FLORENCE – The sixth Shoals Idea Audition, a Shoals Shift event supported by Innovation Sponsor Bank Independent, the Shoals Economic Development Authority, the University of North Alabama, and the Shoals Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 15. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Guillot University Center on the UNA campus and is partially funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission.
“On Oct. 15, participants will have three minutes to make their pitch,” said Mary Marshall VanSant, event organizer. “The panel of judges will be made up of local entrepreneurs who will select finalists for the final round where they will pitch in front of a different panel of judges and a larger audience to determine the winners.”
In 2018, Balance Birth Center won the event as a pioneer out-of-hospital birth option for rural communities in Alabama. Their goal is to improve Alabama birth outcomes for mothers and babies with proven, evidence-based care using Certified Nurse Midwives.
Jay Hayes, an advocate for building a remote workforce, will be the guest speakers for the Shoals Idea Audition. He has been programming professionally for more than 10 years, half of that time being completely remote. Through the years, he has developed a deep interest in software design, testing, and teaching.
Hayes works at home for Stich Fix, a personal style service. He said remote work is the perfect situation for him as it allows him to do what he loves while being close to his wife and baby boys. Last year, he presented a Ted Talk at TedX: Wilson Park, “Remotely Production.”
The Shoals Idea Audition is free and open to the public. It is designed to foster new businesses, help entrepreneurs polish their presentations, and introduce community leaders who might be instrumental in helping make these ideas a reality. For the sixth year, hopeful participants will have an opportunity to present their business ideas to a panel of area professionals, and the top scoring idea will be awarded a $5,000 cash prize, with $2,500 and $1,000 to second- and thirdplace winners, respectively.
Media Release/Michelle Eubanks
Interim Associate Director
University Communications & Marketing
UNA
