Innovation Depot; Photo: From left, Innovation Depot's team, Amanda Williams, program manager, Brooke Gillis, CEO, Shaun Pollard, experience manager, Ritchie Kruunenberg, director of marketing and operations, Tayun Harrison, receptionist, Beckee Blackmon, property manager and Abby Guerin Russell, CDO
Claire Brickson
Alabama's startup, entrepreneur and tech ecosystem refuses to be stifled by challenging times.
As the state's innovative community continues to pick up momentum, there are some major players "on fire." From Huntsville to Mobile, entrepreneurs, startups, tech leaders and incubator programs are not only finding success, but also generating success for others.
Alabama Inno is recognizing companies, organizations and programs that are major innovators in their local communities in its annual Inno Fire Awards. Honorees were determined by considering funding, headcount additions, social and community impact, product launches, pivots, growth and more.
Larger profiles on the winners will start running online Tuesday.
BBJ's 2023 Inno Fire winners
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As the state's innovative community continues to pick up momentum, there are some major players "on fire." From Huntsville to Mobile, entrepreneurs, startups, tech leaders and incubator programs are not only finding success, but also generating success for others.
Buffalo Business First
Accel Research Sites
Photo: Connie Moya
Director, clinical operations
The company was founded in 1998 and has more than 200 employees.
Photo: Connie Moya
Director, clinical operations
The company was founded in 1998 and has more than 200 employees.
Scot Lerner
The AVNIK Defense Solutions Inc.
Photo: The team participates in the Huntsville 2022 Heart Walk for the American Heart Association.
AVNIK was founded in 2006 and has 25 employees.
Photo: The team participates in the Huntsville 2022 Heart Walk for the American Heart Association.
AVNIK was founded in 2006 and has 25 employees.
AVNIK Defense Solutions, Inc.
B.Home
Photo: Sophie Schaffer
Founder
B.Home was founded in 2021 after the second cohort of Techstars graduated, and its founders realized that many of them would be returning to or staying in Birmingham. There is one employee.
Photo: Sophie Schaffer
Founder
B.Home was founded in 2021 after the second cohort of Techstars graduated, and its founders realized that many of them would be returning to or staying in Birmingham. There is one employee.
Sophie Schaffer
Birmingham Bound
Photo: Maria Underwood
President
Birmingham Bound was founded in 2019 as a corporate initiative at Shipt. In 2022, the organization established as a 501(c)3 nonprofit and hired its first president, Maria Underwood. It aims to add one or two additional full-time staff.
Photo: Maria Underwood
President
Birmingham Bound was founded in 2019 as a corporate initiative at Shipt. In 2022, the organization established as a 501(c)3 nonprofit and hired its first president, Maria Underwood. It aims to add one or two additional full-time staff.
Contributed by Maria Underwood
Bronze Valley
Photo: Neill Wright
President and CEO
Bronze Valley was founded in 2018. It has six employees.
Photo: Neill Wright
President and CEO
Bronze Valley was founded in 2018. It has six employees.
Emir Lake Photography
GeneCapture
GeneCapture was founded in 2009 and currently employs a team of 21 scientists and engineers who are developing a point of care system for multi-pathogen detection and antibiotic susceptibility.
GeneCapture was founded in 2009 and currently employs a team of 21 scientists and engineers who are developing a point of care system for multi-pathogen detection and antibiotic susceptibility.
GeneCapture
Idyllo
Photo: From left, the Idyllo team, Drew Tolleson, vendor success manager; Jessica Majno, CEO and founder; Jenn Baker, customer success manager
Idyllo launched in December 2022 after completing the Techstars Accelerator program in Birmingham. It currently has seven team members.
Photo: From left, the Idyllo team, Drew Tolleson, vendor success manager; Jessica Majno, CEO and founder; Jenn Baker, customer success manager
Idyllo launched in December 2022 after completing the Techstars Accelerator program in Birmingham. It currently has seven team members.
Idyllo
Innovate Alabama
Photo: Cynthia Crutchfield
CEO
Gov. Kay Ivey established Innovate Alabama in 2020. At the time, it was a statewide commission. Now, it is a public-private partnership with 15 full- and part-time staff and consultants.
Photo: Cynthia Crutchfield
CEO
Gov. Kay Ivey established Innovate Alabama in 2020. At the time, it was a statewide commission. Now, it is a public-private partnership with 15 full- and part-time staff and consultants.
Photo courtesy of Innovate Alabama
Innovation Depot
Photo: From left, Innovation Depot's team, Amanda Williams, program manager, Brooke Gillis, CEO, Shaun Pollard, experience manager, Ritchie Kruunenberg, director of marketing and operations, Tayun Harrison, receptionist, Beckee Blackmon, property manager and Abby Guerin Russell, CDO.
Innovation Depot opened its doors to tenants in 2007. The current team has six employees.
Photo: From left, Innovation Depot's team, Amanda Williams, program manager, Brooke Gillis, CEO, Shaun Pollard, experience manager, Ritchie Kruunenberg, director of marketing and operations, Tayun Harrison, receptionist, Beckee Blackmon, property manager and Abby Guerin Russell, CDO.
Innovation Depot opened its doors to tenants in 2007. The current team has six employees.
Claire Brickson
Nanoxort
Photo: From left, Allan David, co-founder, and Abhinav Sannidhi, R&D manager, discuss research strategy.
Nanoxort was formed in June 2018. Its mission is to provide safer diagnostic tools for patient populations that currently receive suboptimum care. Nanoxort currently has two full-time employees.
Photo: From left, Allan David, co-founder, and Abhinav Sannidhi, R&D manager, discuss research strategy.
Nanoxort was formed in June 2018. Its mission is to provide safer diagnostic tools for patient populations that currently receive suboptimum care. Nanoxort currently has two full-time employees.
Office of Communications and Marketing at Auburn University
Ossillate Inc.
Photo: Ashish Bijlani
Founder
Incorporated in 2020, Ossillate Inc. is a cybersecurity startup that is on a mission to sanitize the OSS ecosystem. The startup is funded by a NSF SBIR grant.
Photo: Ashish Bijlani
Founder
Incorporated in 2020, Ossillate Inc. is a cybersecurity startup that is on a mission to sanitize the OSS ecosystem. The startup is funded by a NSF SBIR grant.
Ashish Bijlani
STRIVE Birmingham
Photo: Quiwintre Frye
Executive director
STRIVE was founded in East Harlem in 1984. STRIVE Birmingham opened in October 2022 and has four employees.
Photo: Quiwintre Frye
Executive director
STRIVE was founded in East Harlem in 1984. STRIVE Birmingham opened in October 2022 and has four employees.
Tanisha Snell Photography
Techstars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator
Photo: Rae'Mah Henderson
Program manager, investment associate
The Techstars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator was founded in 2020 and has five employees.
Photo: Rae'Mah Henderson
Program manager, investment associate
The Techstars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator was founded in 2020 and has five employees.
Rashad Holmes
Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Photo: Kathy Nugent
UAB associate vice president and executive director
The UAB Research Foundation was founded in 1987 as a nonprofit corporation to identify, assess and market commercially viable technology developed across the university. In 2013, it became part of the UAB Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The next year, Kathy Nugent became the executive director. In 2015, the Institute was rebranded as the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship after a naming gift from the Joy and Bill Harbert Foundation. It has 13 employees.
Photo: Kathy Nugent
UAB associate vice president and executive director
The UAB Research Foundation was founded in 1987 as a nonprofit corporation to identify, assess and market commercially viable technology developed across the university. In 2013, it became part of the UAB Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The next year, Kathy Nugent became the executive director. In 2015, the Institute was rebranded as the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship after a naming gift from the Joy and Bill Harbert Foundation. It has 13 employees.
UAB
Blox
Photo: Chris Giattina
CEO
BLOX was founded in 2009. It is a novel offshoot of Birmingham architecture studio, Giattina Aycock. It manufactures prefabricated health care facilities using its Design Manufacture Construct building delivery system.
Photo: Chris Giattina
CEO
BLOX was founded in 2009. It is a novel offshoot of Birmingham architecture studio, Giattina Aycock. It manufactures prefabricated health care facilities using its Design Manufacture Construct building delivery system.
Bob Farley
525 Solutions
Photo: Gabriela Gurau
CEO
525 Solutions is a research and development company spun out of the University of Alabama’s Center for Green Manufacturing in 2004 by Robin D. Rogers and Larry G. Canada. It has three employees.
Photo: Gabriela Gurau
CEO
525 Solutions is a research and development company spun out of the University of Alabama’s Center for Green Manufacturing in 2004 by Robin D. Rogers and Larry G. Canada. It has three employees.
Gabriela Gurau
BioGradMatch
Photo: Stillman College, an original partner with Admit Academy to pilot the program
In an effort to increase diversity in the biomedical research workforce, BioGradMatch supports Black students with coaching and resources.
Photo: Stillman College, an original partner with Admit Academy to pilot the program
In an effort to increase diversity in the biomedical research workforce, BioGradMatch supports Black students with coaching and resources.
Google Maps
Clarity Health LLC
Clarity Health LLC is a medical group practice located in Mobile that specializes in psychology. It is measuring the effectiveness of a compliance-based software program to lessen the risks associated with prescribing controlled substances in pain management settings.
Clarity Health LLC is a medical group practice located in Mobile that specializes in psychology. It is measuring the effectiveness of a compliance-based software program to lessen the risks associated with prescribing controlled substances in pain management settings.
Hiroshi Watanabe
Copysmith
Photo: Shegun Otulana
CEO
Copysmith is a provider of artificial intelligence-powered marketing content and copywriting software. It acquired two companies in October, Boston-based Frase and Delaware-based Rytr, launching Copyrytr, a collective of AI-powered content and SEO marketing solutions.
Photo: Shegun Otulana
CEO
Copysmith is a provider of artificial intelligence-powered marketing content and copywriting software. It acquired two companies in October, Boston-based Frase and Delaware-based Rytr, launching Copyrytr, a collective of AI-powered content and SEO marketing solutions.
Community Foundation
Ed Farm
Photo: Waymond Jackson
CEO
Ed Farm is a Birmingham-based nonprofit that equips educators with tools and strategies to increase student opportunity. The nonprofit is now working in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Waymond Jackson, CEO of Ed Farm, said he wants to expand across the Southeast. Ed Farm is attempting to create change by increasing educational equity, improving learning outcomes through tech and preparing the future workforce.
Photo: Waymond Jackson
CEO
Ed Farm is a Birmingham-based nonprofit that equips educators with tools and strategies to increase student opportunity. The nonprofit is now working in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Waymond Jackson, CEO of Ed Farm, said he wants to expand across the Southeast. Ed Farm is attempting to create change by increasing educational equity, improving learning outcomes through tech and preparing the future workforce.
Submitted by Leadership Birmingham
ibml
Photo: The ibml building in Birmingham
Imaging Business Machines, founded in the 1990s, is a privately held information capture company headquartered in Irondale. It combines hardware and software products and services to provide end-to-end scanning and document capture. It recently acquired a Texas smart scanning business.
Photo: The ibml building in Birmingham
Imaging Business Machines, founded in the 1990s, is a privately held information capture company headquartered in Irondale. It combines hardware and software products and services to provide end-to-end scanning and document capture. It recently acquired a Texas smart scanning business.
ibml
