inDegree, a team from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has won the $100,000 grand prize in the Alabama Launchpad business plan competition beating out three other teams from UAB and one each from Auburn University and the University of South Alabama. inDegree includes Molly Wasko, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of Management, Information Systems and Quantitative Methods in the UAB Collat School of Business.
“My congratulations to inDegree and our three other finalists, all of whom have done UAB very proud. This success speaks to the talent and education of the team members, as well as the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit that thrives campus-wide at UAB,” UAB President Carol Garrison says.
inDegree is developing an alumni-tracking service that helps universities build stronger alumni communities and helps students leverage their alumni networks in the job market. The team is led by Alex Miningham and includes Samuel Wasko.
The three other UAB finalists in the competition:
Blondin Biosciences LLC, is developing low-cost solutions to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases of aging. Team leader is David Graves, professor and chair, Department of Chemistry, and team members are Kevin Harris, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor, UAB Division of Hematology and Oncology; Katri Selander, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor, Hematology and Oncology; and Clinton Graves.
Endomimetics LLC, is creating therapeutic solutions for medical problems in cardiovascular disease, wound healing and diabetes and coatings for biomedical implants that allow the body to better accept medical devices. Team leader is Brigitta C. Brott, assistant professor, UAB Division of Cardiovascular Disease, and team members are Ho-Wook Jun, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering; Stephen Snowdy; and Thomas Barr, Ph.D., adjunct professor, UAB School of Business.
EZSnips enables users to segment YouTube video without video-editing software, allowing users to bookmark segments, play in any browser and embed in applications. Team leader is Scott Brande, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Chemistry, and team member is Kursat Arslan, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry.
Alabama Launchpad, founded in 2005, is a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama Foundation. It is a public-private partnership that brings together Alabama’s university, business and economic development communities. Learn more at www.AlabamaLaunchpad.com.