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6 finalists, $25K in funding on the line at Alabama Launchpad’s Virtual Finale, November 17
ByNathan Watson
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Last week, we met five of the eleven startups from across the state competing at the Alabama Launchpad Cycle 3 2021 finale event. Now, we’re catching up with six concept stage startups vying for $25K in funding at the virtual finale on Wednesday, November 17th.
Want to get in on the action? Click here to RSVP to the Virtual Finale event!
Meet the 6 Concept-Stage Startups Competing in Alabama Launchpad on November 17
Alabama Launchpad: 205.943.4700 | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
Alabama Launchpad, the state’s most active early-stage seed fund investor, has been dedicated to investing in promising startups since its founding in 2006. In fact, Alabama Launchpad has invested more than $5.7M in 104 Alabama startups, which helps fuel job growth and innovation throughout the state.
In 2021, Alabama Launchpad introduced several changes to the program, including the addition of Launch Advisors, a hand-picked group of Alabama entrepreneurs that mentor participating startups. By working closely with each startup, these Launch Advisors add even more value to the experience of all participants, regardless of whether they walk away with a check.
“Our concept stage cohort for Cycle 3 2021 is impressive. The first few weeks of the finalist period have proven their willingness to learn from the Launch Advisors and each other, which we know will help grow their businesses. We are excited to finish the year out strong with this cohort of creative entrepreneurs from across the state.”
Miller Girvin, Executive Vice President of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, EDPA
1. Curate-Her
Want to support female artisans while styling your home with quality seasonal decor? You’ll love Curate-Her! With Curate-Her, you’ll receive a seasonal home decor box curated by experienced interior designer Michelle Chandler. The result? A year-long collection of hand-picked pillows, throws, objects and decor to help you style your home while supporting talented artisans.
“I am most looking forward to working with mentors to really hone in on the strategic aspects of growing my business. Having the opportunity to build a strong foundation for Curate-Her and gain exposure as a legitimate and strong brand is so exciting.
I see really big, life changing things happening for me coming out of this competition. The ‘how can I help you?’ mentality of Birmingham is contagious and something I am so grateful for and excited to be a part of.”
Michelle Chandler, Owner, Curate-Her
2. Etch
Etch, based in Birmingham, is a new platform that utilizes spaced repetition learning to extend the market of educators—whether it’s a large textbook publisher or a one-man educational course. By using Etch, educational content creators can expand their impact while retaining any information they need.
“Once I started working on Etch, I was quickly pointed in the direction of Alabama Launchpad. I was excited to see that many of the knowledgeable people I had met and heard of were advisors for Launchpad, so applying was a no-brainer if it meant getting to continue learning from those individuals. I’m looking forward to that mentorship during Launchpad, as well as the opportunity to learn about the other incredible products being built here.”
Sean Haskell, CEO, Etch
3. Milkman
Based in Birmingham, Milkman is a food retail technology company, creating a personalized shopping experience with food for their users. In fact, Milkman provides recipes and meal plans to help their users practice a healthy and personalized diet.
“We have been a big fan of Alabama Launchpad for years. Quite a few startups in town that we admire were either winners of the Launchpad or the finalists. It was very natural for us to apply once we reached our technology milestone and feel confident that we are a worthy candidate.
We are most looking forward to the meetings and trainings with our Launch advisors and workshop coaches. We are grateful to the impressive resources the Launchpad provides to the candidates. It is truly an honor to be in the program!”
Xuan Huang and Alex Zotov, Cofounders of Milkman
4. RAGASEDU
RAGASEDU: Website
Huntsville-based RAGASEDU—Retention and Graduation Analytics Software—was developed by educators and administrators who needed better tools to help identify struggling students. Their brainchild, RAGASEDU, is a data-driven solution that analyzes and predicts students’ performance in real time.
“Alabama Launchpad does an excellent job funding, mentoring, and supporting local startups, and we applied because participation in Launchpad would really help our business grow. Because our company offers services that contribute to the public good by raising high school and college graduation rates, we believe we are a good fit for a program that focuses not only on innovation but also on building a better, more competitive Alabama.”
Chakri Deverapalli, Founder & CEO, RAGASEDU
5. SoapBox Caddie
Based in Montgomery, SoapBox Caddie is an innovative, on-demand laundry service for the workaholic. With SoapBox Caddie, you can say goodbye to the tedious washing, drying, sorting and folding process! SoapBox Caddie provides both On-Demand and In-Home service, done in a timely and quality manner!
“I conveniently ran across a social media ad for Alabama Launchpad during the end of their first Cycle. As I started to learn more about what they do and how they support startups, I realized that Alabama Launchpad could be a solution to the problem that I was having as a new startup—finding funding.
I’m looking forward to learning from the Launch Advisors and the judges so that SoapBox Caddie can limit our risk and leverage the information we’re gaining to provide a better experience for our customers.”
Kenya James, SoapBox Caddie
6. Vizrom
Vizrom Signs is a cloud-based digital signage solution, specifically designed for hospitals and other health-related organizations. With Vizrom’s digital whiteboard, hospitals can pull essential Electronic Health Record (EHR) information to easily display on a TV Screen.
“In my opinion, if you’re an entrepreneur in Alabama and you’re not aware of Alabama Launchpad, chances are, you’re probably missing out. I know the positive impact that Alabama Launchpad can play in the acceleration of my product development, so it was a no-brainer to apply.”
Emmanuel Umoh, Vizrom
Learn More at Alabama Launchpad’s Virtual Finale on Wednesday, November 17th
Want to learn more about these six Alabama startups? Be sure to tune in to the Alabama Launchpad Virtual Finale on November 17th!
Which company will take home the $25K prize? Tune into the virtual finale streaming live on November 17th to find out. RSVP today!
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