Frequently asked questions

The Louisville AI Center (LAIC) is a nonprofit civic infrastructure organization dedicated to making artificial intelligence work for Louisville, its people, and its businesses. We connect the ecosystem, empower the workforce, and advance the city.

LAIC serves as a bridge between technology and community, providing a vetted resource directory, workforce navigation tools, events, roundtables, the annual State of AI report, and the Partner Alliance membership network.

Louisville AI Center was born out of the Bingham Fellows Class of 2026 through a project focused on building a Tech-Driven, Human-Centered City. It is governed by a cross-sector board of leaders representing business, education, nonprofit, government, and community organizations across the Louisville region.

Yes. Louisville AI Center is incorporated as a nonprofit organization. Our 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status is currently pending. We will notify all members once it is confirmed, at which point membership dues may become tax-deductible. Please consult your tax advisor for guidance specific to your situation.

LAIC is funded through a combination of grants, membership dues, sponsorships, and Capital Partner investments. This diversified model ensures we remain community-centered rather than dependent on any single source of support.

Visit the Partner Alliance page for the full breakdown of what each tier includes.

The first 50 organizations to join the Partner Alliance receive Founding Member status. As a Founding Member your rate is permanently locked. It will never increase as long as your membership remains continuous. You will also receive a Founding Member badge on your directory listing and recognition in LAIC communications.

Founding Member status is a one-time designation. It cannot be earned after the first 50 organizations have joined.

Benefits vary by tier and may include:

• Access to member-only roundtables and convenings
• Listing in the LAIC Partner Directory
• The LAIC Intelligence Brief (AI news, tools, and ecosystem updates)
• Ability to submit resources, job opportunities, and events for publication
• Access to private Slack channels
• Introductions within the LAIC network (at LAIC discretion)
• Recognition in the annual State of AI report
• Invitation to participate in community surveys and listening sessions
• Leadership briefings (Corporate tier)

See the full tier comparison on the Partner Alliance page.

Membership opens at our launch event. The process is:

1. Select your membership tier
2. Complete the membership registration form
3. Submit payment to activate your membership
4. Watch for a welcome email from the LAIC Team with next steps

There are two separate forms: one for Individuals and Students, and one for SMB, SMB Nonprofit, and Corporate members.

Membership is billed annually and auto-renews on your anniversary date, the date you originally joined. You will receive a reminder 14 days before your renewal date.

Founding Member rates are permanently locked for continuous members. Rate increases will never apply to your membership as long as it remains active without a lapse.

We currently accept major credit and debit cards online. Corporate Partners may request invoice-based payment via our Capital Partner billing process. Contact us at louisvilleaicenter@gmail.com for invoicing inquiries.

If your membership is not renewed within 30 days of your anniversary date, your account will be deactivated. This means your directory listing will be removed and you will lose access to all Partner Alliance member benefits.

If you are a Founding Member and allow your membership to lapse, Founding Member status and the locked rate cannot be reinstated upon rejoining.

Membership dues are generally non-refundable. If you have a billing issue or a unique circumstance, please reach out to us at louisvilleaicenter@gmail.com and we will do our best to work with you.

Partner Alliance members have access to a range of gatherings depending on their tier:

• Community listening sessions: open to the public, semi-public, or private depending on the organizing community partner. These focus on gathering input, hearing from the community, and shaping LAIC's direction.
• Member convenings: gatherings for the broader Partner Alliance membership. All members are welcome.
• AI roundtables: smaller facilitated sessions on specific AI topics. Invitation is based on topic relevance. Some roundtables are open to specific member types; others are open across all tiers.
• Leadership briefings: available to Corporate members as a one-on-one session with LAIC leadership. SMB members receive a group session format.

Convening frequency varies by event type. Member convenings and community listening sessions are scheduled throughout the year. Roundtables are convened as relevant topics and community needs arise. All events are communicated through the LAIC Intelligence Brief and member emails. Check the Events page for the latest schedule.

LAIC sets roundtable topics based on ecosystem needs, community input, and strategic priorities. Members are also welcome to propose topics. LAIC reviews all proposals and makes the final decision on what to convene, based on relevance, timing, and capacity. Proposals can be submitted through the resource and ideas submission form.

Each seat holder for an organizational membership may bring one guest per convening, per year. Guests must be accompanied by the seat holder. This allowance does not apply to closed leadership briefings or invitation-only roundtables.

The LAIC Partner Directory is a searchable listing of all active Partner Alliance members. It is a visibility tool designed to help members connect with each other and to signal their commitment to Louisville's AI ecosystem.

The directory is currently in development. We collect your directory assets during onboarding so your listing is ready to go live at launch.

Yes. During registration there is a directory opt-in checkbox. It is checked by default because most members want the visibility. If you prefer not to be listed, simply uncheck it on your registration form. You can also contact us at any time to update your directory preference.

For individuals and students: your name, headshot, professional title, brief bio, and a link to your LinkedIn or website.

For organizations: company name, logo, website, a brief description, and your primary contact name. Founding Members receive a Founding Member badge on their listing.

All directory assets are collected at intake so we can build your listing without chasing you down later.

Yes. The directory and member events are designed to facilitate direct connection. Members can reach out to each other through directory listings, the private member Slack, and in person at convenings.

Members may also request introductions through LAIC. We facilitate introductions at our discretion based on fit, mutual benefit, and staff capacity. Introductions are not guaranteed. The best path to meeting other members is showing up: attend convenings and roundtables and use the directory to initiate your own outreach.

The LAIC Intelligence Brief is our regular member newsletter covering AI tools and trends, local ecosystem news, job opportunities, upcoming events, and community spotlights. All members receive the same Brief. Paid members are eligible to be featured or spotlighted within it.

Yes. Members and the broader community can submit resources, job opportunities, and events for consideration through the share page. LAIC reviews all submissions before publishing. There is no set limit on job postings. If an opportunity exists and is relevant to our community, we want people to share it.

Organizational memberships (SMB, SMB Nonprofit, Corporate) include seats that allow multiple people from your organization to participate in LAIC events and access member benefits. The number of seats varies by tier. Visit the Partner Alliance page for the breakdown.

Seats are rotating, meaning your organization can designate different team members over time. You are not locked into the same individuals year over year.

Seats must be held by current employees or contracted staff of the member organization. This ensures the membership benefit serves your organization directly. Seats cannot be transferred to outside contacts, vendors, or friends of the organization.

At registration we ask for a minimum of two named contacts:

• Primary contact: the main point of contact for membership communications, billing, and logistics
• Secondary contact: a backup contact in case the primary is unavailable

Both must be current employees or contracted staff. You can designate additional seat holders after registration. We collect contacts upfront so we are not chasing information later.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for events, programs, and LAIC initiatives. Visit the Program Sponsorships page to explore current opportunities and submit your interest. Sponsorship is separate from Partner Alliance membership and can be pursued independently or in combination.

Sponsors typically support a specific event or initiative in exchange for recognition and visibility. Capital Partners are strategic investors in LAIC's long-term infrastructure and mission. Capital Partnership involves a deeper, more sustained commitment. Contact us at louisvilleaicenter@gmail.com to learn more about Capital Partnership.

After joining you will receive a welcome email from the LAIC Team with links to complete your onboarding. Here is how to hit the ground running:

1. Complete your directory profile so your listing is ready at launch
2. Join the member Slack community and introduce yourself
3. Explore the Resources and Events pages
4. Take the Louisville AI Survey on the Our Data page. It is anonymous, available in multiple languages including Spanish, French, and Portuguese, and also accessible by voice for those with visual impairments. We are working toward 10,000 responses and your participation matters.
5. Attend an upcoming convening or community listening session
6. Share a resource, job posting, or event on the share page

Reach us at louisvilleaicenter@gmail.com. We will get back to you as quickly as we can.