The southeastern tech scene recently made a name for itself with the inaugural Sloss.Tech Ideas Pitch Competition held in June.
This event was a collaborative effort involving Techbirmingham, The Regions Foundation, and Sloss.tech, aiming to address a noticeable void in the region’s tech gatherings. “Most major tech conferences have pitch competitions, but we realized this was missing here, so we knew we had to do it right,” an organizer noted.
Out of more than 100 applicants from ten Southeastern states, sixteen finalists were chosen, showcasing sectors like Agtech, FoodTech, HealthTech, and Biotech, along with Mobility and Transportation, among other innovative fields. Startups were judged based on their business models, customer engagement, market viability, and initial funding.
The finalists not only pitched their ideas but also gained access to investors, received strategic mentoring, and participated in top-notch pitch training in Austin, Texas, facilitated by the director of South by Southwest. “This isn’t just a one-time event,” the organizer added. “It’s intended as a launchpad for future growth.”
Such intentions have already sparked interest from outside investors. For instance, a couple from California, visiting Alabama for the first time, was present at the event.
“This is the kind of attraction we’re beginning to see,” the organizer expressed. “It’s crucial to highlight the innovations coming up in the southeast on a national level.”
The Grand Prize winners emerged from the HealthTech and Biotech sectors. Wink Therapeutics, a startup out of Miramar, Florida, was co-founded by Dr. Warren D. Marcus and Dr. Paolo Serafini, both highly trained engineers. Their project focuses on developing RNA-based therapies aimed at tackling type 1 and insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes. Although still in the early stages of research, their work brings hope to many affected by the condition.
Alongside Wink Therapeutics, the Mobility and Transportation Technology Entry, Heride, based in Atlanta, Georgia, also received recognition from Techbirmingham and The Regions Foundation. In this category, all winners were granted $5,000 in funding. Here’s the full list of winners:
- Agtech and FoodTech: Good Farming (Atlanta, Georgia)
- HealthTech and Biotech: Wink Therapeutics (Miramar, Florida)
- Mobility and Transportation Technology: Heride (Atlanta, Georgia)
- Emerging Technologies: Giggs (Nashville, Tennessee)
