Acclinate has been selected for the 2021 class of the Cox Enterprises Social Impact Accelerator, powered by Techstars. Acclinate is a minority-owned, Alabama-based company that strives to achieve health equity and personalized health care for all by diversifying genomic data and clinical research.

The Social Impact Accelerator program provides virtual mentoring, funding and global connections to 10 for-profit, mission-driven companies. Acclinate is the only Alabama company to be selected for the 2021 class.

I have a passion for using business to make a positive societal impact, said Del Smith, co-founder and CEO of Acclinate. I also believe that businesses that are effective in creating that impact achieve significantly higher returns and valuations. Cox Social Impact Accelerator by Techstars provides the visibility, mentorship and access to customers to help Acclinate scale.

Cox Enterprises is a key supporter of programs designed to nurture technology startups and a founding sponsor of Techstars, an internationally recognized startup accelerator that helps entrepreneurs boost their early-stage businesses and product development efforts through education and funding.

This class gives me confidence that we can and will make this country a more equitable and inclusive place to live, said Barry Givens, managing director of Techstars Social Impact, in a press announcement about the 2021 class. We hope this class will be a shining example of the opportunities that exist to impact social justice, and will highlight the importance of supporting diverse founders who are tackling these issues.

In 2020, Techstars hosted its inaugural Techstars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator class in Birmingham, elevating Alabama as an entrepreneurial hub. The Techstars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator is supported byAlabama Power, theEconomic Development Partnership of Alabama(EDPA), theAlabama Department of Commerce,Altec,PowerSouthandthe University of Alabama.

When deciding to invest in companies that are solving century old problems rooted in systemic racism, it makes perfect sense to have companies with home bases in Alabama like Acclinate, said Givens. My hope is that while they are solving the issues with health disparities in communities of color, they will also be a shining example for the next generation of Black boys and girls to aspire change in the world through STEM and innovation.

Acclinate started in Huntsvilles HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. (contributed)

Acclinate opened a location in Birmingham in 2020. (contributed)

Acclinate is part of the Cox Social Impact Accelerator by Techstars program. (contributed)

Acclinate opened a location in Birmingham in 2020. (contributed)

Founded in 2019, Acclinate has continued to expand, with locations in Birmingham and at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville. In 2020, the company established the #NOWINCLUDED program, which is dedicated to spreading knowledge about health care disparities for people of color and encouraging a diverse population to be included in medical research so the results reflect and can protect all people.

I am, of course, excited for what acceptance into the program means for our company, now and in the future, said Tiffany Whitlow, co-founder and chief development officer. Im even more excited as I look forward to what it will allow us to accomplish in the communities we seek to serve. Working with the other founders who were chosen to participate in the 2021 Social Impact Accelerator places invaluable mentorship and collaboration at our front door. We are ready for whats next and encourage everyone to join the #NOWINCLUDED community.

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Alabama-based Acclinate selected for international investment, innovation program - Alabama NewsCenter