The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are highly competitive programs that encourage domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research & Development (R/R&D) with the potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR and STTR enable small businesses to explore their technological potential and provide the incentive to profit from its commercialization. For more information on the SBIR/STTR programs, go to America’s Seed Fund website.

AI First Alabama provides funding, mentorship, and other resources to companies in AI and automation enterprise.

Athena Collective is an incubator that focuses on empowering women.

Black Girl Ventures Birmingham provides Black/Brown woman-identifying founders with access to community, capital, and capacity-building.

Bronze Valley, a non-profit, early-stage venture investment platform supporting high-growth innovation and technology-enabled companies, is part of Gener8tor, a national start-up accelerator company.

CO.Starters aims to equip new entrepreneurs with the tools needed to turn business plans into action using lean business model methods.

EGK Starters looks to provide learning and mentorship experiences to early-stage start-up founders who are Black, Indigenous, and /or people of color.

Endeavor ScaleUp Birmingham is an eight-month program that offers mentorship, community, and resources for small cohorts.

The HICA Community Economic Development Program provides resources for Latino and immigrant families interested in small business development, micro-lending, and women-led entrepreneurship.

The Ignite! DBIA Program works to make sure minority entrepreneurs stay informed and receive access to federal, state, and local funding.

Magic City Match provides access to capital, coaching, and market opportunities for Black businesses in Birmingham.

Prosper HealthTech Accelerator works to further equity in health tech, with a particular focus on Birmingham’s Black community and/or women.

Techstars Alabama focuses on start-ups addressing innovative electrical and utility solutions.

Velocity is a 13-week program that provides participants with $50,000 in seed money up front, with the potential for more funding.

Vision ID is a free 7-day online course to help prospective entrepreneurs understand how to launch a start-up or small business.

Voltage is a part-time incubator, a six-week program that helps founders assess the viability of their start-up ideas.

Alabama Capital Network (ACN) is a community economic development organization facilitating growth in Alabama’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. ACN supports Alabama’s most promising innovators through a member network of entrepreneurs, investors, advisors, service providers, and corporations. See the opportunities available through ACN.

The Alabama Futures Fund is a seed-stage venture capital fund focused on supporting and growing entrepreneurial activity and economic development in Alabama. Find more info on funding for early-stage start-ups.

First Avenue Ventures (FAV) is a private incubator dedicated to growing Birmingham organizations. The organization helps local entrepreneurs and start-ups with strategy, accountability, marketing and financing. Explore FAV’s resources.