Reviewed by: Callie Puryear
Startup roundup: meet 4 local startups doing big things in Birmingham
At the heart of Birmingham, you’ll find the people who make it such a special place to live. The startup world in The Magic City is growing and companies surrounding us are setting motions in place that will not only have a positive impact on our city, but also nationally. Keep reading for more information on new Birmingham startups.
1. Boulo Solutions
Birmingham’s Boulo knows that women often leave the workforce to care for children rather than find a job that fits their schedules. So, they built a tech-powered job-matching platform built by and for women.
Boulo’s AI-driven platform connects smart, driven women to companies offering jobs with flexible schedules.
Recently, Boulo Solutions raised $1.5M, led by Naples Technology Ventures. This money will go towards product evolution to better serve working mothers and employers.
This is just the beginning for Boulo Solutions. You can keep up with their journey here:
2. StreetBit
UAB developed an app that aims to keep pedestrians safe while walking Birmingham streets. The process behind this app was in connection to the Center for Disease Control’s report on the 7,000+ deaths involving motor vehicles in 2020.
To reduce these statistics on campus, researchers at UAB developed StreetBit, an app that utilizes Bluetooth to provide road safety to distracted pedestrians. This sends auditory and visual warnings to a distracted pedestrian’s phone as they approach a street corner where Bluetooth beacons are installed.
StreetBit is also proven cost-effective. Researchers analyzed expected costs per injury and estimated that StreetBit or similar apps can potentially save between $18 and $29M annually in Alabama alone.
3. Allison Fintech Co.
Alabama Futures Fund (AFF) recently placed an investment in Allison Fintech Co, a Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform for banks to incorporate fintech products into their traditional banking service offerings.
Allison’s BaaS offering utilizes software that assists community banks and credit unions in increasing deposits while cutting down administrative costs. They do this by incorporating workflow creation tools and embedding finance functionality.
Originally based in Tampa, Florida, Allison is making the move to The Magic City in connection with AFF’s investment.
4. Tquila Automation
This Austin, Texas-based company is making their new home in Birmingham this summer and they have big plans for our city.
Tquila Automation is an intelligent automation consultancy that takes care of the tedious stuff that comes with growing a business and focuses on strategic work. They aim to help businesses streamline their functions by focusing on artificial intelligence, machine learning and other emerging technologies.
Tquila Automation plans to bring over 200 high-quality jobs to The Magic City in the next five years.
The jobs include:
- Business analysts
- Business managers
- Consultants
- Software developers
According to their press release, Birmingham beat out Austin, Nashville and Atlanta for Tquila’s new home. We think that’s a pretty smart move. Support Tquila Automation by following along their journey:
There’s more where that came from! The startup world in Birmingham is constantly growing and we couldn’t be more excited. Check out more new businesses here, and stay tuned for our next startup roundup.
Big things are happening in Bham and we want to hear your thoughts. Let us know on Facebook + Instagram!
