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HudsonAlpha launches new AgTech Accelerator, + 5 other Huntsville startup incubators to know
Thinking about starting a business in Huntsville? Good news—there are so many resources for you.
Below, we highlight HudsonAlpha’s new AgTech Accelerator, + 5 other resources that’ll help get your business off the ground.
HudsonAlpha partners with gener8tor
Huntsville-based biotech company HudsonAlpha announced March 24 that they were partnering with gener8tor, a startup accelerator and venture fund, to take on issues in the agricultural sphere.
The new facility will not be HudsonAlpha’s first foray into agricultural technology. Already, the Center for Plant Science and Sustainable Agriculture has been successful in helping scientists learn about the following things:
- new understandings of plant + animal genomes
- methods for crop improvement
- trait identification
- precision breeding
HudsonAlpha and gener8tor are now recruiting the first two cohorts of startups to complete a 12-week immersive program. Companies will have access to the 152-acre HudsonAlpha facility and help from HudsonAlpha scientists in addition to the other benefits of the program. Up to 10 startups will be chosen this year, and $100k of total funding is available.
Apply now to be included in the Summer 2022 or Fall 2022 cohort.
Other local resources for startups
1. UAH Invention to Innovation Center (I²C)
The University of Alabama in Huntsville might have just the resources you need to get your tech startup off the ground. According to their site, the Invention to Innovation Center has a three-pronged mission:
- “Stimulating growth of new and existing science and engineering high-tech companies,
- “Catalyzing formation of a resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Northern Alabama and South-Central Tennessee regions, and
- “Building partnerships with various entrepreneurial ecosystems and hubs to create pathways that empower, ignite, and motivate the community to make ideas happen.”
Here’s who the I²C works with:
- Individuals with an idea or early stage startup
- Already existing startups
- Corporate teams from an established company
- Local + regional federally funded research and development centers, government labs and R&D agencies
- Mentors
- Investors
- Service providers
To get involved with the I²C, fill out their online contact form.
2. Urban Engine
Urban Engine is “on a mission to fuel the Rocket City” by providing support for local entrepreneurs, founders and innovators. One way they do that is through their series of free programs, like:
- CoWorking Night workshop series: A weekly creative conference where members learn about topics ranging from software and hardware to marketing, sales and more
- 32/10 speaker series: A “startup business club” where young professionals get together twice monthly to learn about business and entrepreneurship successes and failures
- 4 Hours to Product: Software design competitions where members collaborate to solve problems
- OpenHSV: “LinkedIn for Huntsville,” a directory that Urban Engine is developing to provide resources for local professionals
Follow Urban Engine on Facebook for updates about events.
3. The Catalyst
The Catalyst Center for Business & Entrepreneurship exists to help small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Huntsville area thrive. In addition to services like coaching and workshops, The Catalyst provides the following programs:
- TechRich: Services specifically focused on government contracting, innovation and technology for the defense and space tech industries
- Women’s Business Center: Provides support and resources for women seeking to start small businesses in Alabama
- REACH Women’s Business Center: Regional Economic Assistance Communicating Hope; an extension of The Catalyst in Clanton, AL, to support women’s small businesses
4. Ad4! Business Acceleration
Ad4! is a Madison-based brand development and advertising agency that can help your startup with “communication that counts.” The agency also provides Business Acceleration strategies and has provided services for Intuitive Research Corp., Huntsville Museum of Art, Wyle Laboratories and more.
5. Rocket Hatch
Rocket Hatch is a North Alabama accelerator specifically focused on the area of Social Enterprise. What exactly does that mean? According to their website, Rocket Hatch wants to support “for-profit businesses that have both a financial bottom line and a community impact bottom line.”
Sound like a good fit? Sign up to be a beta tester for Impactful, Rocket Hatch’s new social enterprise initiative.
We’re so excited about all the opportunities for local business owners. Make sure to share your favorite resources with us by tagging @hvilleblast and using #hvilleblast on social media.
