LLC vs S-Corp vs C-Corp in Kentucky: How to Choose Your Business Structure
How LLCs, S-corps, and C-corps are formed and taxed in Kentucky and Louisville, when the S-corp election pays off, and why venture-backed startups use a Delaware C-corp.
Louisville · Southern Indiana
Connecting Louisville’s Startup Community
Supporting the innovators, entrepreneurs, and startups driving Greater Louisville’s new economy.
From founder meetups and workshops to funding resources and partner organizations, this is the shared front door for Greater Louisville innovation.
Serving Louisville’s startup community since 2012
735+
Community Events
245
Organizers
259
Venues
Subscribe to Louisville’s Startup Digest — weekly emails on upcoming events and local startup news.
Subscribe FreeInsights
Louisville startup stories
Louisville Business License and Permits: The Complete Guide for Jefferson County
What you actually need to operate a business in Louisville and Jefferson County: Revenue Commission registration and the 2.2% occupational license tax, zoning and home occupations, health permits, alcohol licenses, signs, and certificates of occupancy.
Churchill Downs: How a Louisville Racetrack Became a Multi-Billion-Dollar Gaming Empire
Churchill Downs Incorporated is famous for the Kentucky Derby, but the Louisville company earned $2.93 billion in fiscal 2025 from historical racing machines, TwinSpires and regional casinos. Here is its history, its properties, and why it is now exploring a sale of nine casinos.
Papa John's: How a Broom Closet in the Louisville Metro Became a Global Pizza Empire
John Schnatter built Papa John's from a broom closet into a public company with 6,000+ restaurants in 50 countries — then lost control of the brand he built.
High Speed Access Corp: The Louisville Startup Behind Kentucky's Largest IPO
In 1999, Louisville entrepreneur Kent Oyler took High Speed Access Corp public in what remains Kentucky's largest IPO. HSAC proved Louisville could build nationally significant tech companies — and its legacy still shapes the city's startup ecosystem today.
Kentucky Small Business Grants, Loans, and Funding Programs: The Complete 2026 Guide
Which Kentucky and Louisville small business grants actually exist in 2026, who qualifies, how much they pay, and the loans, tax credits and startup funding programs that fill the gaps.
Community
Louisville’s startup ecosystem
Top Organizers
245 total- Venture Connectors58 events
- Startup Week32 events
- Inventors Council Louisville23 events
- Louisville Digital Association18 events
- General Assembly Louisville15 events
- Louisville Small Business Development Center15 events
Top Venues
259 total- Story Louisville @ 900 E Main52 events
- iHub31 events
- Muhammad Ali Center, 6th Floor31 events
- The Root22 events
- Zoom22 events
- LouieLab20 events
Join the KYX Slack
Louisville’s most active startup Slack is run by KYX (KY Combinator), a volunteer nonprofit. Join to trade questions, intros, and opportunities with local founders, builders, and investors.
Follow @StartupLou
Stay up to date with ecosystem news, event announcements, and community highlights across social media.
StartupLouisville was created and is supported by Scalable Ventures, a B2B SaaS venture studio based in Louisville.
Are we missing something?
Submit your startup event, meetup, or workshop to the community calendar.