Domestique Coffee and Cahaba Fire Co., two startup companies, recently took home thousands in prize money during Alabama Launchpad’s Cycle 1 2023 Finale.
The companies competed against nine other start-ups to win a combined $75,000 in non-dilutive funding.
In 2014, brothers Nathan and Michael Pocus opened Domestique Coffee. Its specialty coffees are available at brick-and-mortar locations and wholesale. The company won $50,000 in the early seed stage competition.
“Winning Launchpad will allow us to finalize our mobile user app that we’ve been developing, and it’s going to take our business to the next level,” said Nathan Pocus. “Now, we’re going to be able to really unify all of our sales channels into one, easy-to-use mobile user app and start to fulfill our customers needs of easy access to high quality coffee.
“Even if we hadn’t won this time, the connections we’ve made and the program that EDPA has put together has really been valuable for us. This is our third time participating, and so the first two times we were finalists who didn’t win. It’s been well worth the effort, and perseverance is key.”
The winner of the concept stage prize of $25,000 was Cahaba Fire Co. The business, started by Ryan King and Ben Horton, creates innovative products for fire departments.
“I believe this win is going to launch us off the Launchpad,” said co-founder Ryan King. “The advisors, the whole process – it was amazing. We are so much further, just by working alongside our Launch Advisors alone, than we thought we would be. It was a success before we won, and this $25,000 is icing on the cake.
“It will boost us right where we need to be with production.”
Both companies were given extensive mentorship, through one on one training and group session training with Launch Advisors to prep them for the final judging panels.
Dr. Patrick J. Murphy, Goodrich chair and professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham; Will Wright, head of innovation at Protective Life and founding partner at Wright Strategies; and Gordon G. Martin, retired senior vice president of corporate and administrative services at Alabama Power, were the judges of the early seed stage companies.
“It’s always fun to get out of your normal, daily routine and see some of the cool, new ideas that are happening around Alabama,” said Wright. “It’s also a pleasure to give back and help folks who are going through the Launchpad journey.”
The judges of the concept stage were Amy Degenkolb, Novocuff CEO and co-founder; Charles Jackson, Alabama Power innovation project manager; and Jonathan E. Smith, founder and owner of B.A.T. Solutions.
“The work of EDPA’s (Economic Development Partnership of Alabama) Alabama Launchpad is so important, creating access to funds that early startups may not have otherwise had and also maximizing opportunity for mentorship,” said Jackson. “The several weeks’ worth of mentorship is more vital than any funding that may happen or occur because it’s a ‘win’ for every company – even those who do not walk away with the award at the end of the pitch competition.”
The Alabama Launchpad Cycle 2 applications are open, and the deadline to apply is 5 p.m. May 15.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
