43 Startup Teams Register for 5th Year of Alabama Launchpad

Alabama Launchpad is poised for another successful year!  Forty-three startup teams from our partner universities registered for the 2010-2011 season of the Alabama Launchpad Business Plan Competition.  The following provides a breakdown of participation by university:

Alabama State University:  3 teams
Auburn University:  4 teams
The University of Alabama:  7 teams
University of Alabama at Birmingham:  17 teams
University of Alabama in Huntsville:  6 teams
University of South Alabama:  6 teams

As in our past years, the variety of business proposals is impressive.  Take a look at the breakdown by industry sector:

Biotechnology:  7 teams
Pharmaceuticals & Drug Delivery:  2 teams
Consumer Products & Services:  5 teams
Business Products & Services:  3 teams
Software & Web Services:  4 teams
Industrial & Advanced Materials:  6 teams
Education Services:  3 teams
Other: 9 teams (includes Nanotechnology, Energy, Mobile, Medical Devices, Health & Wellness, Healthcare IT and Media)

More information about the field will be shared soon.  The business proposals are now in the hands of our Phase II judges.  We tentatively plan to announce the Top 20 companies on Wednesday, December 8th.  Those 20 semifinalists will be paired with mentors from the business community to help them prepare for the next round of the competition.

In February 2011, the Top 20 will submit more detailed business plans, and a new crop of judges will then have the difficult task of deciding who goes on to the finals.  Eight finalists will be announced in March 2011, and the finals are scheduled for Friday, April 15th at the University of South Alabama.

Many thanks to all those who have made the 5th year of the Launchpad program possible.  Please visit our updated Sponsors Page to see our current list of funding partners.  Also, many thanks to our participating universities for their commitment and guidance.  It’s shaping up to be another great year!