Gov. Kay Ivey appointed Danny Windham to the Innovate Alabama Board of Directors. Windham has more than 25 years of leadership experience, including as chief operating officer of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.
Innovate Alabama awarded $1 million through its Talent Pilot Program to five organizations developing solutions to Alabama's talent challenges in rural and urban communities.
Innovate Alabama awarded $2.2 million in SBIR and STTR supplemental grants to 13 companies statewide. The funding supports research, product development and job creation in biotechnology, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, materials science and software.
Innovate Alabama launched a $15 million Capital Access Fund to support Alabama early-stage companies and unlock private investment. Investments typically range from $100,000 to $250,000 per company to help bridge pre-seed to Series A funding.
The Innovate Alabama Board of Directors was appointed in December 2021 to implement initiatives and recommendations from The Alabama Innovation Commission's report, including policies aimed at strengthening the economy's resilience and competitiveness.
Cynthia Crutchfield is chief executive officer of Innovate Alabama. Crutchfield says startups with strong ideas can struggle to succeed without access to capital and resources.
