Route Fifty | Birmingham Looks To Write New Chapter As A Tech Hub
Birmingham’s momentum as an innovation-forward city was spotlighted in a recent Route Fifty feature, titled “Birmingham Looks to Write a New Chapter as a Tech Hub,” written by Managing Editor Chris Teale following his July visit to the Magic City.
Timed with Sloss Tech — the Southeast’s premier tech conference — the piece explores Birmingham’s evolution from a steel city to a startup hub. It highlights the role of public and private leaders in leaning into innovation and building the infrastructure needed to support growth across industries like biotech, software, and advanced manufacturing.
Mayor Randall Woodfin’s vision is front and center, describing Birmingham’s determination to make good on its U.S. Tech Hub designation, even after the loss of federal grant funding earlier this year. He emphasizes that Birmingham’s transformation is about more than just technology—it’s about building a narrative where people feel they belong.
The article highlights anchor institutions such as the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Innovation Depot, and Southern Research as key players in powering the region’s biotech and innovation growth. Dr. Kathy Nugent, executive director of UAB’s Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, notes: “You can’t be a Tech Hub without a major research university at your foundation.”
The piece also features ecosystem builders like TechBirmingham, the Birmingham Business Alliance, Rev Birmingham, Ed Farm and Tech280, who are helping shape a region where anyone can build something meaningful - and scale it. They’re working to ensure Birmingham’s tech growth is inclusive, intentional and community-driven. These efforts reinforce the idea that Birmingham is not just attracting innovation but building it from within.
The article also features Birmingham founders from SmartWiz, CModel and Stella Source, all of whom are economic development projects of the Birmingham Business Alliance, who are bringing bold, industry-shaping ideas to market.
Additionally, voices like Shegun Otulana, founder of Harmony Venture Labs, recounts moving from near-zero early‑stage capital in Birmingham to building a local VC ecosystem.
Although Birmingham did not receive the $44 million federal implementation grant in the first round, the article affirms that the Tech Hub designation itself significantly elevated the city’s national profile. The city remains committed to reapplying and building toward long-term success.
The Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) was proud to support the media visit—coordinating more than 10 interviews with elected officials, founders, and community leaders—and share the story of a city with momentum, where talent, innovation, and community intersect.
“National attention like this underscores what we already know — Birmingham is building something special,” says BBA President & CEO Steve Ammons. “This story showcases the momentum we’ve worked hard to build — and reaffirms that Birmingham is not only on the map, but on the move. We have the assets, the ambition and the alignment to become a true innovation hub. Strong economies are regional economies, and our team is working every day to connect talent, resources, innovation and opportunity across the entire seven-county Birmingham region. That’s how we prepare for growth — and that’s how we’ll accelerate it.”
As the region’s lead economic development organization and chamber of commerce, the Birmingham Business Alliance drives economic growth across the seven-county Greater Birmingham region. Through strategic initiatives in business recruitment and expansion, talent development, public policy, and placemaking, the BBA works to position Birmingham as a premier destination for business and talent. Our efforts are especially focused on Birmingham’s competitive strengths — including bioscience, technology, mobility, and advanced materials — while ensuring that small businesses and legacy industries have the tools and talent needed to thrive.
From supporting media visits like this one with strategic storytelling that elevates Birmingham’s visibility, the BBA is committed to shaping a more competitive, connected, and resilient regional economy, serving as connector, catalyst, and champion for regional progress.