Author: Nick Elam

Innovation Depot Launches Third Boost Cohort, Supporting Startups in Transition from MVP to Market

Posted on April 30, 2025

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Following the success of its previous cohorts, Innovation Depot is proud to announce the launch of Boost Cohort 3, a hands-on program designed to help early-stage founders sharpen their Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), engage with real customers, and move closer to market readiness.

Boost fills a crucial gap in Birmingham’s startup support pipeline by providing tailored resources for founders who have validated their tech ideas and are ready to begin serious customer acquisition and business development.

Key Features of Boost:

Focused on Early Growth: Boost serves founders who are preparing to go from prototype to product, with the goal of securing their first customers and early traction.

Customer-Centric Curriculum: The program emphasizes customer discovery, iterative product development, and go-to-market strategies rooted in real feedback and industry-tested frameworks.

Expert Guidance: Participants gain access to Innovation Depot’s expansive network of mentors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders who offer practical insight and support.

Real-World Application: Boost is structured around interactive, results-driven workshops, giving founders the opportunity to test assumptions, build momentum, and refine their go-to-market approach.

“We’re excited to welcome this next group of founders to Boost and help them navigate one of the most critical phases of building a startup,” said Ritchie Kruunenberg, VP of Strategy & Startup Growth at Innovation Depot. “Our goal is to equip founders with the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to confidently take their MVPs into the market and begin growing sustainable businesses.”

Trevor Newberry, Co-Founder of AppThink and Director of Product at Harmony Venture Labs, also expressed his enthusiasm: “With Boost, we’re addressing a crucial gap in entrepreneurial training—securing that all-important first customer. The program is designed to not only guide founders through the process of product development but also to help them learn, iterate, and ultimately sell their products. We’re eager to see the positive impact this cohort will have on the Birmingham startup ecosystem.”

Meet the Boost Cohort 3

Innovation Depot is proud to introduce the eight promising founders selected for Boost Cohort 3:

  • Ethan Hendrix, FICOM Technologies, LLC

  • Jeff Brown

  • Joshua Gilmer, Luau

  • Katie Marietta-Tondin, Lit Up

  • Keith Saffold

  • Miho Kubagawa, Launch Loop

  • Paula Guevara, Bilinci

  • Sanjay Kumar

These founders represent a diverse range of ideas and industries, united by a shared goal: transforming early-stage prototypes into viable, customer-ready products.

Innovation Depot remains committed to nurturing Birmingham’s tech talent and creating an environment where startups can thrive through collaboration, mentorship, and strategic support.

About Innovation Depot:

Innovation Depot is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit tech and entrepreneurial support organization headquartered in a 140,000-square-foot campus in downtown Birmingham. The Depot provides a range of founder-focused programs, mentorship opportunities, and incubation space for startups at every stage. To learn more, visit innovationdepot.org.

From Fans to Founders: How Sport Feeds Pivoted from B2C to B2B

Posted on March 20, 2025

Building a successful startup often requires adaptability, resilience, and a clear vision — and Sport Feeds is a prime example of that journey. We recently caught up with Thomas Coiner, CEO and co-founder of Sport Feeds, to hear about their transition from a direct-to-consumer (B2C) sports platform to a business-to-business (B2B) data service. Their story is a testament to the power of persistence and the importance of recognizing when it’s time to pivot.

Building a Product for Fans

Originally launched as Backer, Sport Feeds started as a platform where sports fans could follow their favorite athletes. The product gained traction and engagement, but the revenue didn’t justify the operational costs. Realizing the need for a shift, the team began exploring how their technology could serve businesses instead of consumers.

“We looked at the technology we built along the way, noticed it was highly valuable for other businesses, and started to sell that product.”

 

Facing the Challenges of Pivoting

Transitioning from B2C to B2B came with its own challenges — especially the lengthier sales cycle. While it once took only seconds to convince fans to sign up, selling to businesses required a much longer commitment.

“I wish I would have known how much longer the sales cycle is on the B2B side than it was with a simple fan.”

 

During the transition, the team even ran out of funds. Determined not to give up, they took on other jobs to self-fund the shift to B2B.

“We had like $2 in our bank account. We decided to go all in at a conference in our industry, pitching our new product to over a dozen potential customers. Not a single one said no. They just asked, ‘How much is it?’”

 

Finding Success in the Pivot

That conference moment was a turning point. The interest from potential customers confirmed that their new B2B product had genuine market demand. From there, the team leaned into commercializing their product, backed by the encouragement of investors and team members who believed in the vision.

“We really saw through the path to profitability. It’s just been the funnest ride I’ve ever been a part of.”

 

Looking Ahead

Today, Sport Feeds has a clear focus: expanding their product, growing their sales pipeline, and continuing to build in Birmingham. Their subscription-based model allows businesses to easily integrate with their data platform, and the future looks bright.

“Now it’s just become so much more clear — turning our ideas into execution, into revenue. It’s going to be a great year, and we’re really excited to keep building.”

Sport Feeds’ journey is a reminder that sometimes, the best opportunities come from the toughest challenges — and that no successful pivot happens without a little grit.

🚀 Voltage Cohort 10 is Here! 🚀

Posted on March 18, 2025

Innovation Depot is proud to kick off the 10th edition of Voltage, welcoming an incredible group of entrepreneurs ready to turn their tech ideas into reality! With a diverse mix of backgrounds and industries, this cohort has 33 founders & 26 ideas—proof that the demand for early-stage startup support keeps growing.  

Since launching in 2021, Voltage has empowered over 165 entrepreneurs to refine and validate their concepts before jumping headfirst into building. The five-week program is designed with flexibility in mind, helping founders move forward without disrupting their 9-to-5. With expert mentorship from AppThink (powered by HVL) and a supportive community of peers, each participant will gain the clarity, confidence, and connections needed to take their next steps.  

Innovation Depot CEO Brooke Gillis highlighted Voltage’s growing impact:  

 “Each year, Voltage attracts more ambitious founders looking to validate their ideas, and we’re seeing real success stories emerge from the program. Birmingham’s startup ecosystem is growing, and programs like Voltage are helping fuel that momentum. We’re excited to support this next wave of innovators.”


VP of Strategy & Startup Growth Ritchie Kruunenberg added:  

“Voltage continues to prove that early-stage founders need a space to test their ideas before making big commitments. With every cohort, we see more participation, stronger ideas, and founders who are ready to put in the work. This group is bringing serious energy, and we can’t wait to see what they accomplish.”

 

Last week, we kicked things off with a high-energy launch event at Monday Night Brewing, where participants got to connect and set the stage for the journey ahead.  

🎉 A huge welcome to our Cohort 10 founders! 🎉

Peggy Pursell

Justin McCleskey

Justin Hill

Aliyah & Shaliyah Johnson

Naila Jackson

Khiry Jennings

Laura Elliott

Faaiz Saad & Omar Hamki

Merrill Flowers

Chakravarthy Petluri

Ahmad Elgazzar

Laura Way

Eugene Rogers

Amitkumar Mehta & Dharmesh Vora

Miles Underwood

Gabrielle Hunter

Nicholas Hershy

Karthik Gaur, Brandon Woodworth & Mason Wolf

Marvin Hamilton & Utkarsh Kumaran

Apurva Chinta

Will McCollum

Akazha Green

Roderick Jordan & Anthony King

Michael Disko

 

Stay tuned as they take their ideas through the Voltage process—we can’t wait to share their progress!  

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