Building Entrepreneurship Skills and Talent for New and Established Ventures. The Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute (AEI) was founded to promote and support entrepreneurship at The University of Alabama. AEI helps connect innovators and entrepreneurs to resources and opportunities. AEI delivers learning to help the UA larger community of students, faculty, community members, alumni, and staff. Programs run by AEI help individuals learn how to move from an idea to creating a new venture. AEI also helps accelerate growth and innovation in both new and established organizations. AEI provides students with unique opportunities to move beyond the classroom and learn by doing. AEI sponsors annual pitch events (3-minute new business idea pitches), student business plan competitions, workshops, networking events and the summer Crimson Entrepreneurship Academy (pre-accelerator). The work also includes helping sponsor the annual faculty / staff competition at UA as well as the annual Tuscaloosa Community Innovation (business plan) Competition. AEI is in the business of creating new knowledge. Our professors and colleagues are working on cutting-edge research, with an focus on entrepreneurial growth. That research creates new knowledge that we transform into tools and other learning programs for our stakeholders. who are lifelong learners. AEI is located at The EDGE, which is Tuscaloosa's incubator and accelerator. The EDGE provides space for innovators and entrepreneurs to network, learn and launch their businesses. With 20 offices, co-working membership and rental space available for events, the EDGE brings innovators and leaders together. The EDGE is a partnership with the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce and the City of Tuscaloosa. The Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute is WHERE ENTREPRENEURIAL LEGENDS ARE MADE. Come start your story with us. CONTACT US: Dr. Theresa M. Welbourne – AEI Executive Director