HUNTSVILLE – It’s five alive for a group of Huntsville-based companies selected for Huntsville’s gBETA startup accelerator program.
A’SHI SKIN, CheckMySpot, Happi Pappi, Intrinsic Methods and iXpressGenes will participate in the gBETA Huntsville program, powered by national venture capital firm gener8tor. The program supports startups, workers, employers, artists and musicians across race, place and gender.
gBETA Huntsville is a seven-week accelerator program designed to set a path for startups to pursue investment opportunities. Startup founders receive intensive concierge coaching and access to gener8tor’s national network of mentors, customers, corporate partners and investors.
The gBETA Huntsville cohort was selected from a competitive recruitment process and the five companies were chosen based on their growth potential and investor readiness.
“I am incredibly excited to collaborate with this talented and diverse group of startups in our seventh Huntsville cohort,” said Rochelle Silveira, gBETA Huntsville program manager. “Our industry-agnostic program embraces a wide range of innovations, from CPG/beauty to healthtech, fintech/climate tech and biotech. Each company brings unique potential for significant impact.
“Our program is dedicated to accelerating their growth and fostering connections that will drive not only their success but also contribute to the broader economic landscape of Huntsville.”
The program is made possible through a partnership with Innovate Alabama, Apollo Foundation and RCP Companies with support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Alfa, Robins & Morton and Fuqua Architects.
“RCP’s vision is to create communities where creativity and connection are at the center,” said Remy Gross, co-founder of RCP. “Entrepreneurship is a core part of that vision, so we are thrilled to continue to support homegrown innovation through opportunities like gBETA Huntsville.”
This fall, the startup founders will pitch their companies to investors, community partners and the public at a startup showcase event. For information, visit MidCity District’s Facebook page and the Apollo Foundation Facebook page.
Startup founders interested in learning more about gBETA’s programming and resources or applying to a program can visit the gener8tor gBETA website or contact Program Manager Rochelle Silveira at [email protected] or Director Sierra Pena at [email protected].
Those interested in mentoring these companies or getting involved in other ways are also encouraged to connect.
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A’SHI SKIN redefines luxury skincare by merging high fashion sophistication with the purity of clean beauty products to clean, protect and nurture. A’SHI SKIN products embody the mission that looking good leads to feeling good, addressing skin problems related to mental health with self-nurture solutions and holistic wellbeing. A’SHI SKIN caters to discerning consumers seeking authentic and effective skincare that enhances both external beauty and inner strength. A’SHI SKIN will be available in early 2025 to direct-to-consumer online channels.
Founder & CEO: A’shirell Nash, [email protected] | www.ashiskin.com -
CheckMySpot promotes the early detection of skin cancer by moving patients with serious lesions to the front of the line for care. The CheckMySpot platform reduces wait times for dermatology appointments, improves access to care and offers users immediate peace of mind. With the CheckMySpot skin screening app, users can submit cell phone images of a single skin lesion along with a relevant medical history. Within 24 hours, users receive a disposition from a board-certified dermatologist. If a clinic visit is needed, CheckMySpot expedites a referral either to the patient’s dermatologist or one in their area.In closed beta testing, CheckMySpot has 1,000 downloads, 82 points of customer validation and one of the largest dermatology practice groups in the U.S. is in due diligence for implementation.
Co-Founder & CEO: Elizabeth Webb, [email protected] | www.checkmyspot.com -
Happi Pappi brings its beloved hot cocoa mixes to wholesale and retail markets, building on the success of its multi-unit food truck operation. Happi Pappi offers three types of specialty cocoa: Signature, Premium (white mocha) and a Vegan/non-dairy option. Through its food truck operation, Happi Pappi crafts beignets, specialty coffees and hot cocoa across eight Alabama counties and neighboring states. Happi Pappi’s hot cocoa sales have generated over $200,000 in revenue since its launch in 2022, with $40,000 in December 2023 alone, with 8,000 units sold, showcasing strong demand and growth potential as they scale this popular product for broader distribution.
Founder & CEO: Tyrone Harris, [email protected] | www.happipappi.com -
Intrinsic Methods revolutionizes global climate initiatives by integrating advanced tree-growing technology with cutting-edge web 3.0 blockchain solutions, enhancing carbon credits’ registration, verification, certification and transparency. Intrinsic Methods offers Environmental, Social and Governance buyers a robust and reliable means to meet their sustainability goals. Intrinsic Methods exclusively lists carbon credits generated by RootMaker Certified Growers, which delivers two to three times faster growth rates and transplant survivability exceeding 95%. Backed by Ripple, Intrinsic Methods has a backlog of almost 100 million trees that can be planted for carbon removal credits, representing 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions removed from the atmosphere.
Founder & CEO: Jim Duggan, [email protected] | www.intrinsicmethods.com -
iXpressGenes revolutionizes early detection to prevent PTSD, anxiety and depression, modernizing mental health care with a diagnostic-aid biomarker research technology. iXpressGenes provides a simple blood test that identifies autoimmune indicators before these conditions develop, serving healthcare clinics, veterans, first responders and all survivors of trauma.iXpressGenes has already signed a contract with a mental health critical care center and has launched a large-scale clinical trial with the Veterans Administration in Birmingham.
Co-Founder & CEO: John Schmitt, [email protected] | www.ixpressgenes.com
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