For a state that played a huge role in sending man to the moon and has made numerous breakthroughs in health care, you’d think innovation would be one of the first words outsiders think of when they think of Alabama. Too often, we know that’s not the case. But we also know that can change, especially if our state continues embracing the innovation economy.
That’s one of the reasons why the Birmingham Business Journal is launching Alabama Inno this week.
Alabama is one of dozens of markets featuring American Inno, a division of BBJ's parent company, American City Business Journals. Inno is a long-established brand founded in Boston in 2009, and acquired by ACBJ in 2012.
BBJ already provides in-depth technology coverage, and Alabama Inno aims to strengthen the state's innovation ecosystem through a robust platform that includes insightful and original editorial content. The Inno platform also includes engaging social media content, interactive events and meetups, and a dedicated website that houses all Inno content along with directories, data and other innovation resources.
While the primary focus is on Alabama, we’ll also include news, context and insights from the American Inno network of multiple other markets, including those in nearby Southern metro areas. The Inno network is one of the largest in the U.S. with more than 100,000 email subscribers, 2.75 million monthly email sends, 235,000 social followers and more than 75 annual events.
BBJ Staff Writer Tyler Patchen will be the face of Alabama Inno, covering the news, people and businesses driving the state's innovation economy. If you’re looking for what’s happening and resources to help your business thrive, Alabama Inno can be an important part of those efforts.
One goal of this new venture will be to tell the stories of the entrepreneurs, innovators, founders and funders who are powering innovation in our state. Our hope is those stories will resonate both inside of Alabama and beyond.
For readers in Alabama, we want our coverage to connect them to the people they need to know in the state’s innovation economy – from established heavyweights to emerging leaders.
We want to spotlight startups and growing firms that are primed to take a leap and become significant employers or key cogs in our economy – companies that could be clients or vendors to legacy businesses.
For those outside our state, we hope Alabama Inno dispels some of the misguided notions about our state that persist. We want prospective residents, founders or recruits to see beyond those misperceptions and catch a glimpse of the breakthroughs and innovations that are happening at entities like UAB, HudsonAlpha, Southern Research and in our startup scene.
Ideally, companies that are recruiting a candidate or a company to our state can send a link to Alabama Inno to aid their efforts.
Another notable aspect of this venture is its statewide nature. Since its founding in 1983, the BBJ has focused predominantly on metro Birmingham. Alabama Inno will be different. It will feature stories from across the state.
One of the reasons we chose the statewide focus is because we believe Alabama’s innovation economy will only maximize its potential if we cooperate and collaborate across geographic lines.
The new Alabama Innovation Commission, which is aiming to foster an atmosphere where innovative businesses can thrive, is an example of that collaboration. We’re eager to see the fruits of the initiative.
Beyond that, we know there is innovation happening in numerous pockets of the state, from the Black Belt and Birmingham to college towns like Tuscaloosa and Auburn to other major metros like Huntsville, Montgomery, Mobile and everywhere in between.
The stakes of succeeding when it comes to innovation are high. We’re hardly the only state focusing on these opportunities. If anything, we’re behind the ball in many areas.
However, we have a good share of unique assets. We have leaders who are passionate about the possibilities and initiatives aimed at reaching out potential. Alabama Inno can play a role in connecting those leaders and others who want to get involved in the effort.
