Hatch Fairhope, Baldwin County’s technology and entrepreneurial hub, has had eight tech startups complete its Powered by Bessel accelerator program.
During the program, the tech startups took part in specialized workshops to prepare bringing their innovations to market. Through their pitches, many of the companies have secured funding, advanced to the commercial development stages and signed distribution and exclusive licensing deals to introduce their innovations to market.
“The Powered by Bessel program marks the exciting first step in an ongoing journey of technological innovation in Baldwin County,” said Keith Glines, Hatch Fairhope experience architect and creative director.
Among the companies participating are DNA Nanobots, a biotechnology leader in DNA nanoparticle engineering for targeted therapeutics, which received exclusive commercial licensing for gene editing technology from the University of California Berkeley.
Endeavor Orthopaedics signed a distribution contract with Point Clear Solutions for their Summit Patella Plating System and raised more than $400,000 during the program.
MACB, a company owned Dr. Dan Matthews, an orthopedic surgeon and medical school professor, licensed its technology designed to enhance the efficiency of total knee arthroplasty procedures.
Others participating in the program were NEMS Recovery, Nevent, PERCY and The Shape Sensing Co.
Hatch Fairhope is funded by the Coastal Alabama Community College, the city of Fairhope, PNC Bank and the Baldwin County + Economic Development Foundation. The foundation recently was admitted to the Innovate Alabama network and granted $250,000 to support Hatch Fairhope’s programming. The foundation is a nonprofit under the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance.
“We are honored to partner with Innovate Alabama, the city of Fairhope, Coastal Alabama Community College and PNC Bank in developing the local innovation economy,” said Lee Lawson, president and CEO of BCEDA. “The accomplishment of all of the entrepreneurs in this new program are just beginning, and we look forward to the many opportunities their success will bring.”
Hatch Fairhope’s new home is located in the former Fairhope K-1 Center in downtown Fairhope and is currently under construction. It is expected to be operational in 2026.