The Alabama Collective’s impactful weekend at the 2024 Magic City Classic was a vibrant celebration of innovation, collaboration, and community empowerment. The series of events began with the GovTech Networking Social and concluded with a memorable Blacks in Tech Send-Off Reception, showcasing The Alabama Collective’s mission to uplift Alabama’s HBCU talent and foster connections in tech and entrepreneurship.
The GovTech Networking Social was co-hosted by The Alabama Collective and The Fearless Institute. This event united over 70 GovTech professionals, HBCU alumni, and community leaders committed to advancing diversity in technology and government.
A major highlight of the week was the HBCU Magic City Classic Pitch Competition, which brought together 40 teams from 10 Alabama HBCUs to showcase their entrepreneurial ideas. Ten teams advanced to participate in the in-person Pitch Training Workshop and preliminary rounds at Innovation Depot on October 24. The top five teams moved on to the Pitch Finale at Top Golf Birmingham on October 25.
In partnership with RCX Sports Foundation, Microsoft, and the CXMMUNITY Foundation, the HBCU Esports Tournament was hosted drawing competitive HBCU students eager to showcase their gaming skills. The RCX Sports Foundation provided the platform and structure for the event, with Microsoft and CXMMUNITY Foundation adding support to enhance the tournament experience.
The weekend concluded with the Blacks in Tech Send-Off Reception, a special event celebrating the achievements of the HBCU Business Pitch Competition participants. This gathering was more than a farewell; it was a moment to honor the collective growth, ambition, and resilience of these talented students and alumni. Judges, mentors, and industry partners gathered to congratulate participants and encourage them to continue pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams within the tech and innovation sectors. The Blacks in Tech event emphasized The Alabama Collective’s ongoing commitment to creating a strong community of Black tech professionals and innovators, ready to make a significant impact.
Appreciation and Special Thanks
The Alabama Collective’s 2024 Magic City Classic weekend exemplified its commitment to supporting and elevating Alabama’s HBCU community. Special thanks go to Innovate Alabama, Fearless, RCX Sports Foundation, Microsoft, CXMMUNITY Foundation, Talladega College, TechBirmingham, and all other sponsors, judges, mentors, and volunteers whose contributions made this impactful weekend possible. We look forward to future events that will continue to empower and inspire HBCU talent in tech and entrepreneurship across Alabama.
Read more about the respective events here: Highlights from MCC
