Greater Birmingham, Alabama
ECMC Group and ECMC Foundation were excited to launch this program and support audacious innovators in Birmingham, Alabama—a mid-sized metropolitan area with a growing and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Birmingham is becoming a strong entrepreneurial hub with measurable growth in venture-backed startups, minority-owned businesses and small business job creation.
- With more than eight postsecondary institutions, including the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Miles College and Lawson State Community College, the metro area offers educational resources and workforce pipelines to support business growth. About 25,000 small businesses operate locally, with city-backed programs distributing more than $6 million in loans and grants.
Collaboration is a key design principle of the Fellowship and partnership with local organizations is vital to understanding and serving the needs of each city. Our key strategic partners at Prosper have helped us build relationships and receive feedback from community members in developing the program.
Meet Our Cohort 1 Fellows
Kym’Bria Green is developing Sweet Spot for All, a subscription service for diabetics and their families, offering diabetic-friendly supplies, snacks and tips to make diabetes management more accessible and reduce the number of unmanaged diabetics.
Stephanie Stewart is the co-founder of Sweet as a Peach Design Studio, which provides aspiring designers and local businesses in Birmingham with creative services, mentorship and tools to foster growth and creativity in the design community.
Jevon Tatum is the founder of Essence Body Products, a sustainable wellness brand that uses natural ingredients to create eco-friendly products with long-term goals to expand into community farming and AI-driven gardening services.
Myles Taylor is developing Dosie, an innovative medication management solution that helps individuals manage complex medication regimens while also strengthening family connections and contributing to Birmingham's healthcare innovation sector.
Celebrating Innovation in Birmingham
This spring, we hosted a community showcase, introducing the Fellows to Birmingham. Our Cohort 1 Fellows are dreamers and doers—tackling challenges and creating solutions to benefit the Birmingham community. Watch to get a glimpse at the impact our four Fellows will make in the community with their entrepreneurial spirit.
Launching Fall 2025
In 2025, ECMC Group and ECMC Foundation are excited to expand the program to additional locations and provide support for promising entrepreneurs.
The Triangle (Raleigh-Durham, NC)
The Triangle region offers emerging entrepreneurs access to a high-growth ecosystem fueled by research universities and startup infrastructure. Home to three major research universities (Duke, University of North Carolina, North Carolina State), several HBCUs (including North Carolina Central University), community colleges and technical schools, the area supports talent pipelines and workforce development critical for small businesses’ success.
We’re excited to collaborate with NC Idea as our local partner in the Triangle.
The Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN)
The Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area provides a strong environment for entrepreneurs thanks to its dense network of more than 30 postsecondary institutions, including the University of Minnesota, private colleges and technical schools, which provide education, workforce training and community engagement.
We’re excited to collaborate with ConnectUp as our local partner in the Twin Cities.