The Bronze Valley Investment Accelerator has invested $500,000 in five startups from around the country to bring them to Birmingham for its fall cohort.
Each company selected for the accelerator program, which launched on Sept. 4, will receive a $100,000 investment along with 12 weeks of training and mentorship to help improve business growth.
The Bronze Valley Investment Accelerator is a component of the Bronze Valley VentureLab, a partnership between venture capital firms Bronze Valley and gener8tor. It was created to specifically support diverse, female and underrepresented founders of technology-focused companies.
The fall cohort for the accelerator received over 400 applications, but the five founders chosen had the most growth potential and investor readiness. If not already in the metro area, each of these founders relocated to Birmingham temporarily to experience the accelerator program in person.
"It's an honor to work alongside these five remarkable companies as they scale their businesses,” said Allison Swagler, managing director for the Bronze Valley Investment Accelerator. “I’m eager to see the meaningful partnerships that will emerge here in Alabama."
The cohort consists of:
- Chicago-based pet-safe home products company Companion Candles
- Nashville-based health care workforce marketplace EmpoweRx Inc.
- Boise-based cross-border payments company Pay4Me
- Hoover-based fintech company Pye
- New York-based work management platform for creatives Roam Creative.
"Bronze Valley is pleased to bring these dynamic companies to Birmingham,” said Neill Wright, president and CEO of Bronze Valley. “These companies show incredible promise, and we are excited to see the impact they will make on the state’s innovation landscape and beyond."
At the end of the program, the startup founders will showcase their companies to investors, community partners and the public at the regional Founder Fest event on Dec. 10-11 in Birmingham.
