2024 TUSCALOOSA INNOVATES BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION WINNERS

Grand Prize

$10,000 – Delightful Cookies & Treats – Pamela A. Dobbins

Delightful Cookies & Treats thrives on the exquisite taste and quality of our gourmet cookies and treats. Our products are made in small batches so we can emphasize the craftsmanship and skill it takes to create a more refined eating experience for eat and every customer. We offer convenient online ordering, customization options on cookie and treat sizes, as well as catering services.

First Prize

$5,000 – The Cookie Boutique & Bakery – Jasmine Robertson-Warren

The Cookie Boutique is a delightful home-bakery located by the serene Lake Tuscaloosa in Alabama. We proudly deliver and ship cookies and cakes locally and state-wide. Our ovens are fired up and ready to create mouth-watering cakes, cookies, and an array of other delectable treats that are perfect for your upcoming celebration.

Second Prize

$3,000 – Sweet Dreamz Delivered – Nikeah Leech

Sweet Dreamz is an established snack food bar located in Tuscaloosa, AL. Since 2020, we have shown significant growth. We would like to start a fresh fruit line with sugar-free drinks to a food trailer. Currently, we are self-funded and cannot afford that expansion of business. This would create 3-5 jobs for Tuscaloosans interested in working with our shop.

Third Prize

$2,000 – Mayloo Transport – Amanda Langford

Mayloo Transport is a one-of-a-kind karaoke golf cart taxi service that is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. We service the University of Alabama campus, giving students, locals, and visitors alike a unique and enlivening way to travel.

Regions Entrepreneurship Award (Three-way Tie)

$2,000 – Athlete’s Inc+–Donnie Lee & Gula Tagovailoa

Athletes Inc+ distinguishes itself as the sole one-stop shop sports app in the nation. The app integrates a network of high-quality former and current college athletes as trainers connecting them with youth all around the country and eventually internationally. The app additionally offers an aspect called ” teach tape ” that athletes can subscribe to similar to Netflix for sports training alongside effective recruiting support, and detailed Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) guidance for college athletes. This app-based solution addresses the gap left by other organizations that typically focus on just one of these areas, offering a comprehensive platform that simplifies and enhances the journey for athletes from youth to college level. The convenience of an app allows for streamlined communication, tracking progress, and accessing a wealth of resources and guidance, leveraging Athletes Inc.’s unparalleled social capital and networks. This innovative approach not only makes navigating the complexities of athletic development and recruitment more accessible but also provides a significant competitive edge in securing college placements and scholarships in which Yahoo Finance estimated the youth sports market to be approximately37.5 billion in 2023.

$2,000 – B More – Sara Denton Cox

B More is a scalable clothing manufacturing business with a focus on sustainable and ethical manufacturing of apparel in the West Alabama region. The production side of B More includes the use of secondhand textiles to develop a closed-loop solution to domestic clothing manufacturing through partnerships and contracts with existing brands and textile suppliers. Through its educational facet, B More would provide job training and technical skills to individuals in the West Alabama region, providing new and meaningful knowledge with transferable skill sets for further employment.

$2,000 – Car Gloss – Carlos Rosas & Karim Hassan

Car Gloss is a premium automotive and marine detailing, paint correction, and ceramic coating services in Tuscaloosa County. By offering top-notch services to car owners, we hope to address the issue of poor car detailing services. Our core proposition is to give our customers a high-quality, expert, and timely auto detailing service that leaves their vehicles looking like new. With a strong emphasis on client happiness and meticulousness, we hope to make Car Gloss the go-to place for automobile owners looking for the best car detailing experience in Tuscaloosa.