Two startup companies, NephSol Inc. and Zone Protects, have won the 2024 Alabama Launchpad Cycle 2 competition. The two winners combined have won $75,000.
Alabama Launchpad is a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, which partnered with Innovate Alabama to present Cycle 2 at the University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Invention to Innovation Center. This is the 17th year of Alabama Launchpad, which has awarded more than $6 million to 121 startup Alabama companies since its inception in 2006.
NephSol Inc., co-founded by Olivia Bruno and Sydney Ringold, claimed $25,000 in the concept stage for its headset designed to monitor cerebral blood flow during dialysis treatments.
“Winning Alabama Launchpad is the next big step for our company,” said Ringold. “It means we will be able to complete our regulatory process filings — a step needed for a medical device company. We are beyond excited to finally check that off, move forward and potentially go to market very quickly.”
Zone Protects, founded by Brian Baer, won the early seed stage prize of $50,000. The company creates Picaridin insect repellents — 12-hour, non-oily protection against ticks, mosquitoes and more. The company also provides pet protection and hunting-related products.
“Alabama Launchpad has been such an awesome experience,” said Baer. “With all of this experience, we are going to make Zone Protects a national brand — right here from North Alabama.”
These two startups competed against a field of eight finalists for the wins. The competition uses judges from across Alabama’s business landscape to evaluate the finalists’ pitches.
“I think that the general enthusiasm and spirit of the entrepreneurs witnessed at Alabama Launchpad is so contagious,” said Lisa Davis Mays, CEO of The Catalyst Center for Business & Entrepreneurship, who served as a judge for the early-seed stage competition. “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.”
Alabama Launchpad is funded in part by grants from Innovate Alabama, Appalachian Regional Commission, Alabama Power, Truist, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama’s Caring Foundation and Wells Fargo.
Alabama Launchpad 2024 Cycle 3 applications will open August 21. To learn more, click here.
