies and learn about the people behind them. You can also help build our innovation radar by adding companies here. Let's build our innovation ecosystem together!
Here are several helpful links to find local innovation at work:
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AROUND THE REGION With 
We hope you enjoy these headlines from the latest issue of Flyover Future, chronicling innovation throughout the Midwest. If you'd like to subscribe to Flyover Future, click here.
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