Innovate Alabama

Here at Innovate Alabama, we are driving innovation by ensuring Alabama innovators have access to the resources they need. We covered a lot of ground in 2023, infusing nearly $50 million into the Alabama innovation ecosystem to small businesses, economic development organizations and accelerators. Want a sneak peek into what's coming in 2024? Watch here.

For students like Raegan Harris, FuelAL is more than a summer program for interns — it’s an invitation to grow roots in our state.    Raegan, a University of Alabama student, shares how FuelAL opened her eyes to Alabama’s career opportunities and unique quality of life. From professional networking to exploring arts markets and hiking trails, FuelAL is empowering students to envision Alabama as home.    Watch her story and learn how Innovate Alabama is investing in our state’s brightest talent. Read more: https://lnkd.in/etBDqyVh

Innovate Alabama added five team members in 2024, each bringing valuable expertise to enhance our mission. Their hard work is accelerating our growth, and we’re eager to see how their contributions will help shape the future of innovation in Alabama as we move into 2025. Visit our website to meet our team and stay tuned for future posts highlighting their work and impact: https://lnkd.in/etXf3V3H 

As 2024 comes to a close, we reflect on the incredible milestones we’ve achieved together. From allocating more than $80 million throughout the ecosystem to engaging more than 5,000 students, we’ve made great strides in advancing our mission to help innovators grow roots in Alabama. We’re grateful for the partners and communities who made a difference this year for entrepreneurs across the state. Looking ahead, we’re excited to continue building on these achievements in 2025 and beyond. Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season and a bright, inspiring new year! 

Each year on State of Innovation Day,  our ecosystem comes together to celebrate the innovators shaping our state’s future. This event showcases all the reasons Alabama is the ideal place to live, work and play and why we couldn't imagine calling anywhere else home!  👉 Read the full recap here: https://lnkd.in/eKkJ4J9B 

We’re still fired up from State of Innovation Day 2024! It was an honor to host Jesse Draper and Lonnie G. Johnson, two trailblazers helping shape Alabama’s future through innovation. Draper announced Halogen Ventures’ $10M investment in female founders in Alabama, made possible by Innovate Alabama’s SSBCI program, InvestAL. Dr. Lonnie Johnson — inventor of the Super Soaker and founder of InvestAL recipient Johnson Energy Storage — inspired us with his visionary work in energy storage and a call to action for mentorship in empowering young inventors. If you missed it, check out our Instagram story highlights (https://lnkd.in/eVK_9WTm) and stay tuned for more key takeaways!

T-minus one day until Innovate Alabama’s annual State of Innovation Day! We're excited to gather visionaries, corporate partners and ecosystem builders to celebrate Alabama’s growth as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship and technology. Follow along on our NEW Instagram profile (https://lnkd.in/ekgYWX9Z) for behind-the-scenes stories and updates.

This Thanksgiving, we’re grateful for our vibrant community of entrepreneurs, innovators and partners working together to drive Alabama forward. Together, we’re building a state where we all have the resources we need to put down roots and thrive. Thank you for your passion, perseverance and commitment to making Alabama a hub for innovation and opportunity. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Innovate Alabama!

ICYMI: #InnovateAlabama Executive Director of SSBCI, Charlie Pond, teamed up with SSBCI program managers Rodney Sampson (InvestAL) and Walt Postlewait (LendAL) to record a webinar breaking down all things SSBCI! Whether you’re curious about LendAL's game-changing support for small businesses or InvestAL's vision for scaling Alabama’s innovation ecosystem through venture capital, this webinar has you covered. Pro tip: Don’t miss their insider tips and strategies for making the most of these programs. Tune in here: https://lnkd.in/gVyxWv-x

Meet Auditocity, a recipient of #InnovateAlabama's SSBCI venture capital program, InvestAL. This Fairhope-based company is revolutionizing HR compliance and best practices with its unique diagnostic and auditing platform. The only product of its kind, Auditocity empowers organizations to identify gaps, benchmark against industry standards and highlight strengths. Auditocity is bringing structure, clarity and innovation to HR like never before, allowing businesses to focus on what they do best. We are proud to invest in Alabama innovators like Gia Wiggins PhD, SPHR, empowering them to scale their small businesses and make the world better. Stay tuned as we highlight other small businesses participating in Alabama’s SSBCI programs, LendAL and InvestAL. Learn more about SSBCI here: https://lnkd.in/eqRx2rqd