Three teams from East Alabama walked away with their share of $100,000 after the Auburn Regional Alabama Launchpad Finale in Auburn on Wednesday, April 4.
Energy H2O received the top prize of $50,000 for its innovative concept to produce energetic, healthier bottled water. Tennibot received $40,000 for its robotic tennis ball collector, and FoPark received $10,000 for its simplified parking management system.
The Auburn Regional Alabama Launchpad competition, a partnership between the City of Auburn, Auburn University’s Raymond J. Harbert College of Business, Auburn Research & Technology Foundation (ARTF), is a collaboration with the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama’s Alabama Launchpad program. The program has allowed startups from Chambers, Lee, Macon, Russell and Tallapoosa counties to compete for a share of funding and receive valuable mentoring.
The regional competition began with 11 teams that presented their startup ideas to a panel of judges at the first round of the competition on Feb. 8. The winners of the finale event were among six teams, including Beyond Home Care, InhiProt and NanoXort, selected to advance to the finale. They again pitched their companies to judges at the ALFA Pavilion at Ag Heritage Park on Wednesday night.
Auburn University men’s basketball Assistant Coach Steven Pearl spoke during the event, reminding startups to take risks, learn from their failures and continue moving forward. Auburn Mayor Bill Ham also spoke about the significance of startups and innovative business concepts to the community and its economy.
“This competition is a great example of not only the innovation in Auburn, but the entrepreneurship throughout East Alabama,” Ham said. “We’re proud of not only the winners, but of everyone who participated and we wish them the best as they continue to grow and make our area even stronger.”
Other startups interested in connecting with Auburn Regional Alabama Launchpad and other available resources in East Alabama can contact Arndt Siepmann, the City of Auburn’s industrial development director, at asiepmann@auburnalabama.org or (334) 501-7270.
Auburn Regional Alabama Launchpad would like to thank Alabama Power, Auburn Bank, Borbet Alabama and Spire for sponsoring the finale event.
About Auburn Regional Alabama Launchpad
Auburn Regional Alabama Launchpad is a partnership of the City of Auburn, Auburn University’s Raymond J. Harbert College of Business, Auburn Research & Technology Foundation (ARTF) and Alabama Launchpad. Auburn Regional Alabama Launchpad helps entrepreneurs and businesses in the Auburn region through funding, startup competitions, resources and more. Auburn Regional Alabama Launchpad helps companies start, stay and grow in the Auburn region, while supporting, advocating and recognizing entrepreneurship locally and statewide.
About Alabama Launchpad
Alabama Launchpad, a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, helps high growth companies start, stay, and grow in Alabama, while supporting, advocating, and recognizing entrepreneurship statewide. Started in 2006, Alabama Launchpad encourages innovation and job growth in the state through startup competitions, the EDPA 2018 imerge Innovation Awards, and imerge, an event to celebrate innovation in Alabama.
By David D. Dorton, Auburn News
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