A Burgeoning Innovation Ecosystem Preparing for Tomorrow

Hoover has an emerging innovation ecosystem that is being energized by scaling tech firms, an educated talent pool, and access to world class research assets such as the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Today some of Hoover’s largest employers are homegrown innovation success stories such as companies like McLeod Software, BioHorizons, and BioCryst. Each of these companies started as an idea by a newcomer to Hoover and now employ hundreds of people. 

Homegrown Success Stories

McLeod Software was founded in 1985 by Tom McLeod, this transportation software company has grown to over 500 employees and is now the Birmingham-Hoover Region’s largest software development company.

BioHorizons was founded through research conducted at UAB in 1994, BioHorizons is now one of the largest dental impact companies in the world and has a presence in 90 countries.

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals was founded as a spin-off of UAB research in 1986, BioCryst is a commercial-stage biotech company that focuses on oral drugs for rare and serious diseases. The company’s Discovery Center of Excellence is located in Hoover. 

Lake Homes Realty was founded in 2009, Lake Home Realty is the nation’s largest lake-focused real estate company. As a tech-enabled full-service brokerage, Lake Homes Realty has been named one of the country’s fastest growing companies by Inc. Magazine, appearing on “Inc 5000” for the last five consecutive years.

Innovation Assets Changing the Game

The National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI) is a state-of-the-art, 40,000 square foot facility located in Hoover, Alabama. This innovative facility is the nation’s premier law enforcement training facility in cyber and electronic crime forensics. The NCFI seeks to educate state, local, tribal, territorial law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judges in the continually evolving cyber and electronic crime related threats, and educate, train and equip them with the tools necessary for forensic examinations to combat those crimes.

The Riverchase Career Connection Center (RC3) is a modern career training facility opened by Hoover City Schools in 2019. Featuring five career academies, the center features a high-tech simulated workspace. The Cyber Innovation Academy trains high school students in the areas of Database Design, Network Systems, Programming, and Software Development.