Cahaba Fire Company cofounders Ryan King and Ben Horton are in the business of saving lives through fire equipment and plan to expand that business using the $25,000 check they recently received as the Cycle 1 winners of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama’s (EDPA) Launchpad program.

This program, funded by Innovate Alabama, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, the Alabama Department of Commerce, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Caring Foundation, Truist Bank, The University of Alabama, Auburn University, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the Daniel Corporation Foundation, is the state’s longest running business plan and pitch competition according to an EDPA press release.

Each cycle the program selects one or two startups to receive funding after an application process that involves one on one advising and a pitch meeting.

Trussville’s Cahaba Fire Company, one of two startups selected for funding this cycle, got its start in 2021 after King, a decade long Birmingham area firefighter, noticed a serious lack of multiuse equipment that allowed him to rescue more people using less resources, something that he said is becoming more and more of a necessity with today’s workforce.

“There is an increasing personnel shortage for fire fighters and police officers all over the country.” King said. “Consequently, first responders have to do-more with less.”