Upcoming Events
December 12th, 2022 – Application portal opens
January 17th, 2023 – Application portal closes
January 31st, 2023 – Applicant interviews with judges
February 14th, 2023 – Updated business plan submission deadline
February 21st, 2023 – Lift Off Shoals Finals
LiftOff Shoals is a program designed to offer support to newly developed, independent ventures in the pre-seed, startup or early growth stages. It is also designed to support the expansion of an existing business into a new high-growth market. LiftOff Shoals is a Shoals Shift partnership between the University of North Alabama College of Business, the Shoals Chamber of Commerce, and the Shoals Business Incubator. Contestants from the Shoals area are invited to compete for $20,000 in prize money.
Lift Off Shoals, modeled after the state-wide Alabama Launchpad contest, is a competition designed for new or existing businesses to help launch them into a high-growth market.
The 2021 event was held at Pickett Place on May 18 and one contestant left with prize money to further their proposed product or service.
Green Acres Organic Pharms, LLC won the top prize of $20,000 for their CBD company. The finalists in the contest were required to pitch their initial idea, present a detailed business plan, and explain how their idea could benefit the Shoals economy and ecosystem.
Innovation sponsors for this event are Bank Independent, the Shoals Economic Development Authority, and the University of North Alabama College of Business.