Riding to Success: Rocket City Electric Bike Rentals Wins Launch Tank Competition Alongside Seven Other Innovative Startups
We are doing it!
We are helping make small business owners’ dreams come true through continued collaboration and entrepreneurial efforts.
The community was all in during this year’s Launch Tank competition at Athens State University.
The eight finalists, all with a dream of growing their young, start-up companies, got on stage pitching their unique business ideas to audience members and a panel of judges.
After all the pitches concluded, Rocket City Electric Bike Rentals emerged victorious and went home with the grand prize of $5,000.
Nathan Tucker and Ash Moorer, founders of Rocket City Electric Bike Rentals, impressed the judges with their innovative approach to bike rentals. The startup offers electric bikes that are made for exploring the city, getting exercise, or commuting to work. Unlike many traditional bike rental services, Rocket City Electric Bike Rentals’ bikes are easy to use and require little effort to pedal.
It won’t be long until you start seeing Tucker and Moorer’s bike hubs along the Singing River Trail.
The other seven entrepreneurs are also on their way to making the Tennessee Valley a better place. Each finalist was awarded a cash prize to help them follow their passions.
Jonathan Fowler of Fow Wow Designs took second place and won $4,000 for his wacky T-shirt designs.
Zenovia Stephens with Black Kids Adventures came in third place and took home $3,000. Her business is focusing on establishing a community where black and brown kids can get more involved in nature and outdoor activities.
In fourth place was Chris Soileau with River Elf who won $2,500 for his replacing plastics with composite materials to build kayaks.
Mimi Little of Be Gathered Rentals came in fifth place, winning $2,000 for her elegant vintage event furnishings.
The sixth-place finalist, Emile Hughes with Ride Resorts Benefit, was awarded $1,500. His company uses North Alabama’s natural surroundings to build trails for more challenging mountain bike ventures.
In seventh and eighth place, winning $1,000 each, were Courtney Greene with Greene Books, a mobile and pop-up library concept, and InTerra LLC whose SmarTarget GPS system uses drone photogrammetry to create topographic land models for surveyors.
The success of the 2023 Launch Tank competition is a testament to the power of regional collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
We are proud of the eight local entrepreneurs who are now poised for even greater success in the future.
Congratulations to Rocket City Electric Bike Rentals and all the other startups that participated in the competition!