New startup incubator opens in Mobile
A ribbon cutting event for the 30,000 square foot Innovation Portal took place on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, marking the official opening of the startup incubation center in the heart of Mobile’s technology corridor. (contributed)
A new incubation center for startup businesses in south Alabama has opened in downtown Mobile.
A ribbon cutting was held Dec. 8 at Innovation Portal. The 30,000 square foot facility is located in the heart of Mobile’s technology corridor. Innovation Portal Board Chair Frank Lott says the opening is a monumental milestone for the team.
“So many fabulous people and organizations have supported this project along our journey to opening our physical space,” Lott said. “For the past several years we have been supporting entrepreneurs in our area without a place to call home. Now that we can fly the Innovation Portal flag on 358 St. Louis Street, we can be even more effective in achieving our mission.”
Innovation Portal helping startups grow in Mobile from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
Innovation Portal is a nonprofit incubator and innovation hub accelerating startup growth in southwest Alabama and the central Gulf Coast. Innovation Portal was conceived, designed and developed in 2016 by leadership from the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Mobile, Mobile County, University of South Alabama and a group of young leaders representing the FUSE Project. Since then it’s gained a number of public and private partners including Alabama Power, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, The Edge, Techstars, Mobile United, Hatch Fairhope, Alabama Launchpad, Container Yard, BioAlabama, Alabama Small Business Development Center and Alabama Capital Network.
“Innovation Portal is a nonprofit that serves the innovate and entrepreneurial ecosystem here in Mobile,” said Michelle Parvinrouh, Executive Director of Innovation Portal. “We provide direct support to founders as they are thinking about launching an organization or growing a venture. We provide direct mentoring and programmatic support in a holistic, really energetic environment.”
Innovation Portal was initially located at the Fuse Factory entrepreneurial center and Chamber offices. Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson says the new building will be a central location for all things entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity.
“Innovation Portal is perfectly suited amongst the growth and excitement we’ve seen along the St. Louis Street corridor,” Stimpson said. “They have renovated 30,000 square feet of former industrial space and turned it into a location that will help entrepreneurs, innovators and creatives in our city work and connect.”
Stephen Riggs is one of those founders utilizing the resources at Innovation Portal. He says the staff has been vital in helping him and his co-founders launch Barkd, an online pet finder service.
“It’s been awesome because up to this point it’s been working at the house or a coffee shop with constant distractions,” Riggs said. “It’s been a great way for us to get a lot of work done. Being here in the building has allowed us to focus in on that.”
Colleen Smith, owner of Mobile Bay Firewood, says the connections and networking has been the biggest help to her.
“It’s been amazing,” Smith said. “Through that we’ve gotten a University of Mobile intern that does graphic design. We’ve gotten a large commercial contract. We’ve really expanded just through the networking opportunities and just having assistance of people that know entrepreneurship.”
Parvinrouh says the goal is to help these and other businesses grow.
“In the end we want more businesses started,” Parvinrouh said. “We want more ventures going. We want more jobs created. Hopefully through our work we can spotlight some of the really amazing leaders in our community that people are excited by.”
