BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Sept. 10, 2026) — Alabama Launchpad, a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA), in partnership with Innovate Alabama, has announced its finalists for Cycle 2 2026, featuring 10 high-potential startups competing across technology and life sciences.
The competition will award $100,000 to the life sciences track winner and $75,000 to the technology track winner. Beyond non-dilutive funding, Alabama Launchpad connects each finalist with hands-on mentorship designed to sharpen their businesses before they ever step in front of investors.
Every finalist receives a $2,500 stipend and is paired with a group of Launch Advisors — specialists offering intensive consulting across areas like sales, finance, marketing and software — for weeks of one-on-one preparation. It’s access to what would otherwise amount to thousands of dollars in consulting, provided free of charge. That preparation builds toward closed-door investor meetings with industry experts, matched to each finalist’s track: technology finalists meet with technology investors, and life sciences finalists meet with life sciences investors. Technology finalists’ closed-door investor meetings will be held Nov. 5, and life sciences finalists’ closed-door investor meetings will be held Nov. 12.
“It’s amazing each cycle of Alabama Launchpad to see the businesses that apply, the problems they’re solving, and the opportunities they have to grow right here in Alabama,” said Matt Fitzgerald, founder of Fitz-Thors Industries and a Product Advisor for Alabama Launchpad. “We’re seeing innovation all across the state, from medical technologies to consumer products to agriculture, and Launchpad gives these founders more than just funding. It connects them with advisors, partners, and people who can help them sharpen the business and take the next step.
“One of the things I enjoy most is that the relationship doesn’t end when a Launchpad cycle is over. We continue to keep up with many of these companies, watch them grow, and see them stay connected to the EDPA network. There are a lot of cool things happening in Alabama, and Launchpad is a great way to help those companies move forward.”
Since its launch in 2006, Alabama Launchpad has invested $7.1 million in 126 startups, fueling job creation, economic growth and innovation across the state. Collectively, these companies have generated over 1,600 jobs and surpassed $1 billion in combined valuation.
The Cycle 2 2026 finalists will spend the coming weeks working with their Launch Advisors to refine their business models and strengthen their go-to-market strategies ahead of their closed-door investor meetings in November.
Cycle 2 2026 Finalists
Technology
- Vacavision Co. (Birmingham, Alabama) – Vacavision installs cameras in dairy and beef barns and uses AI to monitor every cow 24/7, with no wearables or collars, helping farmers catch missed heat cycles and illness before they turn into costly, recurring losses.
- CuraTech (Enterprise, Alabama) – CuraTech plugs into existing irrigation systems and uses AI to automatically water, fertilize, control mosquitoes and repel deer, replacing disconnected outdoor services while targeting roughly 40% water savings.
- Respondr Technologies (Kimberly, Alabama) – Territory Board turns fire department territory training into an interactive, gamified platform, replacing paper maps with measurable, data-driven drills. Built by an Alabama firefighter for firefighters, it is already live and proving results at its founding department.
- PowerBox Technologies (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) – PowerBox builds modular power conversion and energy management technology for commercial and industrial facilities, helping customers integrate batteries and distributed energy resources to cut costs and improve reliability.
- Trudy Health (Birmingham, Alabama) – Trudy Health helps individuals save money on healthcare by reviewing and negotiating medical bills, finding discounts and guiding people toward smarter, more affordable care decisions.
Life Sciences
- InflammaNova Rx, LLC (Birmingham, Alabama) – InflammaNova Rx develops small-molecule therapies that target the STING signaling pathway, a key driver of chronic neuroinflammation, to treat Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and related neurodegenerative and autoimmune disorders.
- Vanquish Biologics (Dothan, Alabama) – Vanquish Biologics is developing first-in-class immunotherapies using natural killer cell-derived extracellular vesicles to treat some of the deadliest cancers, including pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma.
- Khaya Biosciences (Dothan, Alabama) – Khaya Biosciences grows medical-grade bacterial cellulose wound dressings from industrial food waste, delivering the same biology as imported dressings at a fraction of the cost through American manufacturing.
- Nanoxort (Auburn, Alabama) – Nanoxort develops MRI contrast agents that improve detection of cardiovascular disease while extending the imaging window and enhancing safety for at-risk patients.
- Celestia Life Sciences (Birmingham, Alabama) – Celestia develops clinical bioinformatics and diagnostics for complex chronic conditions, starting with Long COVID, POTS and ME/CFS, helping clinicians improve care today while building the foundation for future treatments.
In 2025, Alabama Launchpad established an updated competition structure to better support entrepreneurs. The format features two industry-specific tracks — life sciences and technology — with each finalist receiving $2,500 in upfront funding along with 12 weeks of expert mentorship from a group of Launch Advisors specializing in high-end consulting across sales, finance, marketing and software to refine business strategies and prepare for scaling. Expanded prize pools per track mean the life sciences winner will take home $100,000 and the technology winner will take home $75,000, ensuring startups receive tailored guidance and resources specific to their industries to help them scale faster and attract future investment.
