Southeast Shoutouts | Heartland Challenge scheduled this Saturday in Bentonville
Innovate Alabama is deepening its commitment to fostering innovation and workforce development in rural communities through the launch of two pilot programs.
From Bentonville, AR:
The founder of an artificial intelligence start-up who relocated from California to Northwest Arkansas will be the keynote speaker for the sixth annual Heartland Challenge, a global student competition hosted by the University of Arkansas and scheduled for this Saturday.
Designed to simulate the process of raising venture capital for a high-growth enterprise, the Heartland Challenge is a global, graduate student start-up competition overseen by the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The competition has awarded nearly $588,500 in prize money since it was first held virtually in spring 2020.
Rajat Paharia, who launched Ask Steve after nearly a decade at Google, said he saw an opportunity to put artificial intelligence into the hands of employees instead of big companies. He and his family moved to Northwest Arkansas just over two years ago but had been visiting the area since the late 1990s, when his in-laws moved here. His family grew to love the area and its access to the outdoors, so they decided to give living here full-time a shot.
The 12 participants in the finals are vying for nearly $100,000 in prizes. The overall winner will collect $40,000. The second-place team will receive $20,000; third place, $10,000; fourth place, $5,000; and fifth place, $1,000. First and second place winners in the elevator pitch competition — decided by an audience vote — win $3,000 and $2,000, respectively. Finally, there will also be three Investor Roundtable Awards worth $3,000 each.
From Huntsville, AL:
Kalm Therapeutics, an immune and inflammation-focused biopharma company located on the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology campus in Huntsville, AL, has announced a significant grant from Southern Research’s Therapeutics Development Fund (TDF).
The award will support an in vivo good laboratory practices (GLP) study on Kalm’s topical patch system in coordination with Southern Research. Kalm Therapeutics’ focus is to use immune-modulating small molecules in its gentle adhesive patch to treat inflammatory skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis (eczema), psoriasis, and prurigo nodularis while avoiding steroid use.
“The awarded grant will enable Kalm Therapeutics to accelerate its groundbreaking work and position the company for an FDA Investigational New Drug submission later this year,” said AJ Singhal, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Kalm Therapeutics. “We are focused on providing a safer and easier treatment alternative to steroids for the 20 million patients suffering from localized atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.”
From Decatur, AL:
Innovate Alabama is deepening its commitment to fostering innovation and workforce development in rural communities through the launch of two pilot programs: the Alabama Cybersecurity Fellowship and the Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) Program. Both initiatives aim to provide hands-on learning experiences that equip students with the skills and industry exposure needed to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and entrepreneurship, helping retain and develop talent within the state.From Tampa, FL:
The annual Synapse Summit, which was held last week, is described as “more than a conference—it’s a celebration of Tampa Bay’s thriving innovation ecosystem. Showcasing six dynamic pillars of innovation, Synapse shines a spotlight on the groundbreaking companies, visionary start-ups, and vibrant community driving growth and transformation in our region.”
Ahead of the event, the organizers released a study from the Washington Economics Group that underscores the Summit’s influence on the region’s economy and innovation landscape over the last seven years. The Synapse Summit has generated a total economic impact of $31 million in Tampa Bay since its inception. This includes $18 million in GDP and $4 million in federal, state, and local fiscal revenues.
The report also highlights how Synapse-connected companies are performing, collectively contributing more than $57 billion in direct and indirect economic impact to the region. These companies, spanning industries such as technology, professional services and information sectors, support more than 39,400 jobs and $20 billion in household income.
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