The Birmingham Business Journal is proud to present some of the area’s most innovative young entrepreneurs in our new Alabama Inno.
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The old adage “youth is wasted on the young” may be true of some but certainly not these 12 Alabama entrepreneurs.
Quite the opposite. These individuals — all 25 years of age or younger — are making the most of their early years.
In the first edition of this Alabama Inno feature, we’re showcasing some of the region’s promising young innovators. From building companies out of their college dorm rooms and raising funds to back their launches to expanding the reach of their early-stage ventures, each is making waves. In choosing the nominees, Alabama Inno reviewed previous BBJ coverage and sought recommendations from within the region’s startup community.
Inno under 25 2021
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The Birmingham Business Journal is proud to present some of the area’s most innovative young entrepreneurs in our new Alabama Inno.
Courtesy/Getty Images
Derrick Austin was born and raised in Gadsden. He chose to attend Birmingham-Southern College after falling in love with the campus and ideals of a liberal arts education. He graduated from BSC in spring 2017 with a degree in mathematics and soon began the second half of his education at Auburn University.
Title and company: Director of Innovation at Hardware Park
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? I think that with the rise and decline of industries over time in Alabama, it forced the need for new industries to bolster the state economically. Being in renovation mode allows the opportunity to look outwards at successes and then turn focus inwards to assess what resources are available to shift and drive thinking in a new direction. I believe an innovative breath of life has been placed into Alabama and will continue to catalyze countless communities of vibrant entrepreneurs in the years to come.
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? I believe Alabama could do better by educating and placing emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship in rural areas just as it does in metropolitan areas. Innovation takes on many forms and isn’t always “shiny”. I love the definition of innovation that characterizes it by 4 types incremental, radical, disruptive and sustaining. An incremental change of a traditional business in a rural area is also impactful to the state as it attracts new business and fills the needs of a community.
Title and company: Director of Innovation at Hardware Park
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? I think that with the rise and decline of industries over time in Alabama, it forced the need for new industries to bolster the state economically. Being in renovation mode allows the opportunity to look outwards at successes and then turn focus inwards to assess what resources are available to shift and drive thinking in a new direction. I believe an innovative breath of life has been placed into Alabama and will continue to catalyze countless communities of vibrant entrepreneurs in the years to come.
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? I believe Alabama could do better by educating and placing emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship in rural areas just as it does in metropolitan areas. Innovation takes on many forms and isn’t always “shiny”. I love the definition of innovation that characterizes it by 4 types incremental, radical, disruptive and sustaining. An incremental change of a traditional business in a rural area is also impactful to the state as it attracts new business and fills the needs of a community.
Aaron Beane
Alexander Cox started selling toys nationwide on eBay at age 10. By 14 he was investing in the stock market and by 15 had bought his first car. He transitioned to buying and selling bumper pull trailers after his 16th birthday. He wholesaled cars with his dad, but then found a niche market: jet skis.
Title and company: Owner of The Watercraft Warehouse
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? UAB’s entrepreneurship program is the best in Alabama, probably even the country. I love how there are many colleges gaining entrepreneurship majors and minors that teach the basic principles of entrepreneurship. I also really like the idea of Innovation Depot and how many great ventures have been started there.
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? Alabama should consider instituting tax breaks for young entrepreneurial ventures , especially social ventures that help the community as a whole.
Title and company: Owner of The Watercraft Warehouse
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? UAB’s entrepreneurship program is the best in Alabama, probably even the country. I love how there are many colleges gaining entrepreneurship majors and minors that teach the basic principles of entrepreneurship. I also really like the idea of Innovation Depot and how many great ventures have been started there.
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? Alabama should consider instituting tax breaks for young entrepreneurial ventures , especially social ventures that help the community as a whole.
Abigail Johnston
Nour ElBadawy is an Auburn University at Montgomery graduate with a degree in fine arts in graphic design. She has sought out freelance design and fundraising opportunities in Egypt, Mexico, Spain and the U.S. and is fluent in Arabic, French, Spanish and English. In Egypt, ElBadawy engaged with a client in her graduation final project to create a new identity and a multidimensional campaign for an eyewear company.
Title and company: Partner and product designer for It’s Crowd
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? Provide more opportunities for female entrepreneurs, specifically in tech to allow them to break the barriers in this industry. There are many great local female business owners who are in need for support and networking and it will be of great value if our town can provide that for the community.
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? Alabama is providing opportunities for young entrepreneurs to connect and meet successful business owners. Hosting competitions that allows for sharpening of the craft, as well broadening the circle of network, which is crucial in business.
Title and company: Partner and product designer for It’s Crowd
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? Provide more opportunities for female entrepreneurs, specifically in tech to allow them to break the barriers in this industry. There are many great local female business owners who are in need for support and networking and it will be of great value if our town can provide that for the community.
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? Alabama is providing opportunities for young entrepreneurs to connect and meet successful business owners. Hosting competitions that allows for sharpening of the craft, as well broadening the circle of network, which is crucial in business.
Nour ElBadawy
Prior to joining Landing, Rae'Mah Henderson owned Aunt Aggie De’s Pralines and Candy Apples, a store featured in Alabama’s local Galleria mall. Entrepreneurship is a way of life in Rae’Mah’s family. Her mother and grandmother became entrepreneurs out of pure grit, both launching and owning ventures in the beauty industry. She is also a student studying advanced concepts as an entrepreneurship major at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Title and company: Billing analyst at Landing
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? Of all the things I believe Alabama is doing well, I think they can improve in their initiatives surrounding the youth. I think it would be beneficial to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship earlier, even if that’s introducing the resources that already exist. Nonetheless, I’ve been blessed to be so well supported by my community at my age.
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? Alabama’s openness and receptiveness is what I believe it is really doing well. Alabama has done a great job curating an environment that’s welcoming to incubators, seed funding, and organizations that further advance the economic development of the state. Organizations and programs such as, Create BHAM, REV BHAM, and UAB’s Entrepreneurship major spearheaded by Professor Patrick Murphy played an integral role in my journey to pursue entrepreneurship. The community really embraces the change that comes with innovation.
Title and company: Billing analyst at Landing
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? Of all the things I believe Alabama is doing well, I think they can improve in their initiatives surrounding the youth. I think it would be beneficial to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship earlier, even if that’s introducing the resources that already exist. Nonetheless, I’ve been blessed to be so well supported by my community at my age.
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? Alabama’s openness and receptiveness is what I believe it is really doing well. Alabama has done a great job curating an environment that’s welcoming to incubators, seed funding, and organizations that further advance the economic development of the state. Organizations and programs such as, Create BHAM, REV BHAM, and UAB’s Entrepreneurship major spearheaded by Professor Patrick Murphy played an integral role in my journey to pursue entrepreneurship. The community really embraces the change that comes with innovation.
Rashad Holmes
Joshua Lim is a managing partner at Winterpoint Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm backing companies addressing sustainability, financial inclusion, accessible education and health. He is also co-founder and chief product officer at health-tech startup Cheers, which helps enterprises provide dynamic health and wellness benefits to their workforces. Lim is a graduate of UAB and resides in Birmingham.
Title and company: Managing partner at Winterpoint Ventures
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? We should continue to strengthen investments in education, particularly at the high school level. It’s vital that kids be exposed to tech, entrepreneurship, and the sciences early so that they have the understanding and tools needed to prepare themselves for the knowledge and information jobs of the future. We have the home-grown talent here, we just have to nurture it.
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? Alabama has seen leaps forward in terms of the funding and support infrastructure available to entrepreneurs statewide. From new seed funds to accelerators, the landscape has changed dramatically in just the last few years. Not only that, but successfully exited founders have taken the initiatives to invest back into local talent through their own funds, venture studios, and mentorship. There’s a strong sense of entrepreneurial culture growing across Alabama.
Title and company: Managing partner at Winterpoint Ventures
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? We should continue to strengthen investments in education, particularly at the high school level. It’s vital that kids be exposed to tech, entrepreneurship, and the sciences early so that they have the understanding and tools needed to prepare themselves for the knowledge and information jobs of the future. We have the home-grown talent here, we just have to nurture it.
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? Alabama has seen leaps forward in terms of the funding and support infrastructure available to entrepreneurs statewide. From new seed funds to accelerators, the landscape has changed dramatically in just the last few years. Not only that, but successfully exited founders have taken the initiatives to invest back into local talent through their own funds, venture studios, and mentorship. There’s a strong sense of entrepreneurial culture growing across Alabama.
Joshua Lim
Nicole Mansour is a Memphis native who graduated from Georgetown University and is focused on international health and economics. She noticed how entrepreneurial ecosystems transformed her hometown, so she joined Venture For America. Through VFA, Mansour found Birmingham and Pack Health. She loves the vibrant ecosystem here and wants to start her own one day.
Title and company: Associate director of client services at Pack Health
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? I am obsessed with Birmingham’s unofficial motto: “Do something great,” as it grounds so much of the innovation happening throughout the state. From health care to logistics to tech, there is a focus to “go big” and center solutions around issues that impact local and national communities. This puts us in a great position and breeds a culture of success.
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? Alabama is strategically considered a high-growth area and its ecosystem is burgeoning. To ensure our innovators and entrepreneurs are set up for success, we need early exposure to national networks and resources. This will help us refine our ideas, grow with lessons learned, and benefit from synergies across the country.
Title and company: Associate director of client services at Pack Health
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? I am obsessed with Birmingham’s unofficial motto: “Do something great,” as it grounds so much of the innovation happening throughout the state. From health care to logistics to tech, there is a focus to “go big” and center solutions around issues that impact local and national communities. This puts us in a great position and breeds a culture of success.
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? Alabama is strategically considered a high-growth area and its ecosystem is burgeoning. To ensure our innovators and entrepreneurs are set up for success, we need early exposure to national networks and resources. This will help us refine our ideas, grow with lessons learned, and benefit from synergies across the country.
Nicole Mansour
Lydia Pass is 24, from Jacksonville, and graduated from Auburn in 2019 with a degree in apparel design and production. Stelona Shoes started in 2020 and today is a women’s footwear brand that serves the footwear needs and wants of women through personalized fashion. It designs and manufactures made-to-order sandals in Birmingham.
Title and company: CEO of Stelona Shoes LLC
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? Alabama has several programs and opportunities for exposure and networking. The sharing of resources and talents, eagerness to see others succeed, and overall support that comes with being a part of an entrepreneurship community are reasons why Stelona is where it is today. A few programs I have been a part of are New Venture Accelerator with Auburn University’s Entrepreneurship program, Alabama Launchpad, Alabama Upstarts, and Hardware Park.
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? Something Alabama can do better at is creating a way for entrepreneurs to gain mentorship. I find myself trying to find mentorship in various fields that I relate to such as fashion, product based experience, or women-owned. Like I said in my previous answer, there are a lot of opportunities for exposure and some of the programs include mentorship, but outside of those programs, finding mentorship or sponsorship is difficult.
Title and company: CEO of Stelona Shoes LLC
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? Alabama has several programs and opportunities for exposure and networking. The sharing of resources and talents, eagerness to see others succeed, and overall support that comes with being a part of an entrepreneurship community are reasons why Stelona is where it is today. A few programs I have been a part of are New Venture Accelerator with Auburn University’s Entrepreneurship program, Alabama Launchpad, Alabama Upstarts, and Hardware Park.
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? Something Alabama can do better at is creating a way for entrepreneurs to gain mentorship. I find myself trying to find mentorship in various fields that I relate to such as fashion, product based experience, or women-owned. Like I said in my previous answer, there are a lot of opportunities for exposure and some of the programs include mentorship, but outside of those programs, finding mentorship or sponsorship is difficult.
Stelona Shoes
Raheim Robinson is a self-taught motion designer and entrepreneur who is leading a fast-growing motion design studio in Birmingham. Working with clients such as Macy’s, Netflix, Hibbett Sports, World Games and others, Dreamheim has become a well-known studio around the country and specifically the Southeast. Robinson also has a passion for teaching and mentoring youth and hosts a weekly Photoshop class where he teaches teens and adults the principles of design.
Title and company: CEO and founder of Dreamheim Studios
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? Alabama does a great job of helping founders connect the dots when building their businesses. The community really enjoys connecting you with the companies and industries to help you succeed. I think the different incubators and accelerators throughout the state help foster and accelerate the growth of startups. For me, the Innovation Depot in Birmingham helped me grow my company by providing a collaborative work environment for us to thrive.
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? I think Alabama could invest more into the interested youth earlier in their lives. Not just monetary investments, but things like creating more educational and collaborative spaces around the state to help bring awareness to innovation and entrepreneurship. So, the youth can see what is possible. And of course, monetary investments catered towards young innovators could also significantly help support the founders that are looking to scale their companies in Alabama.
Title and company: CEO and founder of Dreamheim Studios
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? Alabama does a great job of helping founders connect the dots when building their businesses. The community really enjoys connecting you with the companies and industries to help you succeed. I think the different incubators and accelerators throughout the state help foster and accelerate the growth of startups. For me, the Innovation Depot in Birmingham helped me grow my company by providing a collaborative work environment for us to thrive.
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? I think Alabama could invest more into the interested youth earlier in their lives. Not just monetary investments, but things like creating more educational and collaborative spaces around the state to help bring awareness to innovation and entrepreneurship. So, the youth can see what is possible. And of course, monetary investments catered towards young innovators could also significantly help support the founders that are looking to scale their companies in Alabama.
Taja Traylor
Vickers is a recent Rhodes College graduate. He was a student-athlete, majored in neuroscience, and was the basketball team captain.
Title and company: Co-founder and CEO of NewAve
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? I believe Alabama is creating an environment that is constantly working to try and give entrepreneurs opportunities to excel and be successful. I think that is shown through resources like the Innovation Depot, Bronze Valley Accelerator and Alabama Launchpad. Through these resources, I have been able to connect with other entrepreneurs in the tech space and learn from them.
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? I believe Alabama can do more to help share the stories of the founders who have succeeded so young founders like myself can learn from the successes and the mistakes they made along the way.
Title and company: Co-founder and CEO of NewAve
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? I believe Alabama is creating an environment that is constantly working to try and give entrepreneurs opportunities to excel and be successful. I think that is shown through resources like the Innovation Depot, Bronze Valley Accelerator and Alabama Launchpad. Through these resources, I have been able to connect with other entrepreneurs in the tech space and learn from them.
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? I believe Alabama can do more to help share the stories of the founders who have succeeded so young founders like myself can learn from the successes and the mistakes they made along the way.
Diana Washington
Nancy Wenger is a life science professional with business development and R&D experience at biotechnology startups. She came to Birmingham as a 2019 Venture for America Fellow and earned her B.A. in Molecular Biology from Princeton University.
Title and company: Research and development associate at ResBiotech
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? Alabama is home to world-class research universities and organizations such as UAB, Southern Research, Hudson Alpha and more. Hence, state stakeholders are now pushing an innovation-focused agenda. Entrepreneurial hubs like the Innovation Depot have helped many companies get off the ground, whether by renting accessible office space or engaging with incubator and accelerator programming. Active efforts are being undertaken to attract out-of-state talent and develop the local workforce simultaneously.
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? Alabama needs to enhance crosstalk between universities and private companies, especially in developing the healthcare and biotechnology industries. The state has strong medical and research programs that produce bright young talent and state-of-the-art technology. What is lacking is the timely commercialization of these technologies and the workforce to support spinoffs. We need to create a stronger infrastructure and pipeline connecting technology and talent to industry and funding opportunities that would invigorate the local economy.
Title and company: Research and development associate at ResBiotech
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? Alabama is home to world-class research universities and organizations such as UAB, Southern Research, Hudson Alpha and more. Hence, state stakeholders are now pushing an innovation-focused agenda. Entrepreneurial hubs like the Innovation Depot have helped many companies get off the ground, whether by renting accessible office space or engaging with incubator and accelerator programming. Active efforts are being undertaken to attract out-of-state talent and develop the local workforce simultaneously.
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? Alabama needs to enhance crosstalk between universities and private companies, especially in developing the healthcare and biotechnology industries. The state has strong medical and research programs that produce bright young talent and state-of-the-art technology. What is lacking is the timely commercialization of these technologies and the workforce to support spinoffs. We need to create a stronger infrastructure and pipeline connecting technology and talent to industry and funding opportunities that would invigorate the local economy.
Maggie Belshé
Damian Wilkerson is a 2019 graduate of Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School where he received industry certifications in PC Pro, Network Pro, Security Pro, Microsoft, Copper and Fiber Optics, Digital Literacy and Apple Swift. He was a participant in the CyberPatriot, the Raspberry Pi Jam and more. He currently participates in The 100 Black Men of America, The Lab on Dexter, MGMWerx, TechMGM, Montgomery Chambers of Commerce, EduWerx, AFITC and AFCEA.
Title and company: President and CEO of Diamond Hub Enterprise
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? Alabama can do better to support innovators and entrepreneurs by investing into the future leaders, students in grades K-12 and college. The future of not only Alabama, but America are in the hands of those who come after us. Alabama needs to invest in students to gain knowledge in STEM, innovation and entrepreneurship.
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? Alabama has recently supported innovation and entrepreneurship by recognizing the importance of the STEM field. We are investing more into the knowledge of the technology industry and focusing on ways to bring more business to Alabama. Montgomery Chamber of Commerce has done an amazing job bringing new spaces such as the Lab on Dexter to allow for innovators and entrepreneurs to collaborate.
Title and company: President and CEO of Diamond Hub Enterprise
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? Alabama can do better to support innovators and entrepreneurs by investing into the future leaders, students in grades K-12 and college. The future of not only Alabama, but America are in the hands of those who come after us. Alabama needs to invest in students to gain knowledge in STEM, innovation and entrepreneurship.
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? Alabama has recently supported innovation and entrepreneurship by recognizing the importance of the STEM field. We are investing more into the knowledge of the technology industry and focusing on ways to bring more business to Alabama. Montgomery Chamber of Commerce has done an amazing job bringing new spaces such as the Lab on Dexter to allow for innovators and entrepreneurs to collaborate.
Diamond Hub Enterprise
Growing up, Zac Young was always tinkering with things, so becoming an engineer was only natural. He graduated from Auburn a few months ago, and has been working on Vulcan Line Tools since. He enjoys duck hunting, taking his boat out, riding dirt bikes, Jeeps, four-wheelers and building things.
Title and company: Founder of Vulcan Line Tools
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? Alabama has great programs to support entrepreneurship, such as Alabama Launchpad, Hardware Park, Techstars, Innovation Depot and Tiger Cage. Everyone in these programs made it a special point to help me out in any way possible, and went out of their way to open up opportunities that I otherwise wouldn’t have had. Alabama really seems to care about our success.
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? This sounds cliche, but I have been extremely pleased with how Alabama has supported myself and my startup and can’t think of anything I would change. If I could think of one minor thing, it might be to market the innovation efforts by the state a little better. That way other young entrepreneurs like myself can be aware of all of the opportunities that Alabama offers to innovators.
Title and company: Founder of Vulcan Line Tools
What is Alabama doing right when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship? Alabama has great programs to support entrepreneurship, such as Alabama Launchpad, Hardware Park, Techstars, Innovation Depot and Tiger Cage. Everyone in these programs made it a special point to help me out in any way possible, and went out of their way to open up opportunities that I otherwise wouldn’t have had. Alabama really seems to care about our success.
What’s something Alabama can do to better support innovators and entrepreneurs? This sounds cliche, but I have been extremely pleased with how Alabama has supported myself and my startup and can’t think of anything I would change. If I could think of one minor thing, it might be to market the innovation efforts by the state a little better. That way other young entrepreneurs like myself can be aware of all of the opportunities that Alabama offers to innovators.
Nathan Watson
