Reviewed by: Patience Itson
9 startups selected for first Alabama Launchpad Startup competition of 2024
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Each year, promising startups from around the state join the Alabama Launchpad program to learn from experienced entrepreneurs, make valuable networking connections and compete for a portion of $75K in non-dilutive seed funding.
Read on to learn more about these nine startups and get your tickets to see them in action at the first Alabama Launchpad competition of 2024.
Concept Stage — Competing for $25K
1. Moxi (Birmingham, AL)
Did you know the average childcare center waitlist is 236 children long, with some families waiting more than two years for a spot? Led by experienced social impact leader—and working mom—Cori Fain-Forrest, Moxi is tackling the country’s growing childcare crisis.
How does it work?
Using Moxi’s mobile app, parents can seamlessly book and pay for childcare through Moxi’s membership-based network of childcare centers that offer on-demand care.
Even better, parents aren’t locked into a single childcare center. They can pay for care as needed, be it one day or a year at a time.
“Moxi is a love letter to my sister, my mom, all the women I’ve worked with and all the women I’ve watched struggle under the burden of care for their own families.
It’s also for those who care for other families, often at poverty-level wages and without benefits, out of the goodness of their hearts.
It’s time we bring innovation and investment to the work that makes all other work possible.”
Cori Fain-Forrest, Founder, Moxi
2. SymbyAI (Huntsville, AL)
In the ever-expanding field of scientific research, organizations spend an enormous amount of time, money and effort reviewing scientific assets, including papers, proposals and raw data.
However, many still use manual methods to review, which are inefficient and often fail to find research mistakes.
To help solve this, the SymbyAI team is developing a tool that utilizes AI to automate the review process and provide comprehensive insights on the work itself.
“We started SymbyAI two years ago as a simple application for providing insights about scientific fields via new research paper releases.
Leveraging my expertise in AI and research background, along with Michael’s software development prowess, we created an initial application that allowed us to amass a waitlist of over 700 individual researchers and pilot partnerships with influential scientific publishers.“
Ashia Livaudais, Co-Founder and CEO, SymbyAI
3. OMA Health (Birmingham, AL)
When it comes to healthcare, there is no one-size-fits-all solution—every patient is different and requires personalized care. Unfortunately, some groups face significant disparities when it comes to healthcare.
To address this issue, Khaylah Epps founded OMA Health, a health-tech platform that aims help Black women achieve a higher standard of health outcomes by:
- Providing tailored solutions designed specifically for Black women
- Connecting patients with physicians and pharmacists who understand their unique needs
- Improving access to quality care for Black women
“We’re excited about the opportunity to gain valuable insights, network with industry experts and refine our business strategy during the [Alabama Launchpad] process.
Most importantly, we’re looking forward to leveraging the program to further advance our mission of improving healthcare access for Black women in Alabama and beyond.”
Khaylah Epps, Founder and CEO, OMA Health
OMA Health: Email | Website | Instagram
4. Shan Latris LLC (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Founded by Alabama-based fashion designer Shan Warren, Shan Latris is a womenswear brand that provides height-inclusive, creative fashion options for the modern-day girl-boss.
“Our goal is to provide head-turning designs that still fit the aesthetic of a girl-boss throughout life’s activities, whether its a networking event or brunch with the girls.
No matter where she is, a Shan Latris girl-boss believes believes she should look empowered—and one of the best ways to look empowered is a proper fit!”
Shan Warren, Founder and CEO, Shan Latris
Shan Latris: Website | Instagram | Facebook
5. Kimmie Stylz (Birmingham, AL)
Founded in 2017, Kimmie Stylz is a line of hair care products designed by Kimberly Cornner, a natural hair care stylist of 15 years.
Her goal? To create quality hair care products and educate others on how hair care can positively influence an individual’s self-esteem, confidence, health and more.
“I’d always known that this was a huge issue in our community, but reality set in when my four-year-old daughter told me her hair wasn’t pretty without extensions and that she didn’t want anyone to see it.
The sadness I felt was indescribable—it broke my heart to realize I was instilling insecurities in her. From that moment on, I vowed to start wearing and caring for my natural hair.”
Kimberly Cornner, Founder and CEO, Kimmie Stylz
Kimmie Stylz hair care products are designed for diverse, textured hair using natural ingredients to detangle, moisturize and hydrate for healthier hair growth. Her products are safe for children, cruelty-free and include:
- Aloe vera for strengthening
- Olive oil for moisture
- Tea tree to reduce scalp inflammation
- Ingredients like Jojoba, avocado and peppermint oil
Kimmie Stylez: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Early Seed Stage — Competing for $50K
6. Equip (Birmingham, AL)
Co-founded by Trent Kocurek, Betty Patten and Adam Aldrich, Equip is an app-based platform that tailors technology to the unique needs of the neurodivergent community, including individuals with Autism, ADHD, IDD and others who experience the world differently.
“Organizing a life filled with appointments, routines and essential communication becomes a relentless challenge. It’s not just about managing tasks but nurturing the autonomy and connection everyone deserves.
Families are in search of a lifeline—a tool that transforms this complex juggle into a harmonious dance that enables their loved ones to embrace the quality of life and independence they deeply deserve. Equip is that solution.”
Trent Kocurek, Co-Founder and CEO, Equip
Equip: Website | Facebook | LinkedIn
7. Brightpay (Birmingham, AL)
With healthcare intricately tied to employer-sponsored plans, freelancers often find it difficult to access and afford comprehensive coverage that meets their needs. To make matters worse, these necessary healthcare services often lack flexible options to manage payments.
Mobile app BrightPay was designed to make it easier and simpler for those without employer-sponsored plans to pay for their healthcare services as easily as they can pay for any other modern service.
“The advisors from Launchpad so far have been amazing. They’ve been able to uncover a few blind spots we may have missed.
We are looking forward to continuing to connect with the Alabama ecosystem and grateful for those giving back to help us grow.”
Archie Otu, Co-Founder, BrightPay
BrightPay: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
8. Dayrol (Birmingham, AL)
In an ever-changing global economy, many people—especially younger generations—are struggling to attain financial stability. The issue is exacerbated by a widespread lack of understanding of key financial practices, such as:
- Allocating income
- Budgeting
- Prioritizing bills
- Setting aside savings
- Tracking expenses
Dayrol is a software solution that addresses the larger issue by focusing on one core challenge: the absence of easily accessible and user-friendly tools that both assist individuals in managing their finances and educate them on essential financial concepts.
“As of August 2023, Dayrol’s flagship product Dayrol: Budget & Bill Manager App is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
I am focusing on enhancing the product by incorporating features such as more adaptive budgeting, personalized financial education, AI-driven financial insights and tools for tracking organizational impact for our partners.
My goal is to simplify complex financial concepts, making them accessible and actionable for all people.”
Temani Beck, Founder and CEO, Dayrol
Dayrol: Website | Facebook | Instagram
9. Pathways K12 (Huntsville, AL)
In today’s educational environment, students face many challenges on their pathway to success. With no central, organized resource, critical components to success—such as internships, scholarships and job placements—are scattered and disconnected.
To streamline the college and career planning process, the Pathways K12 platform facilitates clear, efficient pathways for students to navigate their goals while empowering them with the support and guidance they need to achieve success.
Pathways K12: Website
See these startups at the Alabama Launchpad Cycle 1 Finale
You can see these nine startups pitch to a panel of expert judges at this year’s first Alabama Launchpad startup competition on Thursday, April 18.
Planning to attend the Alabama Launchpad Cycle 1 Finale? Tag @alabamalaunchpad on Instagram to let them know!
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