Startup Spark

Coming up with a great business idea is easy. People do it all the time. The problem is implementation. That’s the hard part and where most ideas die.

That's not true for University of Alabama students. The Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute (AEI) at the Culverhouse College of Business creates an environment to facilitate students’ business ideas into reality.

Students get access to a network of professors and mentors to gain knowledge, participate in competitions to pitch their business models to gain real-world experience, and 21 offices, 100-plus workstations, and conference rooms at the EDGE Incubator and Accelerator.

Dr. Theresa M. Welbourne, AEI’s executive director and the Will and Maggie Brooke Professor in Entrepreneurship, says when it comes to helping students find entrepreneurial success, it’s all about partnerships and relationships.

“From members of the AEI advisory board, to partners at the City and Chamber, as well as companies and individual donors like Edward K. Aldag, Jr. who sponsor our work, AEI can only what we do because of those who see and support our vision for entrepreneurship,” Welbourne said.

But it’s the gown that further makes the difference: “The University of Alabama is a unique place where people from all over campus come together to support our innovation and entrepreneurship work, from senior leaders who create opportunities for our students to volunteers who help us run our events. We are privileged to be part of such an entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

TAPPING INTO A NICHE MARKET

When Julian Woods and Lars Griffin crossed paths at a University of Alabama student organization fair, neither imagined they’d soon be co-founders of a tech startup supported by a major university-backed business accelerator. But thanks to UA’s Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute (AEI) and its innovation hub The Edge, the two business students turned a spark of inspiration into TappedIn, a growing platform designed to connect students with one another and with the local community.

Woods, who got involved with AEI through the Crimson Entrepreneurship Academy (CEA) the summer after his sophomore year, describes it as the moment everything changed. “The university basically invests in students to bring business ideas to life,” he said. “They walk you through the whole process—from finding your target customer to building out your business plan.”

Griffin’s journey began his freshman year after he joined the Collegiate Entrepreneurship Organization (CEO). “That’s how I found out about The Edge,” he said. “From there, I learned about the pitch competitions, the monthly resource meetings, and all the tools they offer students who want to start something.”

Woods and Griffin took second place in the 2024 Edward K. Aldag Jr. Student Business Plan Competition, which came with a $3,000 prize. More importantly, they recently received a $50,000 safe note investment from the University accelerator program. The pair are working full time this summer to prepare for a major launch in the fall.

“This is helping us get to the next level.” said Griffin. “Now this is our job.”

The Edge, a collaboration between UA, the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, and the City of Tuscaloosa, provides office space, mentorship, funding opportunities, and training to aspiring entrepreneurs. For Woods and Griffin, it became their headquarters—and their safety net.

“Mentors like Leverett Powell and Earl Evens are around. We can walk in, ask questions, and learn from people who’ve done this before,” said Griffin. “They even gave us a mailbox, printing access—little things that would’ve been a headache without this community.”

Lars Griffin and Julian Woods took second place in the Established Category at the 2025 Edward K. Aldag, Jr. Student Business Plan Competition.

Julian Woods and Lars Griffin at the 2024 SEC Business Competition

Julian Woods and Lars Griffin with Vice President for Student Life Steven Hood discussing the future of TappedIn and strategies to enhance student engagement.

Lars Griffin and Julian Woods at the 2024 SEC Business Competition.

Lars Griffin and Julian Woods at the 2024 SEC Business Competition.

Their business idea started almost by accident. At a student fair, they forgot to bring a QR code to help students connect. Griffin had been experimenting with NFC chips, and a simple solution—tapping phones to exchange contact info—evolved into a broader vision: help students integrate socially and navigate college life.

TappedIn now functions as a social platform and digital student guide. Students create profiles with links to social media and groups, while local businesses can post events and student discounts. “Our vision is for students—especially those from out of state—to feel like locals from day one,” said Woods. The TappedIn app is available on the App Store for Apple and Google Play for Android phones.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

Brody Barnett came to The University of Alabama to study finance. He left with more than a degree—he has a company, a vision, and a powerful support system behind him.

Barnett, who is wrapping up his first year in UA’s MBA program, never imagined he’d be running a startup while still in school. That changed when he discovered AEI.

“I actually wish I’d known about it sooner,” he said. “I was a finance major with a real estate minor and never heard of AEI until I started my MBA. I took an entrepreneurship class, and my professor Gina Simpson encouraged me to enter the Aldag Business Plan Competition.”

That experience turned out to be a catalyst. Not only did it give Barnett this first taste of competition, but it also introduced him to the AEI’s deep bench of mentors and resources, which he now credits with helping launch his company.

The business, originally called OneFlyp, tackled apartment unit turnovers—everything from drywall repair, cleaning to painting—in a single, streamlined operation. But as Barnett and his co-founders learned more about the industry, they pivoted and expanded. The company is now Coop’s Maintenance, named in honor of a beloved youth coach who mentored the founders.

“We’re still doing apartment flips, but we’re moving into broader property maintenance,” Barnett said. “Pressure washing, landscaping, trash valet—you name it. We’re also targeting commercial spaces and HOAs to keep work steady year-round.”

The AEI, along with The EDGE incubator space, has been instrumental in that evolution. Barnett is spending his summer in the Crimson Entrepreneurship Academy, a nine-week intensive program that helps student entrepreneurs build and scale their ventures.

“They really cover everything,” he said. “From hiring employees to using QuickBooks to designing graphics. And they connect you with mentors in all the right areas—legal, marketing, sales. The whole thing is designed to help you grow.”

Coop’s Maintenance has landed sizable contracts, is planning to hire full-time employees, and is laying the groundwork to build its own proprietary software within the next few years.

Barnett, who’s always had an entrepreneurial spirit, says AEI gave him more than tools—it gave him belief. “The biggest thing is confidence. It’s scary doing something new, but AEI teaches you to trust yourself and take that leap.”

He and his team are also finding ways to give back. They recently launched a weekly “Comp of the Week” initiative, offering free services to local nonprofits, ministries and small businesses. “We just want to strengthen our ties to the Tuscaloosa community,” he said.

Brody Barnett (left) and Anna Brown (right) were part of the first-place team for the Wild Card Award at the 2025 Edward K. Aldag, Jr. Student Business Plan Competition. Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute Executive Director Theresa Welbourne is also pictured.

Brody Barnett (left) and Anna Brown (right) were part of the first-place team for the Wild Card Award at the 2025 Edward K. Aldag, Jr. Student Business Plan Competition. Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute Executive Director Theresa Welbourne is also pictured.

Brody Barnett and Cale Brown pitch their idea for the business OneFlyp at the 2025 Edward K. Aldag, Jr. Student Business Plan Competition.

Brody Barnett and Cale Brown pitch their idea for the business OneFlyp at the 2025 Edward K. Aldag, Jr. Student Business Plan Competition.

Nathan Cooper, Chris Cooper, and Brody Barnett from Coop’s Maintenance

Nathan Cooper, Chris Cooper, and Brody Barnett from Coop’s Maintenance

STEPPING FORWARD

Isabella Berry and Nora Sammons won first place in the New Idea category of the at the 2025 Edward K. Aldag, Jr. Student Business Plan Competition.

Isabella Berry and Nora Sammons won first place in the New Idea category of the at the 2025 Edward K. Aldag, Jr. Student Business Plan Competition.

Isabella Berry and Nora Sammons pitch their idea for Aerosole at the 2025 Edward K. Aldag, Jr. Student Business Plan Competition.

Isabella Berry and Nora Sammons pitch their idea for Aerosole at the 2025 Edward K. Aldag, Jr. Student Business Plan Competition.

When Nora Sammons first heard her mother’s complaint — “Why can’t orthopedic shoes be cute?” — she didn’t know that question would lead her and fellow University of Alabama student Isabella Berry to launch a startup.

The company, aptly named Aerosole, is reimagining orthopedic footwear using NASA-patented aerogel, a material known for its feather-light weight and impressive insulation. What began as a class project is now an emerging business — and much of that leap from classroom to company is thanks to a professor and the Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute (AEI).

For Sammons, the spark was personal. “My mom has a lot of foot problems as she’s aged, and all the orthopedic shoes were so ugly to her,” she says. “She wanted something stylish. There’s such a stigma around orthopedic shoes — they’re chunky and clunky. We thought, ‘Why not change that?’”

Tasked with creating a product for the aging population using a NASA patent for their GBA 172 course, the duo stumbled upon aerogel, an ultra-lightweight, moisture-controlling material with unique thermal properties. The idea was simple but powerful: design an elegant shoe — something like a ballet flat or sleek boot — that looks good enough for work or a nice dinner but still eases foot pain.

After presenting their concept, professor Jennifer Dempsey pushed them to enter UA’s prestigious Aldag Business Plan Competition. They won the top prize in the New Idea Room and third place in the NASA Patents Award category. “We didn’t really expect it to go anywhere,” Berry says. “But we really value Professor Dempsey’s opinion. She believed in it, so we gave it a shot.”

They walked away from Aldag with validation and a roadmap. The AEI opened doors they hadn’t known existed. Through the Crimson Entrepreneurship Academy — an opportunity Sammons learned about only because of Aldag — they received $4,000 in funding to dedicate a summer to turning Aerosole into reality. They got pitch coaching, invaluable connections with industry leaders, and mentorship from AEI’s Dr. Joshua White.

“This summer, I’m working 40 hours a week on the business,” Sammons says. “They bring in these incredible speakers — people who’ve built huge companies — to teach us what to do and what to avoid. And they give us funding with no equity attached. That’s amazing for students.”

Berry, a fashion design major with no prior experience in footwear, found herself sketching prototypes for a whole new kind of shoe. “We’re leaning into a dressier flat, with a rocker sole to better distribute weight and a box toe for more room,” she said. They’re already looking ahead to boots and winter styles, hoping to offer relief without forcing wearers to sacrifice style.

Now, they’re meeting with manufacturers and planning a small first collection. They hope to have a prototype ready by the end of the summer — one Sammons’ mom, and countless others, can wear with pride.

“If you’d told us at the start that a class project might actually fix my mom’s problem, I’d have said, ‘No way,’” Sammons laughs. “But here we are. And thanks to the AEI, we actually believe we can make it happen.”

With a blend of innovation, personal passion, and community support, Aerosole is proving that sometimes, a great idea — and a little push — is all it takes to help people walk taller.