Entrepreneurship program grads move to Innovation Depot

In spring 2018, UAB offered its 10-week Commercialization Accelerator class at the Harbert Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HIIE) for the first time.

The free class taught UAB students, faculty and staff the basics of entrepreneurship and how to commercialize intellectual property.

And in June, one of the seven student-led startup ventures to take part in the Accelerator in the spring — a buzzworthy tech firm called Fledgling — moved into Innovation Depot, the hub of startup activity in the Magic City.

“The Student Accelerator program cultivates the entrepreneurial spirit on campus, enabling student founders to turn their ideas into profit-earning companies,” Fledgling co-founder Weida Tan said in a UAB news release.

Fledgling's move to Innovation Depot, “underscores UAB’s efforts to feed the Birmingham innovation ecosystem,” said Kathy Nugent, HIIE executive director. And Fledgling is likely not the last startup from the initial Accelerator cohort to attract the support and attention it needs to grow.

Web development agency VectorApplications LLC also formed as a result of the program. 

And two other startups, Koré and ProU, have recently incorporated, according to a UAB spokesperson.

Fledgling was founded by doctoral student Tan and computer science undergraduate alumnus Steven Robbins. The company offers MacBook users what the founders say is a cheaper but highly efficient way to upgrade their storage capabilities.

Users can install Windows solid-state drives in Apple computers using custom drivers and a physical adapter. 

The company offers drives, tools and a manual as part of an upgrade package so consumers can upgrade their Apple computers.

Moving into Innovation Depot puts Fledgling in a nurturing environment, according to Tan. 

“It puts us among a community of entrepreneurs who share their experience and valuable resources to fuel our growth,” he told Iron City Ink.

“The community really takes care of it's own, and we are glad to be a part of that process,” Robbins said.

The company has five employees, is generating more than $65,000 in monthly revenue and is selling on Amazon.

Fledgling launched a Kickstarter campaign in July to raise money to help grow its product line and reached its goal in seven hours

Fall Accelerator programs run September through November. For information or to apply, UAB students, staff or faculty can go to uab.edu/research/innovation/apply-accelerate.