November 8, 2024 · Entrepreneurs, Innovation, News, Stories
Alabama Steps into the National Spotlight at the 2024 Fast Company Innovation Festival
After a week of impactful storytelling at the Fast Company Innovation Festival in New York City, it’s safe to say that Alabama is squarely on the map, so to speak, for innovators across the country. Innovate Alabama’s partners made a lasting impression, showcasing what it’s like to live and work in Alabama by sharing their lived experiences. Their successes speak for themselves, and Alabama innovators proved that they are exactly where they are meant to be: on the national stage.
The Fast Company Innovation Festival posed a unique opportunity for Innovate Alabama ecosystem members. Innovate Alabama seized the chance to lead the charge in elevating new Alabama companies, while reinforcing the work that is being done across the state to help innovators thrive. Fast Company is the number one media brand for thought leaders, business influencers and those who plan to start a business. It is also a leading national media brand for millennial and Gen Z readers. The outlet serves as an ideal convener for thought leaders from across the nation, including ecosystem partners who took the time to collaborate while in the Big Apple.
One ecosystem partner, Carter Wells, who serves as vice president for economic development at HudsonAlpha in Huntsville, was interviewed on Fast Company’s The New Way We Work podcast at the conference. The episode, called “Innovating for impact: how this Alabama-based tech institute fuels biosciences discovery,” highlights what it takes to build a true ecosystem of innovation – and how Alabama is a prime example.
The week served as a catalyst for amplifying the remarkable innovation happening in Alabama. And throughout the week, Innovate Alabama leaders were hard at work, learning cutting-edge approaches to supporting entrepreneurship, and they will work to implement them to further strengthen the state’s innovation ecosystem.
A Week In Review
Innovate Alabama started the week off with a bang, showcasing three Alabama founders on a panel discussing Alabama’s leadership in the future of innovation. Britney Summerville, Innovate Alabama board member and founder of Birmingham Bound, Shegun Otulana, founder and CEO of Harmony Venture Labs, and Tamar Blue, founder and CEO of MentalHappy, taught attendees how Alabama’s unique strengths played a role in their abilities to thrive as entrepreneurs.
Tiffany Whitlow and Del Smith, PhD, co-founders of Acclinate, kept the momentum going with their recognition as a 2024 Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators. Whitlow accepted the honor at the Innovation Festival, reinforcing that Alabama is a great place to live and work as an innovator.
To wrap up the week, Alabama-based Storyteller Overland and SEEK AL joined forces to demonstrate what Alabamians know well: The state is a beautiful place to live and explore. With terrain ranging from mountains to sandy beaches, Alabama has an outdoor offering for every person to enjoy. And, as innovators continue to look for the right places to put down roots, the ability to create a life one loves outside of the office will increasingly make Alabama the right place for many.
The Future of Innovation
Since Innovate Alabama’s inception, much progress has been made to attract and retain innovators in the state. The Fast Company Innovation Festival provided a well-deserved venue for celebrating and showcasing the state’s hard work. Innovate Alabama initiatives, including SBIR/STTR Supplemental Grant Program, SSBCI and SEEK AL have played crucial roles in supporting Alabama’s entrepreneurs across the state, and the excitement around sharing these successes was palpable. But the story has only just begun. Innovate Alabama leaders walked away from the festival with a renewed sense of purpose and mission, fresh ideas for making big ideas come to life, and excitement for building on Alabama’s unstoppable innovation momentum.
Get the Download
The latest stories of inspiration and innovation happening all around our state, right to your inbox.