Innovation Portal Set to Open, Taking Applications

Innovation Portal is a nonprofit incubator and innovation hub accelerating startup growth in southwest Alabama and the central Gulf Coast. The program provides a growth-focused space and community for entrepreneurs, innovators and creatives to connect and is set to open this month at 358 St. Louis Street in Mobile, BusinessAlabama recently reported. The 30,000-ft2 building’s renovation and new construction by Rogers & Willard features 4,500 ft2 of community workspace, 20 startup offices, five conference rooms, two classrooms and two outdoor courtyards. In addition, 10,000 ft2 is dedicated to long-term lease tenants with the option to customize. Designed to be the center of entrepreneurial activity in the region, encouraging collaboration and innovation between startup founders and the community, the program is also taking applications for its inaugural Portal Fund, a 501(c)3 investment fund for early-stage, high-growth Mobile-based ventures through September.