AOL founder to bring Rise of the Rest bus tour to Birmingham

America Online co-founder Steve Case brings his five-city Rise of the Rest 7.0 bus tour to Birmingham for the first time this month, to meet entrepreneurs and invest $100,000 in a local startup. 

A Rise of the Rest event, featuring a fireside chat and pitch competition, will be held at Sloss Furnaces on May 9, 4-7 p.m., according to the tour website. Case will participate in the event, which is open to the public, but advance registration is required.

The $100,000 investment will come from the Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, part of investment firm Revolution.

The tour began in 2014 to showcase entrepreneurs and investment opportunities in cities across the country. Investors with Birmingham ties brought the city to the attention of tour organizers, according to Anna Mason, a partner with the seed fund.

“We discovered multiple investor groups, startup support communities, makers’ spaces and ventures and growth-stage companies, making it clear the city is truly on the rise with respect to innovation and entrepreneurship,” Mason said. 

The deadline to apply for the competition was March 20. Eight to 10 finalists will be selected.

For details and registration, go to events.revolution.com.