Builders + Backers
City of Birmingham and Builders + Backers Launch Partnership to Accelerate Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The City of Birmingham has partnered with Builders + Backers to boost innovation and entrepreneurship in the Magic City. As part of this collaboration, six Builders have been selected to support the Spring 2025 Idea Accelerator program, which provides Birmingham residents with the opportunity to turn their innovative ideas into viable businesses.
This partnership aligns with Birmingham’s goal of fostering an inclusive economy by combining the City’s entrepreneurial focus with Builders + Backers’ successful venture studio model.
Participants in the Spring 2025 Idea Accelerator received up to $5,000 in non-dilutive funding and support from the Builders + Backers’ venture studio team to develop their ideas, particularly those that strengthen Birmingham’s small business ecosystem.
Meet the Builders!
Allessandra Kennedy
Idea: An online marketplace connecting food trucks with customers for real-time locations, pre-ordering, and menu updates, while facilitating direct ingredient sourcing from local farmers and streamlining marketing and event booking for truck owners.
Alexis Kimbrough
Idea: A dairy-free, tea-infused frozen dessert line combining wellness and indulgence, offering a flavorful and nutritious alternative to traditional frozen treats through a unique herbal tea and plant-based, low-calorie ingredient infusion process.
KyeJuana Avery
Idea: Can We Talk is a stigma-free mental health platform that provides anonymous peer support, affordable self-help tools, and professional care pathways within a culturally inclusive and trauma-informed ecosystem.
Mykea Jones
Idea: A toy library in Birmingham where families can donate, trade, and rent age-appropriate, good-condition toys for a specified period, providing an affordable and sustainable solution for managing children's toys.
Paula Guevara
Idea: An AI-driven platform providing real-time translation and transcription to help English Language Learners engage in classroom education without falling behind, offering a scalable and cost-effective alternative to traditional ESL programs.
Payal Patel
Idea: A comprehensive platform integrating step-by-step guidance, structured education, practical applications, and a verified marketplace to simplify and enhance the 3D printing experience for users of all skill levels.
