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This summer, Alabama’s best and brightest will compete for cash prizes that could boost business.
The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) is hosting Alabama Launchpad, a startup bootcamp where participants learn from experienced entrepreneurs and compete for a total of $75,000 in funding.
The competition will conclude with the pitch finale in Huntsville on August 15. Reserve your tickets now for the Cycle 2 Finale.
Early Seed Stage Finalist
debtInalyst Early seed stage They are competing for $50,000 to accelerate the growth of their existing business.
Split EV
One of the main reasons preventing people from switching to electric vehicles (EVs) is the lack of public charging areas.
EV chargers are proliferating in dense urban areas, and SplitEV wants to make EV chargers accessible and reliable across Alabama.
By creating a network of private EV chargers, SplitEV allows property owners to monetize their chargers and provide a large-scale charging network to drivers.
“We are especially excited to engage with Alabama communities to foster innovation and advance the adoption of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure in the state.
The program will help them connect with industry experts, potential investors and other innovative startups, providing them with valuable insights and support to help them scale their business, strengthen their technology and expand their market presence.”
Abi Odugbesan, Founder and CEO of SplitEV
Zone Protect
When founder Brian Bear saw his friend’s dog digging up flower beds and causing havoc, he set out to find a solution.
Using Picaridin, Brian has developed an effective, natural animal repellent that repels animals without harming them.
Since then, Brian’s Zone Protects products have expanded to include an entire line of picaridin-based repellents, including insect repellents, pet bite deterrents, gopher and rat repellents, and even a brand of deer-attracting clothing for hunters.
“We participated in Launchpad in 2019 and came in second place. Now, with more experience and wisdom, we are striving to become a national brand, and Launchpad will definitely help us ‘launch’ our rocket!”
Brian Baer, Founder and CEO, Zone Protects
Yard Robotics
Have you ever wished there was a robot that could do your yard work or other chores for you? Now there is!
Yard Robotics provides lawn care services to suburban homes using a custom-built, modular robotic platform. The Huntsville-based company is currently the region’s highest-rated lawn care service for customer service and reliability.
The team members are:
- Divya Thakur, former director of product engineering at Cruise
- Nathaniel Chong, who managed 400 robots for military testing at Marathon Target
- Jim Schmidt, former maintenance manager at the prestigious Breakers Golf Course in Palm Beach, Florida
“At Yard Robotics, we transform your lawn into a neighborhood attraction by taking over complete lawn care. Our robots mow faster, more precisely and safely than humans.”
We monitor performance in real time and handle any glitches or issues remotely. We value reliability and ensure we deliver on schedule, every time.”
Divya Thakur, Co-founder, Yard Robotics
Lagacedoux
On average, only about 60% of college students graduate in four years. To address this issue, RAGASEDU created a dashboard called Integrate.
By integrating data from multiple sources, administrators, advisors, and student support personnel can identify struggling students and help them before they fail.
“We had a great experience using Launchpad during the early stages of our company’s development and received invaluable feedback and advice.
We look forward to the insightful, honest and enthusiastic guidance we will receive during the Launchpad process.”
Chakri Deverapalli, Founder and CEO, RAGASEDU
Naughty but nice Kettle Corn Company
In 2014, Naughty But Nice began business by selling delicious sweet and savory kettle corn blends at local farmers markets, including Pepper Place.
The team includes Tanesha Sims-Summers and her husband Clem, who handle everything from production to sales. Naughty But Nice gives back to the Birmingham community by partnering with local businesses and non-profits through their Poppin’ With A Purpose initiative.
Concept Stage Finalist
Finalists Concept Stage This is usually before any revenue is generated and they compete for $25,000.
Yosubi
Gabe Marrero spent most of his life working in the construction industry in Puerto Rico, and after moving to Birmingham, he noticed many inefficiencies between labor supply and demand in the construction industry.
Construction companies face a huge demand for workers; meanwhile, subcontractors in Latin America have limited networks, lack tech literacy, and face language barriers. To solve this disconnect, Yosubi uses AI and WhatsApp to effortlessly connect construction companies and subcontractors.
“Alabama Launchpad has a great history of helping Alabama-based startups not only launch but also rapidly grow.
“We know we can’t do this journey alone, and we’re honored to work with some of the most knowledgeable and talented mentors who have paved the way so far and will help us get to where we want to be.”
Gabe Marrero, Founder and CEO of Yosubi
Nefsol
Founded in 2020 by Sydney Ringold and Olivia Bruno as part of their MBA project at the University of Alabama, NephSol aims to revolutionize dialysis care.
The development of innovative headsets has led to technology that can continuously monitor blood flow during treatment, reducing the risk of serious side effects such as stroke.
“We believe Alabama Launchpad will provide us with experience and valuable mentorship, as well as valuable connections within the biotech industry, which we hope will help us accelerate our growth and reach our next milestone.”
We are excited to receive hands-on mentorship and build relationships within Alabama’s entrepreneurial ecosystem!”
Sydney Ringgold, Co-Founder, NephSol
etching
Before he got into medical school, Etch co-founder Sean Haskell had to get creative to do well on high-stakes exams like the MCAT.
During the pandemic, it has become clear that a lack of learning retention infrastructure is not just affecting medical students but other students as well, with poor quality learning tools holding many back.
Etch is a learning tool that uses AI and data analytics to make it easier for learners, including AP high school and pre-med students, to retain knowledge as they study.
“The Etch team has had the opportunity to engage with some amazing Launchpad mentors thus far.
Our recent pivot has presented us with new and exciting challenges, so I look forward to tapping into the wisdom my mentors will share.”
Sean Haskell, co-founder of Etch
Scopto Optics
Founded in 2018 by a team of avid hunters and technology enthusiasts, Skopt Optics aims to enhance the hunting experience by integrating advanced technology with time-honored methods to make hunting safer and more efficient for hunters of all levels.
Skopt has combined its experience in optics and software development to create revolutionary hunting eyewear that can detect and track blood trails, and with the accompanying app, allows hunters to quickly locate wounded animals, which is essential for ethical hunting.
“We applied to the Alabama Launchpad program because we believed it would provide a unique opportunity to accelerate our growth and bring our innovative product to a broader market. The program’s resources, mentorship and network are invaluable for a startup like ours.”
We are excited about the potential to make a significant impact on the hunting industry and believe the Alabama Launchpad program will help us achieve our goal.”
Mark Horse, Founder of Scopto
CLEOEducation
When physician assistant Piper Latham began her clinical training at UAB, she was frustrated by the lack of resources she needed to interpret x-ray images, one of the most necessary and critical skills for students in her field.
CLEO Education aims to solve this problem by providing students with the opportunity to practice interpreting x-ray images outside of a clinical setting using a user-friendly app.
“I heard about Alabama Launchpad from a friend who had a great experience with the program, and as a young entrepreneur, I knew I had the opportunity to learn and gain valuable business skills from the wisdom of all of the launch advisors, so I decided to apply.
This process has been tough but fun so far, and I’m excited to continue connecting with new people and sharing my passion for helping medical students.”
Piper Latham, Founder, CLEO Education LLC
Tune in to the Alabama Launchpad finale on August 15th
You can see it all at the second Alabama Launchpad competition in 2024, featuring 10 Alabama startups and $75,000 in prize money.
Let’s see who wins: Get your tickets to the Cycle 2 Finale and visit the Alabama Launchpad website for more information.
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