2026 EDWARD K. ALDAG, JR.
STUDENT BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION
STUDENT BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION
GRAND PRIZE COMPETITION GROUP
$50,000 – Grand Prize: Boost
$5,000 – First Place: MoCura
$3,000 – Second Place: Coop’s Property Maintenance
$2,000 – Third Place: Crank
NEW IDEA GROUP 1
$2,500 – First Place: Click & Close, LLC
$1,500 – Second Place: Shadowlog
$1,000 – Third Place: Trustworthy Tutoring
ESTABLISHED CONCEPTS GROUP
$5,000 – First Place: SoHara
$3,000 – Second Place: Al Angel, LLC
$2,000 – Third Place: AirStatus One
NEW IDEA GROUP 2
$2,500 – First Place: Tellbloom AI
$1,500 – Second Place: RoomiCheck
$1,000 – Third Place: Unthethered Inititative
ALABAMA POWER FOUNDATION INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY AWARDS
$5,000 – First Place: Motion+
$3,000 – Second Place: Shadowlog
$2,000 – Third Place: Vera Biotech, LLC
NASA PATENT AWARDS
$2,500 – First Place: SoundSelect
$1,500 – Second Place: Aeroband
THE BOB AND JEAN MERRITT REPURPOSE AWARD
$10,000 – First Place: GearUp!
DR. MARK WEAVER NON-PROFIT | SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
$2,000 – First Place: Beyond Barriers Swim Foundation
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA ATHLETIC ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS
$2,500 – First Place: Beyond Barriers Swim Foundation
$1,500 – Second Place: MoCura
$1,000 – Third Place: GearUp!
A Note from the AEI Team:
Executive Director, Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute
Thank you to all of our Judges, Coaches, Competitors, and Other Supporters!
FACILITATORS & JUDGES
- Mahsa Asgari
- Paul Brothers
- Justin Brown
- Paige Brown
- Seth Butler
- Kelsi Ertman
- Carolina Forero
- Sheriah Gibson
- Barbara Gress
- Emily Hardy
- Andrea Hodge
- Negin Koutahzadeh
- Gordon Martin
- Jason Mohnsey
- Tim Morrison
- Amy Patel
FACILITATORS & JUDGES
- Sam Poteat
- Leverett Powell
- Robin Phillips
- Delana Roe
- Virginia Rolling
- Paridhi Saboo
- Eric Smith
- Robert Smith
- Devin Stein
- Dileep Sahu
- Carly Titus
- Zach Thomas
- Mustafa Tukat
- Kelvin Welbourne
- Brian White
- David Wilson
AEI TEAM
- Dr. Theresa M. Welbourne
- John Martz
- Earl Evens
- Kim Smalley
- Dr. Joshua White
AEI STUDENT INTERNS
- Aiden Barry
- Toby Guo
- Luke Gustafson
- Payton Offerle