Kentucky-Based Tech Startup Apollo Automation Gives Back to Central Kentucky Community with H-2 Holiday Ornament Charitable Initiative
Apollo Automation, a Versailles-based smart home technology company, was featured on LEX 18 News for the launch of their Apollo H-2 Annual Holiday Ornament, a festive smart home device where 100% of profits support local Central Kentucky charities and open-source innovation.
Versailles Tech Company Makes Headlines for Community Giving
LEX 18's coverage of Apollo Automation highlights what makes this Woodford County company special: a commitment to giving back to the community that has supported their growth from a basement hobby project to a thriving Kentucky manufacturer.
"Let's make something fun, and let's give back to the community," Apollo Co-Founder Justin Bunton told LEX 18 reporter Alex Rozier during the interview at Apollo's Versailles facility.
The story showcases Apollo Automation's unique approach to business. Rather than maximizing profits, the company chose to donate 100% of proceeds from their H-2 holiday ornament to CASA of Lexington and the Open Home Foundation.
University of Kentucky Graduates Building Kentucky's Tech Future
During the LEX 18 interview, Justin Bunton emphasized Apollo Automation's connection to the University of Kentucky. Both co-founders are UK graduates, as are other members of their growing team.
"Bunton is a University of Kentucky graduate and said his staff members are too," LEX 18 reported, highlighting how Apollo is creating high-tech career opportunities that keep talented UK graduates in Kentucky rather than losing them to coastal tech hubs.
This commitment to hiring locally and creating Kentucky jobs represents Apollo Automation's broader mission: proving that world-class technology companies can thrive in Central Kentucky while supporting the communities that made their success possible.
From $4,000 to Even Bigger: Growing Charitable Impact
Last year's inaugural H-1 holiday ornament raised $4,000 for local charities, a milestone that exceeded Apollo's expectations.
"We donated $4,000 last year, which was kind of exciting. It was cool to give back," Bunton told LEX 18.
This year, with the improved H-2 design and growing awareness of Apollo's charitable initiative, the Versailles company hopes to significantly exceed last year's donation total. Every dollar of profit from every H-2 sold goes directly to CASA of Lexington and the Open Home Foundation, with no administrative fees or overhead deducted.
Supporting CASA of Lexington: Advocating for Kentucky's Vulnerable Children
CASA of Lexington provides volunteers and resources to advocate on behalf of the best interest of children in the family court system due to abuse or neglect. As a Versailles-based company, Apollo Automation wanted to support an organization making a tangible difference in Central Kentucky.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteers serve as the voice for vulnerable children in Lexington and surrounding counties, ensuring their needs are heard and their rights are protected during family court proceedings. Apollo's donation helps fund volunteer training, resources, and advocacy programs that directly impact local children's lives.
Backing the Open Home Foundation: Supporting Open-Source Smart Home Innovation
Apollo Automation is proud to back the Open Home Foundation. A portion of profits from every H-2 sold helps protect the values of privacy, choice, and sustainability in the smart home by supporting open source projects like Home Assistant and open connectivity standards.
The Open Home Foundation represents the principles that built Apollo Automation: open-source collaboration, user privacy, and local control over smart home devices. By supporting the foundation, Apollo gives back to the ecosystem that made their products possible.
Customer Feedback Drives Innovation: From H-1 to H-2
LEX 18's coverage highlighted Apollo Automation's customer-focused approach to product development. The improvements from last year's H-1 to this year's H-2 came directly from community feedback.
H-1 (2024):
- Christmas tree shape
- Three holiday songs
- 22 RGB LEDs
H-2 (2025):
- Snowflake design
- Four holiday songs with dedicated buttons
- 58 RGB LEDs
- Upgraded ESP32-C6 processor
- USB-C charging
"The only complaint we had was that the kids would constantly hit the button on it and play with it," Bunton told LEX 18, explaining why this year's version features four dedicated song buttons instead of requiring multiple clicks.
This design philosophy extends to all Apollo products. As Bunton explained to LEX 18, "it's about building products people want rather than building something and hoping the public has an interest after the fact."
Local Manufacturing Creates Kentucky Jobs
Apollo Automation's Versailles facility handles everything in-house: design, engineering, manufacturing, assembly, quality control, and shipping. This commitment to local manufacturing creates high-tech jobs in Woodford County and supports the Central Kentucky economy.
The company has grown from two co-founders working in a basement to a team of four full-time and two part-time employees, all based in Versailles. Each new hire represents Apollo's commitment to creating the kinds of technology careers that keep University of Kentucky graduates in-state.
By manufacturing locally rather than outsourcing overseas, Apollo maintains quality control, enables rapid product iteration based on customer feedback, and creates multiplier effects throughout the local economy through supplier partnerships and professional services.
Complete In-House Capabilities: From Design to Doorstep
What sets Apollo Automation apart from typical tech companies is their comprehensive in-house manufacturing capability. Every step of production happens at their Versailles workshop:
Design and Engineering: Circuit design, PCB layout, firmware development, enclosure design, and sensor integration all performed by Apollo's Kentucky-based engineering team.
Manufacturing and Assembly: All final assembly, quality control testing, and product preparation completed in Versailles. No outsourcing to overseas contract manufacturers.
Fulfillment and Shipping: Order processing, packaging, and international shipping all handled directly from their Woodford County facility.
This vertically integrated approach means Apollo controls every aspect of quality and can quickly respond to customer feedback with product improvements. When a community member suggests a feature or reports an issue, Apollo's team can prototype, test, and implement changes without navigating overseas supply chains or third-party manufacturers.
Custom Sensor Design: Kentucky Engineering Expertise for Unique Applications
Beyond their standard product line, Apollo Automation offers custom sensor design and manufacturing services for businesses and organizations with specialized smart home and IoT needs.
Custom Sensor Capabilities Include:
- Hardware modification: Adapting existing Apollo sensors with additional inputs, outputs, or connectivity options
- Custom firmware development: Tailored software for specific automation requirements and integrations
- Sensor integration: Combining multiple sensing technologies into single unified devices
- Specialized enclosures: Custom housing designs for unique mounting requirements or environmental conditions
- Volume production: Scalable manufacturing for projects requiring 25 to 500+ units
All custom sensor work is performed entirely in Versailles, Kentucky. From initial concept and engineering design through prototyping, testing, final assembly, quality assurance, and fulfillment, every step happens at Apollo's Woodford County workshop.
Recent custom projects include sensors for short-term rental properties requiring integrated motion detection, temperature monitoring, and wired door contact support. Another project involved specialized agricultural sensors for livestock monitoring and environmental control in farm applications.
For businesses interested in custom sensor solutions, Apollo requires a minimum 25% deposit to begin development work. This covers initial engineering, prototyping, and testing before moving to volume production.
Shipping Worldwide from Woodford County
Despite being a small Kentucky manufacturer, Apollo Automation ships their products internationally to customers on every continent. Their Versailles facility handles all international logistics, customs documentation, and shipping coordination.
International Shipping Highlights:
- Products shipped to customers in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and Africa
- Direct fulfillment from Versailles to international destinations
- Growing network of international distributors and retail partners
- Compliance with international electronics standards and regulations
- Multilingual customer support for global user base
This global reach from a Woodford County workshop demonstrates that Kentucky manufacturing can compete on the world stage. Apollo's international customers choose their products not despite being made in Kentucky, but often because of it. The "Made in USA" designation, combined with open-source principles and privacy-first design, resonates with users worldwide who want alternatives to mass-produced, cloud-dependent smart home devices.
Apollo's participation in international trade shows like IFA Berlin 2025 (supported by Kentucky STEP grants) has accelerated their European and international distribution partnerships, bringing Versailles-made technology to even more global customers.
Community Support Fuels Apollo's Growth
The LEX 18 story captures an essential truth about Apollo Automation: the community that supported their growth from a hobby project to a successful business deserves to benefit from that success.
"It's definitely one of those pieces you'll show off and say, 'this is a local company, and the proceeds went to charity,'" Bunton told LEX 18.
Apollo's success story is intertwined with Central Kentucky's support. Local customers who chose Apollo sensors over cloud-dependent alternatives. University of Kentucky programs that educated their team. Woodford County infrastructure that enables manufacturing. Kentucky STEP grants that helped fund international trade show participation. The Home Assistant and ESPHome communities that provided the open-source foundation for their products.
The H-2 holiday ornament charitable initiative represents Apollo's way of saying thank you to everyone who made their growth possible.
Apollo H-2: A Festive Smart Home Device with Purpose
The Apollo H-2 Annual Holiday Ornament combines smart home technology with holiday cheer and charitable giving. At $17.99, it represents exceptional value for a fully functional smart device that supports important causes.
Key Features:
- 58 RGB LEDs: Nearly triple the lighting of last year's model
- Four classic holiday songs: Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Let it Snow, and Blue Christmas
- Dedicated song buttons: No more multi-click confusion
- ESP32-C6 processor: 8MB flash memory for enhanced capabilities
- USB-C charging: Modern, convenient power management
- Battery powered option: Uses 16340 or RCR123A rechargeable battery
- Home Assistant integration: Optional advanced features including custom songs, LED effects, Bluetooth proxy, and presence tracking
Each H-2 includes a QR code linking to Apollo Automation's 2025 Year In Review, showcasing the company's growth, product launches, international expansion, and community achievements throughout the year.
Building Products People Actually Want: The Apollo Philosophy
LEX 18's coverage emphasized Apollo Automation's customer-centric approach. Rather than building products in isolation and hoping for market interest, Apollo engages directly with the Home Assistant and ESPHome communities to understand what users actually need.
This philosophy manifests in several ways:
Monthly live streams where Apollo answers community questions and shares development updates Active Discord community providing direct feedback channels Open-source firmware enabling community modifications and improvements Beta testing programs involving users in product refinement GitHub repositories where the community can contribute code and access designs
The result: products that solve real problems for real users, backed by a community that feels ownership in Apollo's success.
From Basement to Featured Business: Apollo's Kentucky Growth Story
Apollo Automation's journey from basement hobby project to LEX 18-featured business exemplifies Kentucky entrepreneurship. Started by two University of Kentucky graduates in September 2023, the company has achieved remarkable milestones in just over two years:
2024 Achievements:
- Launched multiple successful products
- Achieved Works With Home Assistant partnership
- Earned Made For ESPHome certification
- Donated $4,000 through H-1 ornament sales
- Moved out of basement into dedicated facility
2025 Achievements:
- Delivered 6 new products to market
- Expanded international distribution to every continent
- Attended CES and IFA Berlin trade shows
- Grew to 6-person team
- Completed Awesome Inc fellowship program
- Significantly expanded workshop and manufacturing capabilities
- Featured on LEX 18 News
Smart Home Technology Made in Kentucky
Apollo Automation manufactures a complete line of open-source smart home sensors and devices, all designed and built in Versailles, Kentucky:
- AIR-1: Comprehensive air quality monitoring with PM sensors, VOC, NOx, CO₂, temperature, and humidity
- MSR-2: Ultra-compact mmWave presence sensor
- MTR-1: Multi-target radar sensor tracking up to three people simultaneously
- R PRO-1: Professional-grade PoE multisensor for commercial installations
- TEMP-1: Temperature and humidity sensor with food-safe and waterproof probe options
- PLT-1: Smart plant sensor for indoor gardening
- PUMP-1: Intelligent fluid pump controller
- M-1: LED matrix display panel
- BTN-1: Macro deck controller (launching soon)
- DEV-1 and DEV-2: ESP32 development boards
All products integrate locally with Home Assistant and ESPHome, requiring no cloud services or subscriptions. This privacy-first approach resonates with users who want local control over their smart home data.
Collectible Annual Tradition: Each Year Unique
As featured in the LEX 18 story, Apollo plans to make the holiday ornament an annual tradition, with each year featuring a unique design. The H-1 was a Christmas tree. The H-2 is a snowflake. Future years will bring new shapes and features.
This approach creates collectible value for Apollo supporters while ensuring the charitable initiative continues year after year. Limited production runs mean each edition becomes a keepsake marking that specific year of Apollo's growth and community support.
Local Pride: Supporting Versailles and Woodford County Business
The LEX 18 feature emphasizes an important aspect of purchasing an H-2: supporting local business and local jobs. Every H-2 purchased represents:
- Kentucky manufacturing jobs in Versailles
- University of Kentucky graduate employment in Central Kentucky
- Local supplier partnerships for components and materials
- Woodford County tax revenue supporting schools and infrastructure
- Charitable giving to Central Kentucky organizations
- Open-source innovation supporting global smart home communities
"It's definitely one of those pieces you'll show off and say, 'this is a local company, and the proceeds went to charity,'" Bunton told LEX 18, capturing the pride of supporting homegrown Kentucky innovation.
Watch the Full LEX 18 News Story
View the complete LEX 18 coverage of Apollo Automation and the H-2 holiday ornament charitable initiative: Apollo Automation launches newest ornament, donating all profits to local charities
The story, reported by Alex Rozier, showcases Apollo's Versailles facility, features an interview with Co-Founder Justin Bunton, and highlights the company's commitment to community giving.
Order Your Apollo H-2 Holiday Ornament Today
Support local Kentucky manufacturing, help vulnerable children through CASA of Lexington, advance open-source smart home innovation through the Open Home Foundation, and add a unique piece of technology to your holiday collection.
Order now: apolloautomation.com/products/apollo-h-2-annual-holiday-ornament
Shipping: Orders ship within 1-4 weeks depending on demand
Price: $17.99 (with optional increased donation tiers)
Donation: 100% of profits to CASA of Lexington and Open Home Foundation
Remember: Every H-2 purchase supports Central Kentucky children, advances open-source smart home technology, and celebrates a local company built by University of Kentucky graduates who chose to stay and build something meaningful in their home state.
Interested in Custom Sensors?
Contact Apollo Automation about custom sensor design and manufacturing for your business or organization. All design, engineering, assembly, and fulfillment performed in Versailles, Kentucky with international shipping available.
About Apollo Automation
Apollo Automation is a Versailles, Kentucky-based smart home technology company building high-performance, open-source sensors and devices for Home Assistant and ESPHome. Founded in 2023 by University of Kentucky graduates Justin Bunton and Trevor Schirmer, the company handles all design, engineering, final assembly, fulfillment, and international shipping from their Woodford County workshop. Apollo is committed to privacy-first design, in-house manufacturing, creating high-tech jobs in Central Kentucky, and giving back to the local community. All Apollo products integrate locally with Home Assistant, requiring no cloud services or subscriptions.
About CASA of Lexington
CASA of Lexington provides volunteers and resources to advocate on behalf of the best interest of children in the family court system due to abuse or neglect. Learn more at casaoflexington.org.
About Open Home Foundation
The Open Home Foundation protects the values of privacy, choice, and sustainability in the smart home by supporting open source projects like Home Assistant and open connectivity standards. Learn more at openhomefoundation.org.
Media Contact: Apollo Automation Versailles, Kentucky apolloautomation.com
SEO Keywords: Apollo Automation LEX 18, Versailles Kentucky tech company, LEX 18 news Apollo Automation, Woodford County manufacturing, Kentucky smart home company, University of Kentucky graduates, UK alumni business, CASA of Lexington donation, Open Home Foundation, Kentucky charity, Versailles businesses, Central Kentucky tech jobs, local manufacturing Kentucky, Apollo H-2 ornament, Kentucky entrepreneurs, Woodford County jobs, LEX 18 covering Kentucky, local news feature, Kentucky made products, smart home charity, Home Assistant Kentucky, UK graduate entrepreneurs, Versailles KY innovation, Kentucky technology startups, local business Lexington, Central Kentucky charity, Woodford County business news, custom sensor manufacturing, IoT manufacturing Kentucky, international shipping Kentucky, Kentucky engineering, made in Versailles KY, custom smart home sensors
