TriAltus Bioscience and AerBetic of Birmingham win $150,000 total at Alabama Launchpad competition

On Wednesday, six finalists pitched their businesses to judges at the Alabama Launchpad Startup Competition Finale in Fort Payne. The results are in, and two Birmingham companies are the big winners. TriAltus Bioscience won $100,000 in seed funding, while AerBetic took home the $50,000 concept prize. 

The Winners

Both winning businesses have ties to medical innovation—one on the research side, the other on the application side.

TriAltus Bioscience offers services for life scientists who work with genetically engineered proteins. The company’s vision is “to transform the research proteins market, making it more simple and more affordable to obtain needed materials so scientists can spend more time conducting novel research.” 

AerBetic has developed a non-invasive, wearable alert sensor for managing diabetes. Considering that our state ranks third in the United States for the prevalence of diabetes, this sensor could have a major impact on our daily lives. 

Focus on Local

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The Alabama Launchpad Startup Competition in Fort Payne featured a panel discussion with the local entrepreneurs behind Go Play Therapy and the Amazin’ Raisin

The Alabama Launchpad Startup Competition, which is sponsored by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA), rotates to a different Alabama city each quarter.

Each competition includes a panel discussion with local business owners from the host city. At Wednesday’s event in Fort Payne, Silvia Hernandez of Go Play Therapy and Randy McClung of Amazing Fruit Products-US served as panelists.

Bham Now caught up with both Hernandez and McClung beforehand. So even if you weren’t there, you can glean their insight on starting a business in Alabama. 

4 More Alabama Startups to Watch

Keep an eye on the four other Alabama businesses who competed on Wednesday. We know great things are ahead for them. 

• Concept stage: Jeri, of  Alexander City, is software that helps family caregivers with planning care.
• Concept stage: LEVELD, of Mobile, facilitates peer-to-peer tool and equipment rentals via an app-based marketplace.
• Seed stage: CigarClub of Mobile offers tailored monthly subscriptions of premium cigars.
• Seed stage: Domestique, of Birmingham, is a coffee roasting and beverage company that provides high quality, ready-to-drink products.

Stay Tuned

Next month, Bham Now will take an indepth look at TriAltus Bioscience and AerBetic. We’ll find out what inspired their businesses and what’s next following their Alabama Launchpad wins.