Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

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January 27, 2025 | Tom Ballard

Southeast Shoutouts | KY Science and Technology Council receives an $8 million award

The HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology has announced two different events.

From Lexington, KY:

The Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation is receiving an $8 million award from the National Science Foundation to build a data infrastructure to improve the commonwealth’s ability to predict, mitigate, and respond to natural disasters. The award funds the new E-CORE RII: Technology for Innovative Visualization, Aggregation & Training in Environmental Preparedness and Resilience for Kentucky (CAPTIVATE KY) project led by the Kentucky Science & Engineering Foundation.

From Huntsville, AL:

The HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology has announced two different events.

  1. The organization will host its 14th annual Double Helix Dash 5K and 1-mile twilight run on April 1, at 5:30 p.m. The event is a unique mid-week race that brings together more than 500 runners, walkers, and supporters from across the Huntsville community to help HudsonAlpha raise funds and awareness for the Institute’s childhood genetic disorder research programs and the Smith Family Clinic for Genomic Medicine.
  2. The eighth HudsonAlpha Tech Challenge (HATCH) will be held on March 1, with presenting sponsor Innovate Alabama. The event is a life sciences hackathon where participants compete to solve real-world issues faced by biotechnology researchers and innovators in genomics, genetics, and bioinformatics. Participants will compete for the chance to win more than $5,000 in cash and prizes in two categories: High School and College/Professionals. Challenge participants must be 16 years of age or older. While not required, it is recommended that each team have a familiarity with advanced biology, genetics, or biotech-related courses as well as have familiarity with computer science, software development, or data analysis through academics or professional experience to grasp the challenging concepts better. HATCH will provide participants with computer science and biology mentorship, so subject-matter mastery is not required. Participants do not have to be a part of a team to register. To register and learn more about sponsorships, rules and challenges, click on this link.

From Orlando, FL:

Orlando Inno reports that the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program is undergoing organizational changes over the next few months as director Carol Ann Dykes Logue prepares for her retirement in April.

Rafael Caamano has been selected to serve as the program’s Interim Director, while Michael Weiss takes over for Caamano as the Site Manager of the Winter Springs incubator, and Kelly Daubach is now Site Manager of the East Colonial and downtown Orlando incubators. Brian Bedrick stepped into the Site Manager role at the Eustis Business Incubator in Lake County a few weeks ago. Bedrick’s entrepreneurial and international business experience is expected to bring a new direction and perspective to client of the Incubation Program.

From Scottsboro, AL:

Applications for the fourth annual Singing River Trail Launch Tank competition are now open. The competition, modeled after the hit television series “Shark Tank,” allows local entrepreneurs the chance to turn their unique ideas into burgeoning businesses.

Entrepreneurs who are chosen to compete will pitch their business ideas to a live audience at the Scottsboro Civic Center on April 23, 2025. A total of up to $25,000 in cash and prizes is up for grabs.

“Each year, Launch Tank brings something truly special to the table,” said Lydia Pennington, SRT Launch Tank Co-Chair and Executive Director of Tourism for the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce in Jackson County. “I’m always amazed by the creativity and drive of our participants. We’re excited to provide more entrepreneurs with the resources, connections, and funding they need to thrive.”

Applications are open to residents or people who work in Colbert, DeKalb, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, or Morgan counties.

From Tampa, FL:

Tampa Bay is home to a thriving tech community, presenting a remarkable opportunity to strengthen support for our region’s tech talent. Acknowledging this potential, Embarc Collective, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and Bank of America have joined forces to expand technical programming and support local technical meetup groups—key resources for knowledge-sharing and networking in our community.

“Our goal is to strengthen the support for Tampa Bay’s tech talent by providing more tools and connections to accelerate their growth,” said Evan Erickson, Director of Partnerships and Events for Embarc Collective.

The funding from Bank of America will provide:

  1. Financial Support: Scholarships to offset the costs of leading a meetup group.
  2. A Dedicated Space: Access to Embarc Collective’s world-class event spaces in downtown Tampa, designed to inspire collaboration and creativity.
  3. Community Connection: Opportunities to connect with Tampa Bay’s broader tech ecosystem, including Embarc Collective member start-ups.

 



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