Have an AI idea? This is where it becomes something real.
Program Overview
The Heersink AI Founders Club is a collaborative innovation community within the Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation where UAB students and faculty transform early ideas into high-impact AI and biomedical solutions. Through faculty mentorship, peer collaboration, and structured support from ideation to commercialization, participants develop the tools, network, and entrepreneurial mindset to move from a problem worth solving to a solution worth scaling.
No startup required. No prototype required.
Just bring the idea.
Who Should Join
- UAB Students disciplines with ideas at the intersection of AI and healthcare
- Faculty researchers ready to move discoveries toward real-world application
- Early-stage founders with a prototype seeking structured mentor support
- Anyone with a healthcare problem and the drive to solve it
What Happens After You Submit
Your idea is reviewed confidentially by program faculty and experts. Selected participants are paired with a dedicated faculty mentor and begin a structured development journey through the AI Founders Club. The strongest ideas advance toward investor-facing pitch opportunities and full commercialization support.
The Innovation Portal
The AI Founders Club portal is your starting point. Submit your idea, get matched with a faculty mentor, and begin the journey from concept to commercialization.
New to the portal? Register using your uabmc.edu or uab.edu email address.
Already registered but can’t log in? Use the “Forgot Password” option to reset your credentials.
Your Journey: From Idea to Commercialization
Stage 1:
Submit
Describe your AI or biomedical innovation idea through the portal. All submissions are reviewed confidentially by program faculty and evaluated for mentor fit.
Stage 2:
Mentor Pairing
Selected ideas are matched with a UAB faculty mentor with relevant expertise. Your mentor works alongside you to validate the concept and build a development roadmap.
Stage 3:
Develop
With your mentor’s guidance, move from idea to structured solution. Gain access to business development support, market validation resources, and the UAB AI innovation network.
Stage 4:
Refine
Sharpen your solution through pitch training, business planning, and ongoing mentor feedback. Prepare your idea for real-world application and investor-ready presentation.
Stage 5:
Launch
Selected finalists pitch refined solutions to investors, corporations, and strategic partners. Top projects join a prestigious community of UAB innovators with ongoing program support.
What You Unlock
Mentorship: Equity-free strategic guidance tailored to your solution and stage
UAB Network Access: Connections to funding, partnerships, and local and international institutions
Pitch Training: Coaching to refine and present your investment proposition
Infrastructure Access Priority access to innovation tools and research resources to build and test your solution
Peer Learning: Founder-to-founder collaboration with fellow AI innovators
Business Development Support: Guidance on sales, marketing, and market fit
Financial Support: Up to $1,500 per project to cover travel and accommodation for program events
Community Recognition: Visibility and ongoing support within the UAB AI ecosystem
Selection and Timeline
How We Evaluate Ideas
- Innovation: Is it transformative?
- Market: Is there a potential to impact?
- Scalability: Efficient growth opportunity
- Risk Level: Can risks be mitigated
- Team: Are to drive to carry it forward?
- Feasibility: Is your vision practical?
- Investment: What is the return potential?
- Strategic Fit: Alignment with our mission
Key Dates
PORTAL SUBMISSIONS DUE
Aug. 1
DECISIONS COMMUNICATED
Sept. 1
All applicants receive feedback regardless of selection outcome.
FAQs
Is the program free?
Yes. The Heersink AI Founders Club is free of charge for all participants.
Do I need an existing startup or prototype to participate?
No. The portal welcomes anyone at UAB with an early AI or biomedical innovation idea. A concept and a problem worth solving are enough to get started.
How is my idea protected?
All portal submissions are reviewed confidentially. Your idea is shared with a wider audience only upon evaluation and with your consent.
Is participation in person or virtual?
Program training is a mix of online and in-person sessions. Some events require physical presence in Birmingham.
What can I expect as an outcome?
Participants who advance through the program gain tailored mentorship, strategic guidance, investor access, enhanced visibility within the UAB AI ecosystem, and a community of fellow innovators.
What types of AI technologies does the program focus on?
The AI Founders Club is designed for innovations across a range of AI disciplines, including Data-Centric AI, Generative AI, Prompt Engineering, Multiagent Systems, AI TRiSM (Trust, Risk, and Security Management), and General Artificial Intelligence. If your idea sits at the intersection of any of these areas and healthcare, you are encouraged to apply.
Does my project need to be at a specific stage?
Applicants working with a prototype or MVP and targeting pre-seed or seed fundraising are well positioned for the program. If you are earlier in the process, submitting through the portal is still the right starting point. A faculty mentor can help you assess your readiness and build toward that stage.
How thorough is the review process?
Each submission is evaluated by at least three independent external experts, each assessing proposals against the program's full criteria. Experts then convene for a Review Gate, where they discuss each application collectively and assign a consensus score. Based on those results, some applicants may be invited for a due diligence interview before final selections are made.
What does support look like after selection?
Selected participants receive self-paced, tailored support through the end of the program year. This includes strategic mentorship, business development and market fit guidance, and pitch and persuasion training. Finalists also have the opportunity to present their refined solutions to a broader audience of investors, corporations, and strategic partners.
How do I get started?
Submit your idea through the portal using your uabmc.edu or uab.edu email. Questions? Email mhibi@uab.edu and we will set up a meeting.