FAIRHOPE, Ala. (WALA) – Medical tech innovation in its early stages. Thursday night 8 start-ups were pitching their products and devices to potential investors. It comes after Hatch Powered by Bessel’s intensive 10-week accelerator program in Fairhope.
“And what Hatch is — it’s a facilitation to bring Baldwin County technology businesses. So just like all of us — I want my kids to be able to have jobs here… And all of my kids work in some technology sector in some place. And so it would be nice if we could produce those jobs here too,” said Keith Glines, Hatch Experience Architect.
Among those pitching their business and products is Greg Parranto — CEO of Endeavor Orthopaedics. Through Hatch he’s already reaping the benefits — having signed on a distributor.
“And that’s where we have a commercially available product. We’ve done 86 surgeries so far. I’ve got coverage in a little less than half of the country. So, I’m actively looking for people to carry our product and get into the hospital and be in the operating room. And that was the earliest win for me was signing up to be here in Alabama — we’ve done a couple of cases here in Alabama already,” explained Parranto.
Part of Hatch’s success — is the support its received by the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, Innovate Alabama, and the City of Fairhope.
“It’s so exciting! I tell people all the time — we always know we have a lot of great people in Fairhope… But to think of the people and great minds that are going to walk through those doors and the things that are going to come out of Hatch is so exciting to Fairhope… And again it is going to open up opportunities for people who currently live here or people who may move to the area,” said Mayor Sherry Sullivan, Fairhope.
As these start-ups look for investors — Hatch by Bessel will connect them with industry insiders and strategic partners — not only getting them off the ground — but transforming patients lives and care around the world.
“The ultimate value is that is that we want to impact millions of patients lives. So, we’re trying to help foster breakthroughs — which are innovations that are scale which will help first thousands, then hundreds of thousands, and then millions of patients across all of these domains,” said Chris Danek, Bessel CEO.
Hatch is in the process of expanding and renovating the “K-1 Center” in Fairhope. Once complete it will become a 15-thousand square foot incubator hub for startups. Click here for more information.