Why Alabama Should Celebrate Entrepreneurial Successes

Summertime is winding down, and we are psyched for our third annual Alabama Launchpad Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference set for Sept. 26-27 in Hoover.

We hold this one-of-a-kind conference for Alabama because we know the importance of having a strong startup ecosystem, and we recognize the need to applaud and celebrate the companies that are creating jobs and growing the state’s economy.

As Gov. Robert Bentley noted in a speech to the Economic Development Association of Alabama on July 29, the state needs to use innovation and entrepreneurship to create jobs.

Alabama has a lot to be proud of lately. The state is home to incubators, technology parks and university-based technology transfer offices aimed at getting discoveries out of the lab and into the commercial marketplace. Venture capitalists and angel investor networks are sprinkled across the state.

But there is still so much opportunity and potential to foster a thriving startup community here.

For this conference, we have a great lineup of speakers, including the governor, TechStars’ Brad Feld and Fast Company Editor William C. Taylor, many of whom will echo similar themes to motivate and inspire founders of high-growth companies. They will share lessons they’ve learned along the way.

One of our speakers is Vestavia Hills native, Ted Alling who has already established himself as one of the South’s leading entrepreneurs at 35 years old and is a managing partner of the Lamp Post Group, a venture incubator.

The conference also will showcase a Start-up Village that will feature exhibitors and also be the place where entrepreneurs, investors and mentors can connect and network.

Efforts are underway to make Alabama a start-up hotbed through our annual Alabama Launchpad Competition, which encourages innovation and entrepreneurship and has awarded more than $1 million to aspiring entrepreneurs to help them move quickly toward creating high-wage, high-growth jobs.

A startup ecosystem is emerging in Alabama, which could be the greatest advancement and benefit the state has seen for many a decade.

Everyone benefits when startups succeed because they are the state’s most promising source of new jobs

Join us in celebrating the state’s entrepreneurial successes on Thursday, Sept. 26,  and Friday, Sept. 27, at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel, 1000 Riverchase Galleria.

Register now!  Early bird ticket options are $125 for entrepreneurs; $75 for students and $200 for corporate until 11:55 p.m. on Sept. 2.

After that, regular pricing begins. Those prices are $150 for entrepreneurs; $90 for students and $250 for corporate.