Alabama Launchpad selects finalists for Cycle 2

The 11 finalists will compete for a combined $75,000 in August

The team at TaxxWiz, one of the companies vying for the early seed stage prize of $50,000.

The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama’s early seed funding program for startup companies, Alabama Launchpad, has selected 11 finalists to compete in Cycle 2 for a combined $75,000 on August 30, in Huntsville.

The finalists will compete in two stages: the concept stage and the early seed stage. The concept stage companies are usually ones that are pre-revenue, while the early seed stage companies are those looking to accelerate the growth of their existing business.

The concept stage finalists will be competing for $25,000. They are:

  • Tuska Brew Solutions Inc., a company that has developed a way to capture carbon dioxide from fermentation and other brewery processes. Tuska Brew purifies it and recycles it back to the client, while selling excess CO2 to other customers.
  • Ride Resorts is a multi-state mountain bike resort concept, complete with world class trails and a base village.
  • Etch integrates education with its smart learning platform to help learners unlock their intelligence.
  • Nia Benefit Corp. is a digital burn clinic, which would enable patients to get high-quality burn care at an affordable price.
  • Smartstall is a complete hands-free restroom experience, with every point of contact made hands free except for the stall door latch.
  • Storyline is a digital counseling homework platform aimed at helping therapists provide a space for their clients to do mental health work between sessions.
City Detect Inc., in Northport, uses cameras and artificial intelligence to detect blight and property degradation.

The companies in the early seed stage, competing for $50,000 are:

  • Checkle, based in Huntsville, which provides restaurants with one place to organize their menus, reviews and happy hours, syncing to all of their platforms.
  • Birmingham-based BUZD, a delivery app for alcohol, CBD and other party supplies.
  • TaxxWiz, based in Birmingham, which gives tax professionals the ability to be their own Turbo Tax live.
  • Northport-based City Detect Inc., which uses cameras and AI to detect blight and property degradation.
  • BlueTapp, based in Birmingham, is a digital health company providing evidence-based PTSD treatment online.

“We are continually impressed by the competitive and forward-thinking entrepreneurs that apply to Alabama Launchpad,” said Miller Girvin, executive vice president of innovation and entrepreneurship at EDPA. “Cycle 2’s group of finalists hold great promise with their innovative ideas, and the launch advisors are eager to work with this cohort of companies over the summer and beyond.”

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