Nationally ranked startup accelerator gener8tor today announced the 50 participants selected for 10 fall 2020 gBETA cohorts, including the five inaugural Alabama Bronze Valley Accelerator companies.
The 50 startups are located across the country, and represent a wide variety of industries and verticals, including IIoT, medical technology and SaaS.
The fall 2020 gBETA cohort is the first for the Bronze Valley Accelerator. Launched in July as a partnership with gener8tor, the Bronze Valley Accelerator will host up to 15 startups per year. The program is designed to help startups gain early customer traction with products and ideas and establish metrics that make them competitive applicants for full-time accelerators or seed investment. The Bronze Valley Accelerator is supported by Alabama Power and the Alabama Department of Commerce.
“Bronze Valley is committed to creating and maintaining an entrepreneurial environment that is more nurturing, more supportive and more inclusive,” said Bronze Valley President and CEO Neill Wright. “This cohort of promising startups represents a great start for the accelerator.”
The five Alabama companies selected for the inaugural Bronze Valley Accelerator cohort are:
Acclinate Genetics integrates culture and technology to educate and engage diverse individuals so they can make informed decisions about genomic research and clinical trial participation. With a platform that protects privacy, Acclinate utilizes machine learning and predictive analytics to ensure selection of more diverse participants. The company has formed partnerships with an academic institution/clinical trial organization, while recruiting hundreds of users nationwide.
Babypalooza provides new and expectant moms with a trusted and supportive community from pregnancy to their children’s preschool. Babypalooza simplifies the transition to motherhood through virtual and hybrid events, online courses and trusted product information. The company has over 100,000 monthly users and hosts virtual events in partnership with top baby brands and companies in markets nationwide.
Cancer University (Cancer U) empowers, educates and engages cancer patients and caregivers through its online membership platform. With its holistic university-style model, Cancer U combines coaching, courses and community to teach its members how to advocate for their cancer care. Cancer U improves outcomes for patients and caregivers, and provides connection to healthcare providers. Cancer U has one committed Comprehensive Cancer Center pilot and over 100 beta users in more than 20 states, representing people with 10 different cancers.
H2T Digital’s SaaS platform eliminates the guesswork of college and career fit. Educational institutions and workforce development programs help users understand their industry interests using H2T Digital Co.’s proprietary VocationalDNA measure. Employers utilize the H2T Digital platform as a pre-hiring tool to objectively rank candidates in relation to specific occupational elements, ultimately leading to better hiring decisions for both parties.
pmngr offers an easy-to-use software platform for full-scale project management, bridging the gap between usability and depth of functionality for small to medium-size project management consultants and contractors. pmngr allows users to manage costs, track high-level schedule milestones, track ongoing action items and generate client reports, all from the platform. The company piloted with 10 internal users and recently landed its first major corporate client, which uses the platform to manage its energy services project portfolio.
“Bronze Valley serves as an important element in our efforts to enhance the vitality of Alabama’s innovation ecosystem, and the selection of the first class of startups represents a major milestone for the Accelerator,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “The guidance and mentorship these entrepreneurs will receive from Bronze Valley will play a vital role in launching their companies to the next level.”
Each of the 10 accelerator cohorts in the gener8tor program will participate in the first gBETA Pitch Series in November. Under the banner “gener8tor is Grateful For …,” the series will highlight each of the 50 companies via Pitch Night events each night of the week. Bronze Valley’s cohort will be highlighted on Wednesday, Nov. 18, beginning at 5 p.m.
“The gener8tor and Bronze Valley partnership connects local and national partners, mentors and investors to support underrepresented founders in our region,” said Haley Medved Kendrick, Bronze Valley Accelerator director. “The inaugural cohort showcases the creativity, resiliency and bravery of our people, and offers a clear example of the innovation happening in Alabama.”
The gBETA is a free, seven-week accelerator that works with five startups at a time, with no fees and no equity required of participants. Cohorts are kept small to ensure meaningful engagement. Participants receive intensive and individualized coaching and access to gener8tor’s national network of mentors, customers, corporate partners and investors. The gener8tor’s 10 fall accelerator programs kicked off on Thursday, Oct. 1. Due to COVID-19, all are being held virtually.
