Q&A with Sophie Schaffer, community manager
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.
What does innovation mean to you?
Innovation to me means helping to facilitate a radical community. I want to create a space where everyone is not just accepted but celebrated for their differences. I want to create a culture where people's happiness and well-being are valued above all else. I want to amplify the already supportive and collaborative culture that exists in the Birmingham entrepreneurship ecosystem. Community is the cornerstone of innovation.
What ways has your company innovated and/or created meaningful impact?
Since opening our doors a year and a half ago we have housed founders from 15 different startups, representing all but the first class of Techstars EnergyTech and every class of Prosper HealthTech Accelerator. Founders who otherwise never would have met formed deep friendships and collaborations while living together. We have hosted Death Parties to celebrate with the team when a startup goes under and show the founders that their community is still there for them. We have a Discord community of over 100 people where founders can ask for help, share resources and access a community calendar.
What else do you want people to know about your company?
Our vision for B.home is to capture the feeling of community that our Techstars Alabama Energytech class experienced in the fall of 2021, as we lived and grew our companies in the Birmingham. Over a span of thirteen weeks, the 2021 cohort grew from strangers to becoming close friends, hosting weekly founder calls and attending each other’s weddings.
While the idea for B.Home originally started as a local place for Techstars founders to stay, it now serves as a crash pad for any out-of-state founder. Our hope is that one day, B.Home will become the go-to place for any entrepreneurial or creative spirit looking for a community to live, build, and create within the Magic City.
