Meet the 2 local startups who just won $75K at the latest Alabama Launchpad competition

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On August 15, two startups—NephSol and Zone Protects—won a combined total of $75,000 at the Alabama Launchpad Cycle 2 Finale in Huntsville.

Read on to learn more about these exciting local startups and how they plan to use their winnings to grow their companies.

Zone Protects—$50K

Finalists in the early seed stage are competing for $50,000 to accelerate the growth of their existing business. 

Founded by Brian Baer, Zone Protects is a line of Picardin-based animal and insect repellants that are non-oily, unscented and safe for all skin types.

It began in 2017 when Brian made it his mission to help those affected by insect-borne diseases. He aimed to develop a more effective, safer and DEET-free formula that was also enjoyable to use.

What began as a simple insect repellant evolved into a variety of products for hunting, lawn care and home care including:

• Armadillo repellant
• Deer attractant
• Chewing + digging repellant for dogs
• Flea + tick yard spray
• Horse fly repellant
• Scent eliminator for hunting

“Honestly, God has been preparing me and our company since day one. During the competition, I paid close attention to criteria set forth by the Launchpad organizers. I’m always looking to grow and become better.  Having the opportunity to hear different perspectives was valuable.

Finally, with this accomplishment, we are moving one step closer to building a national brand right here in Alabama!”

Brian Baer, Founder, Zone Protects

NephSol, Inc.—$25K

Finalists in the concept stage are usually pre-revenue and compete for $25,000.

Founded in 2020 by Sydney Ringold and Olivia Bruno as part of an MBA project at The University of Alabama, NephSol aims to revolutionize dialysis care. 

With the creation of their innovative headset, the technology can continuously monitor blood flow during treatment—reducing the risk of severe side effects like strokes.

“Olivia and I are so excited to have won Alabama Launchpad! To us, this means that we will be able to finalize our regulatory steps and progress to market even sooner than we initially expected.”

Sydney Ringold, Co-Founder, NephSol

As Sydney told Bham Now, mentorship during the competition process was instrumental to their success.

“We are so grateful for the time the advisors dedicated to our company! We have been introduced to concepts that we had never even considered previously. 

We pivoted our pitch in the areas they recommended and were consistently open to feedback. I think our pitch truly showcased our passion for the healthcare industry and our unwavering commitment to easing the suffering of dialysis patients.”

Sydney Ringold, Co-Founder, NephSol

Alabama Launchpad: funding startups since 2007

As part of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA), the Alabama Launchpad competition invests in promising and innovative local startups like Zone Protects and NephSol.

Alabama Launchpad has invested more than $6.2 million in 119 startups since 2007. This includes companies like TaxxWiz, Domestique Coffee, Vulcan Line Tools and more.

“The innovation and entrepreneurial spirit showcased by the participants underscore the vital role Alabama Launchpad plays in driving economic growth and fostering innovation across the state. The process Alabama Launchpad puts these young companies through was very evident in the quality of the finalists.

I’m excited to see how these companies will continue to grow and contribute to Alabama’s future.”

Kannan Grant, Judge, Director of the Office of Technology Commercialization at The University of Alabama in Huntsville

Have a growing startup? Join the competition

Know someone working on a startup in Alabama?

Make sure they apply for the next cycle of Alabama Launchpad, where they’ll receive invaluable mentorship from seasoned founders, connect with fellow startups and compete for major funding.

Applications for the next Cycle of Alabama Launchpad open on Wednesday, August 21. Tag @alabamalaunchpad on Instagram to let them know when you apply!

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