BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 12, 2026) —
Alabama Launchpad, a program of the
Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA), in partnership with
Innovate Alabama, has announced its finalists for Cycle 1 2026, featuring 10 high-potential startups competing across technology and life sciences.
The competition will award up to $100,000 in non-dilutive funding to winning startups. Finalists will compete within their designated industry tracks, pitching their ventures to exclusive investor committees in a private setting designed to prepare them for future conversations with investors or customers.
“Alabama Launchpad exists to help promising founders turn great ideas into scalable companies,” Estes Hughes, vice president of innovation and talent at EDPA. “These finalists represent the type of innovation and entrepreneurial drive that strengthens Alabama’s economy and positions the state as a leader in technology and life sciences.”
Since its launch in 2006, Alabama Launchpad has invested over $6.6 million in more than 120 startups, fueling job creation, economic growth, and innovation across the state. Collectively, these companies have generated over 1,600 jobs, secured more than funding, and surpassed $1 billion in combined valuation.
The Cycle 1 2026 finalists will refine their business models, strengthen their go-to-market strategies and connect with experienced mentors and investors who can help bring their ideas to market.
Cycle 1 2026 Finalists
Technology
- Apex Integrated Solutions (Huntsville, Alabama) – Apex Integrated Solutions builds governed, auditable AI that runs entirely on-premise, allowing defense contractors and critical infrastructure organizations to use AI without risking ITAR, CUI, or CMMC compliance.
- Liberty Limbs, LLC (Birmingham, Alabama) – Liberty Limbs designs affordable, modular cosmetic covers for prosthetic limbs. Its patent-pending anchor system allows users to swap styles without replacing the entire cover, reducing cost, increasing personalization and helping amputees express their identity with confidence.
- OncoSphere AI (Hoover, Alabama) – OncoSphere AI gives every clinic a virtual tumor board. The platform redacts PHI, extracts key clinical data, retrieves guideline-based clinical evidence and generates multidisciplinary oncology recommendations along with coding and quality checklists in minutes.
- The BreadBoard Company, LLC (Auburn, Alabama) – The BreadBoard Company makes robotics fun and approachable for young learners. Through hands-on kits, clear step-by-step guides—similar to building with Legos—and high-quality video tutorials, the company helps kids overcome the fear of electronics and discover how enjoyable creating can be.
- Scoutz (Birmingham, Alabama) – Scoutz is an AI-powered basketball recruiting platform that connects high school, college and professional athletes with college coaches and professional teams worldwide through data-driven scouting, ratings and verified exposure.
- Surge People Partners (Madison, Alabama) – Surge builds Suri, an AI HR business partner for growth-stage technology companies. It delivers executive-level HR judgment, compliance intelligence and real-time manager coaching directly inside Slack and Microsoft Teams—providing scalable HR infrastructure without adding headcount.
Life Sciences
- eco•pí® by Medpaper (Northport, Alabama) – eco•pí® is a single-use, biodegradable urine collection device that makes providing samples cleaner, easier and more hygienic. Designed to reduce spills and improve comfort, it supports patients, caregivers and healthcare providers in both clinical and at-home settings.
- STRYD Orthopedics, Inc. (Birmingham, Alabama) – STRYD is developing a smart knee sleeve that uses embedded IMU and sEMG sensors to track joint motion and muscle activity in real time. Its hardware streams data to an app that helps clinicians and patients monitor rehabilitation progress, guide exercises and improve recovery outcomes.
- Valor Scientific (Madison, Alabama) – Valor Scientific manufactures bioactive growth factors in Madison, Alabama. The company is building a domestic supply chain that powers stem cell research, wound healing and advanced skincare, creating high-tech jobs while addressing the industry’s critical reagent quality challenges.
- VivoSphere, LLC (Auburn, Alabama) – VivoSphere creates more human-like tissue to enable more human-like responses in high-throughput drug screening. Its 3D tissue-engineered models help pharmaceutical companies identify ineffective or toxic drug candidates earlier, reducing clinical trial failure and reliance on animal testing.
In 2025, Alabama Launchpad established an updated competition structure to better support entrepreneurs. The format now features two industry-specific tracks — life sciences and technology — as well as $2,500 in upfront funding for each finalist to support business growth. Finalists also receive 12 weeks of expert mentorship to refine business strategies and prepare for scaling. Expanded prize pools per track mean winners will take home up to $100,000, ensuring startups receive tailored guidance and resources specific to their industries to help them scale faster and attract future investment.
Applications are now open for the
Cycle 2 2026 Alabama Launchpad competition. Founders building companies in
technology or life sciences are encouraged to apply
here.
- Priority Deadline: July 1, 2026
Final Deadline: 13, 2026
For the latest information, including winner announcements, visit
www.alabamalaunchpad.com.
