Eric Hartman, a man with more than 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur himself, is now working full time to help others realize their dreams of turning innovative ideas into profitable businesses.
Hartman, who earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of KentuckyCollege of Engineering, recently took over as director of the Lexington Office of the Kentucky Innovation Network, part of the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship within UK's Gatton College of Business and Economics. The Lexington Innovation Office is also part of a 12-office network partially funded by the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, along with local strategic partners.
From 2000 to 2015, Hartman was co-founder and president of customKYnetics Inc. (cKY), a Central Kentucky medical device company which developed innovative rehabilitation products for physical therapy applications. The company was formed in 2000 based on research at UK.
Over the past year, Hartman served as director of the Kentucky Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) matching funds grant program for the Lexington-based Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC).
Warren Nash, executive director of the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VAC), said, "I am very excited to have Eric joining the VAC team. His background and startup experience will certainly prove to be very valuable to our clients from both UK and the regional entrepreneurial community."
Hartman, the lead inventor on eight issued U.S. patents, anticipates applying the knowledge and expertise he acquired as an innovative leader and high-tech/life sciences entrepreneur to serve clients of Lexington's Kentucky Innovation Network office.
"I am continually amazed by the passion, creativity and talent of our Central Kentucky entrepreneurial community," Hartman said. "I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve in the role of director of the Lexington Office of the Kentucky Innovation Network."
In addition to delivering numerous professional presentations over the past decade, Hartman continues to serve on the advisory boards of both the Scholars in Engineering and Management (SEAM) program and the F. Joseph Halcomb Department of Biomedical Engineering at UK.
