The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama will hand out $100,000 in seed funding to the winner of Alabama Launchpad on Friday, May 18. University of Alabama at Birmingham, with four finalists, is the only university with more than one entry; Auburn University and the University of South Alabama also are represented.
UAB finalists in the annual business plan competition:
Blondin Biosciences LLC, is developing low-cost solutions to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases of aging. Team leader is David Graves, professor and chair, Department of Chemistry, and team members are Kevin Harris, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor, UAB Division of Hematology and Oncology; Katri Selander, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor, Hematology and Oncology; and Clinton Graves.
Endomimetics LLC, is creating therapeutic solutions for medical problems in cardiovascular disease, wound healing and diabetes and coatings for biomedical implants that allow the body to better accept medical devices. Team leader is Brigitta C. Brott, assistant professor, UAB Division of Cardiovascular Disease, and team members are Ho-Wook Jun, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering; Stephen Snowdy; and Thomas Barr, Ph.D., adjunct professor, UAB Collat School of Business.
EZSnips enables users to segment YouTube video without video-editing software, allowing users to bookmark segments, play in any browser and embed in applications. Team leader is Scott Brande, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Chemistry, and team member is Kursat Arslan, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry.
inDegree is developing an alumni-tracking service that helps universities to build stronger alumni communities and students to leverage their alumni networks in the job market. Team leader is Alex Miningham, and team members are Molly Wasko, Ph.D., associate professor and chair, MISQ, UAB School of Business, and Samuel Wasko.
Alabama Launchpad is a public-private partnership that brings together Alabama's university, business and economic development communities. It is a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama Foundation. Learn more at www.AlabamaLaunchpad.com.