Two Alabama startups won $75,000 in non-dilutive funding from the Alabama Launchpad Cycle 2 2024 Finale.
Out of eight finalists, Tuscaloosa-based Nephsol Inc. and Decatur-based Zone Products were the two winners. Nephsol received $25,000 for the concept stage, and Zone Products won $50,000 in the early-seed stage.
Nephsol was founded by Olivia Bruno and Sydney Ringold and aims to revolutionize dialysis care with a headset designed to monitor cerebral blood flow during treatments. Using this technology, the goal is to reduce severe side effects and mortality rates.
Zone Products, founded by Brian Baer, creates 12-hour, non-oily protective Picaridin insect repellents against ticks, mosquitoes and other insects. It also produces pet protection and hunting-related products.
Each company received two months of one-on-one mentorship and group session training with experienced founders and business experts to prepare for the final competition.
The early seed-stage companies were evaluated by three judges: Lisa Davis Mays, CEO of The Catalyst Center for Business & Entrepreneurship; James Wessel, CEO at Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus; and Sierra Pena, director of the GBeta Accelerator at gener8tor.
“I think that the general enthusiasm and spirit of the entrepreneurs witnessed at Alabama Launchpad is so contagious,” Mays said. “When you are sitting there watching these pitches, you realize they are creating genius concepts that are not only going to make Alabama a better place but the world a better place. It is exciting for the future of Alabama’s entrepreneurial landscape.”
The concept-stage competition included a panel of three judges: Kannan Grant, director of tech transfer at the University of Alabama in Huntsville; Benzamin Choi, CEO at Alabama Capitol Network; and Toni Eberhart, a strategic communications consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton.
“Alabama Launchpad has been such an awesome experience,” Baer said. “With all of this experience, we are going to make Zone Protects a national brand – right here from North Alabama.”
Alabama Launchpad is conducted in partnership with Innovate Alabama, which implements programs and policies that support Alabama’s innovation ecosystem. The Alabama Launchpad Cycle 3 2024 applications opened Aug. 21.
