Kentucky

Highlights

• #26 of 50: Momentum
• #29 of 50: Scale-ups
• #34 of 50: Venture capital

The seven inputs

Each input is a z-score against the other states: 0 is the average state, and each step is one standard deviation (capped at ±3). Ranks are among the 50 states.

• Venture capital -0.4 #34 of 50
• Startup formation -0.9 #47 of 50
• Scale-ups -0.2 #29 of 50
• Economic output and wealth -1.3 #47 of 50
• Innovation and patents -1.1 #45 of 50
• Talent -0.9 #42 of 50
• Momentum -0.1 #26 of 50

Top companies

The largest companies headquartered in Kentucky, by latest annual revenue.

1. Humana Inc. HUM · Healthcare · Louisville, KY-IN $130B
2. BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. BTSG · Healthcare · Louisville, KY-IN $12.9B
3. Yum! Brands, Inc. YUM · Consumer Discretionary · Louisville, KY-IN $8.2B
4. Texas Roadhouse, Inc. TXRH · Consumer Discretionary · Louisville, KY-IN $5.9B
5. Gray Private · Construction · Lexington, KY $4.2B

Roots Density Data, All Companies (public: SEC filings; private: Forbes Top Private Companies 2025). Ranked by latest annual revenue.

Metros in Kentucky

• Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN #30 of 109 metros 54
• Louisville, KY-IN #52 of 109 metros 44
• Lexington, KY #57 of 109 metros 42
• Bowling Green, KY #96 of 109 metros 18
• Huntington–Ashland, WV-KY-OH #108 of 109 metros 1