Five promising Alabama startups will split $250,000 in Alabama Launchpad funding after impressing judges in a “Shark Tank”-style contest staged this week by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA).
Gov. Robert Bentley was on hand to help pass out checks to the winners at today’s Alabama Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The startups made their pitches to a team of judges Thursday at Birmingham’s WorkPlay.
“I am proud of Alabama Launchpad b/c it brings everyone together to support entrepreneurship to accelerate the development of new adventures,” Governor Bentley said in a tweet.
The funding through the EDPA’s Alabama Launchpad program is meant to help the startups get their businesses up and running. Since the inception of the Alabama Launchpad competition in 2006, more than 30 companies have been funded, splitting more than $1.3 million.
Companies receiving Alabama Launchpad funding after this week’s competition are:
- Smart Party, which provides a software tool for nonprofit organizations and schools that can be used to host a live, peer-to-peer fundraising game during a fundraising event. The Birmingham-based company led by Brooke T. Battle received $89,137.
- SpectraCyte, which has developed high-speed, low-cost spectral imaging solutions for research microscopy and clinical endoscopy that can provide high sensitivity and specificity molecular detention for cellular imaging and cancer screening. It received $87,000. Led by Silas Leavesley, the Mobile firm is affiliated with the University of South Alabama.
- Cheeriodicals, which prepares and delivers personalized gift boxes containing magazines and other items to patients, received $43,250. The Birmingham company is led by Mary Martha Parisher.
- Alignment Simple Solutions, which makes QuickTrick products, a portable and compact alignment measurement system anyone can use to increase automotive performance, highway safety and lengthen tire life. The Birmingham company, led by Tess Winningham, received $16,000.
- Healthfundit, which has created a crowd engagement platform for medical research and biotechnology, received $15,000. Based in Birmingham, it is headed by Larry Lawal.
For additional coverage of the event, click here.
Another round of the Alabama Launchpad competition will launch in mid-October.
For more information, visit Alabama Launchpad.
