Rural Innovation Shines at the 2024-2025 Innovate Alabama Entrepreneurship Hackathon
Innovation Depot in Birmingham came alive on January 29, 2025, as college students from across Alabama gathered to tackle rural challenges. The energy was unmatched, and the ideas were transformative.
Empowering Rural Communities
This year’s hackathon centered on addressing critical challenges in Alabama’s rural areas, such as limited access to STEM resources, the digital divide, and the lack of mentorship for youth in communities with populations under 50,000. Students tackled these issues head-on with innovative, actionable solutions aimed at creating lasting change.
Event Highlights
The day began with the Entrepreneurial Exchange Workshop, where participants engaged in expert-led discussions, received valuable mentorship, and refined their venture plans. The Top 10 teams advanced to the Pitch Finale, where the Top 5 delivered electrifying presentations to a panel of esteemed judges.
Celebrating the Winners
The event concluded with a celebration of innovation and impact, as the winners of the hackathon were announced. These teams walked away with a share of the $17,000 prize pool and ongoing mentorship to scale their ideas:
🥇 First Place ($10,000): The Rising Legends Program from University of Alabama
🥈 Second Place ($3,000): PlaySmart from Alabama A&M University
🥉 Third Place ($2,000): BamaPath from Alabama A&M University
🏅 Honorable Mentions ($1,000 each):
- STEM-STREAM from Alabama A&M University
- STEM-ED from Alabama State University
