Alabama Launchpad Chooses Finalists for Cycle 2 2022

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (June 15, 2022) – Alabama Launchpad, a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA), is proud to announce that its Launch Advisors have selected eleven finalists to participate in the Cycle 2 2022 competition. These companies will compete for a combined $75,000 at a public finale in Huntsville, Alabama, on August 30.

Alabama Launchpad has finalists in two stages of its competition: those in the concept stage, who are usually pre-revenue, and those in the early seed stage, who are looking to accelerate the growth of their existing business. According to Pitchbook, Alabama Launchpad is the state’s most active early seed funding source and to date has funded 108 startups and invested over $5.8 million in nondilutive funding. Its winning companies have a combined post-money valuation of over $850 million and have generated over 1,120 jobs across the state.

The concept stage finalists competing for $25,000 are:

• Tuska Brew Solutions Inc. captures carbon dioxide from fermentation and other processes in breweries and similar industries that is normally released to atmosphere. Tuska Brew Solutions Inc. purifies it and recycles it back to the client. It also sells excess CO2 to other customers.
• Ride Resorts is a multi-site mountain bike resort concept with a goal of delivering relentlessly positive experiences at scale. Complete with world class trails and a base village with something for everyone, it will give people a place to Go Big, Together.
• Etch helps learners to unlock their innate intelligence by integrating their education with its smart learning retention platform, empowering them to build a strong and permanent knowledge base for their future.
• Nia Benefit Corporation is the first full-service digital burn clinic in the United States that enables patients to get high-quality burn care, when they need it, at an affordable price.
• Smartstall completes the hands-free restroom experience. Every contact point in the restroom (faucet, soap, toilet etc.) has been made hands-free except the stall door latch. It has developed a product that allows hands-free entry and exit to a public bathroom stall.
• Storyline is centralized, digital counseling homework. It is a platform helping therapists provide a space for their clients to continue “doing the work” of their mental health between sessions.

The companies in the early seed stage, who will be competing for $50,000, are:

• Checkle, based in Huntsville, provides restaurateurs one place to organize menus, reviews and happy hours, which syncs their info to all platforms like Google, Facebook, Yelp and TripAdvisor.
• BUZD, based in Birmingham, is a delivery app for alcohol, CBD and other fun party supplies. BUZD has partnered with local bars and dispensaries to offer delivery within the hour to most areas in Jefferson County. Its app includes a corresponding driver app and admin panel for reporting/POS functionality.
• TaxxWiz, based in Birmingham, gives Tax Professionals (that make up over 58% of the market) the ability to be their own Turbo Tax Live. TaxxWiz is changing the average prep time from 60 minutes a return to 8 minutes.
• City Detect Inc., based in Northport, uses cameras and Artificial Intelligence to automatically detect blight and property degradation so that stakeholders can effortlessly identify the issues they care about in their interest areas.
• BluTapp, based in Birmingham, is a digital health company that enables evidence-based PTSD treatment online. With BluTapp patented technology that was originally designed for the military population, symptoms of PTSD are addressed in a way that allows traumatic memories to be rapidly processed by the patient

“We are continually impressed by the competitive and forward-thinking entrepreneurs that apply to Alabama Launchpad,” said Miller Girvin, EVP of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at EDPA. “Cycle 2’s group of finalists hold great promise with their innovative ideas, and the Launch Advisors are eager to work with this cohort of companies over the summer and beyond.”

Launch Advisors offer personalized feedback and scores to each company applying, then work in-depth with all finalists on various aspects of their businesses – propelling them forward whether or not they win the nondilutive money at the end of the competition.

“Every cycle is a ton of fun for the advisors, EDPA and, we hope, the participating companies. This group of companies seems to offer that once again,” said Ryan Robinett, Alabama Launchpad Launch Advisor. “The EDPA continues to do a great job of bringing the entrepreneurial community of corporate partners, advisors, and, most importantly, the founders together to learn, grow and create relationships that far outlast the short few weeks of the Launchpad cycle.”

Please follow the future of Alabama Launchpad startup pitch competitions, specialized events, and how to become involved at www.alabamalaunchpad.com.

About Alabama Launchpad

Established in 2006, Alabama Launchpad is Alabama’s most active, early-stage seed fund investor, driving innovation and job growth through startup competitions and ongoing mentoring for Alabama entrepreneurs. Alabama Launchpad is made possible by the generous support from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, the Alabama Department of Commerce, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Caring Foundation, Wells Fargo, Alabama Power and the Daniel Corporation Foundation. It is the state’s longest running business plan and pitch competition. Over the past 16 years, Alabama Launchpad has invested over $5.8 million into 108 Alabama startups. The winning startup companies have generated over 1,120 jobs for the state and have a combined post-money valuation of over $850 million.