Maurice Landers, a cofounder of Doctours, expressed his excitement about living near Huntsville’s Orion Amphitheatre while staying rent-free at the Metronome apartments. “I love music, so I’m super happy that the Orion is there,” he said. Landers and his New York-based co-founders relocated to Huntsville to reduce living costs while building their medical tourism startup. A fortunate turn of events led them to win the Sweet Home Alabama grant, providing free housing for a year.
Transforming startups through gBETA Huntsville
The Doctours team’s journey took a significant turn when they joined gBETA Huntsville, a seven-week accelerator program. The initiative helped the startup evolve from a virtually unknown platform to serving multiple customers daily. “We went from having nobody going to our site to now talking to five or six people daily,” said Landers. The team is laser-focused on expanding their business with ten months of free housing remaining under the Sweet Home Alabama grant.
Innovators thriving in Huntsville
Ruth Young-Loaeza, founder of Neet Sheets, has also made remarkable progress since joining the program. Originally from San Diego, she transitioned to entrepreneurship after working as a house cleaner. Her patented ergonomic bed sheets have generated nearly $100,000 in sales. Young-Loaeza plans to stay in Huntsville, inspired by the city’s friendly atmosphere and abundant resources. “This is a beautiful place to live,” she said, adding that the supportive business environment has made her transition seamless.
A growing community for entrepreneurs
Huntsville’s Sweet Home Alabama grant and gBETA Huntsville program are designed to nurture startups and encourage long-term community ties. The program’s director, Sierra Pena noted the city’s strong entrepreneurial support system. In addition to Doctours and Neet Sheets, local startups like Fluyo, Player Intro, and Alset Technologies are thriving. For many participants, Huntsville offers more than just business opportunities—it provides a vibrant lifestyle with attractions like Topgolf, Campus 805, and the Orion Amphitheatre.
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