BIRMINGHAM – An initiative to give founders and their companies access to what matters most: capital, customers, and community has been launched.
The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, in coordination with the Alabama Department of Commerce and Innovate Alabama, announced today they are initiating a statewide strategy to recruit and support high-growth technology companies.
According to a news release, the approach – organized around the principle of “Alabama Puts Founders First” – brings together new and expanded initiatives to help startups and small businesses scale in Alabama.
The strategy’s three pillars
- Corporate Pilots: Funding pilots between Alabama corporations and growth-stage startups.
- Accelerated Company Retention: Providing concierge-style support and immersive experiences to keep accelerator graduates in Alabama.
- Tech Business Attraction: Using data to target growth-stage companies in priority sectors such as defense, biotech, mobility, forestry and advanced manufacturing.
The strategy, developed in coordination with the Alabama Department of Commerce and Innovate Alabama, builds on the momentum of Birmingham Bound, which EDPA acquired in 2024, and extends its mission statewide, the news release said. The effort reinforces a shared vision to attract high-growth technology companies and ensures each organization’s initiatives are aligned and complementary.
“Alabama puts founders first,” said Jackson Pruett, EDPA’s director of technology company business attraction. “This strategy makes it clear that our state is ready to help startups thrive with tailored resources, accessible capital and a community that welcomes big ideas. Founders can scale their companies here while also enjoying a high quality of life.”
EDPA said it will use the Alabama Business Intelligence Center to identify and target growth-stage companies in CatALyst priority sectors including defense technology, biotech, mobility, forestry and advanced manufacturing.
Working alongside state and local partners, the organization will offer founders and their companies concierge-style support that ranges from funding and mentorship to workforce talent, incentives and direct customer access.
“This strategy is a powerful signal to the national tech community: Alabama is not just competing – we’re innovating the way we attract and support startups,” said Angela Smith, a senior project manager at the Alabama Department of Commerce who focuses on the tech sector. “Our strength lies in partnership, and this effort reflects our commitment to building a dynamic tech ecosystem where founders don’t just relocate, they scale and succeed.”
Defense technology is one area where Alabama is already seeing success. Using AL Intel and partnerships with the Alabama Department of Commerce, the team has begun recruiting growth-stage defense startups to the state.
Alabama ranks among the nation’s leading defense hubs, anchored by tenants of Redstone Arsenal – such as the Army Materiel Command and U.S. Space Command – and installations such as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base and Fort Rucker.
The state attracts $10.4 billion annually in defense contracts (13th nationally) and $345.3 million in defense grants (10th nationally) and is supported by more than $6 billion in private investment over the past 25 years.
Major defense primes including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, BAE Systems, Raytheon, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, Aerojet Rocketdyne and Airbus have all established significant operations in Alabama.
Organizers said Alabama is positioning itself as the nation’s testbed for defense innovation, cultivating an environment where defense startups can thrive alongside established primes.
Building on that local success, Innovate Alabama is helping connect small businesses and the resources that support them across the state, ensuring innovative ideas and enterprises can grow and thrive in every region.
“Innovation doesn’t just happen in one city or one sector. It takes root when an entire state invests in it,” said Cynthia Crutchfield, CEO of Innovate Alabama. “Through this collaboration, we’re strengthening the network that allows small businesses to not only start and grow in Alabama, but to stay, scale and create lasting impact in the communities they call home.”
As part of the founder-first approach, EDPA – in partnership with Innovate Alabama and corporate allies – is funding real-world pilot projects between startups and Alabama corporations. The goal is to de-risk the adoption of new technologies for established companies while helping startups land their first customers, accelerate growth and prove their value in live market settings.
In parallel, EDPA will collaborate with accelerators across the state and with Innovate Alabama to provide tailored post-program support, ensuring more founders choose to stay and scale their companies in Alabama.
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