The Alabama Collective convened some of the most ambitious student innovators from across Alabama for the 2026 Innovate Alabama Entrepreneurship Hackathon, held Thursday, January 29, at Fairway Social in Birmingham.
This high‑impact, full‑day experience immersed students in entrepreneurship training, hands‑on problem‑solving, mentorship, and a competitive pitch showcase — culminating in nearly $20,000 in cash prizes awarded to aspiring founders ready to turn concepts into companies.
“This hackathon is about more than pitching — it’s about equipping the next generation with the tools, confidence, and connections to lead Alabama’s innovation economy,” said Charisse Stokes, Executive Director of The Alabama Collective. “Students walked away not only with funding, but with momentum and community behind them.”
Teams representing Alabama’s colleges and universities tackled public safety challenges spanning emergency response, domestic violence and even cybersecurity to name a few. After an intensive day of development and coaching, finalists presented live before a panel of judges, community leaders, and industry partners.
This year’s hackathon kicked off with more than 30 submissions in Round 1. After an initial review, the pool was narrowed to the Top 10 teams invited to compete in Round 2 at Fairway Social in Birmingham. From there, our panel of professional judges selected the Top 5, who advanced to showcase their ventures during the Network Reception & Pitch Finale.
2026 Pitch Competition Winners
1st Place ($10,000 + Venture Mentoring): RantiAI — Alabama A&M University
An AI‑powered operations assistant designed for small and medium‑sized enterprises. RantiAI helps businesses stay compliant, improve workplace safety, and train employees using simple WhatsApp and SMS tools that deliver instant assessments, clear guidance, and real‑time risk visibility.
2nd Place ($3,000): Sentinel Sync — Oakwood University
An AI‑assisted interoperability platform connecting Police, Fire, EMS, and Dispatch systems. Sentinel Sync enables agencies to correlate incidents, detect patterns faster, and improve operational coordination during emergencies.
3rd Place ($2,000): Team Mesh — Talladega College
A unified, AI‑powered data layer that brings Fire, Police, EMS, 911, hospitals, transit, and emergency management onto a single real‑time network, strengthening regional response and life‑saving information sharing.
Honorable Mentions
KARD Innovative — Talladega College
Vault Sure — Alabama A&M University
Thanks to Our Sponsors
The 2026 Entrepreneurship Hackathon was made possible through the support of dedicated judges, mentors, speakers, trainers, sponsors and partners; Innovate Alabama and the Alabama Power Foundation — whose continued investment fuels opportunity, access, and entrepreneurial growth statewide. Thank you for helping empower the next generation of Alabama founders.
About The Alabama Collective
The Alabama Collective is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating tech talent and entrepreneurs across Alabama. Through partnerships with HBCUs, industry leaders, and innovation hubs, The Alabama Collective builds programs that expose, educate, engage, and empower underrepresented communities in tech, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
The Sights and Scenes!
