The 2023-2024 Innovate Alabama Entrepreneurship Hackathon was held on January 10, 2024 and spotlighted the brightest minds in rural innovation from Alabama’s colleges and universities. It was hosted in collaboration with several key organizations: Innovate Alabama, The Alabama Collective, the University of Alabama Birmingham, Montgomery Tech Lab, The Alabama Power Foundation, Shipt, and the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE). The Hackathon was a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of young entrepreneurs dedicated to transforming Alabama’s rural landscape. Thank you to all participants and congratulations to the winners!
Celebrating the Winners
🥇First Place: Producers Pantry (University of Alabama at Birmingham)
– Team Members: Jaival Vikal, Shiva Gupta, William Rainer, Hrishikesh Vikram, and Alp Turgut
🥈Second Place: E2 Connect (University of Alabama at Birmingham)
– Team Member: Gaurav Rathi
🥉Third Place: Noble Advantage (Alabama A&M University)
– Team Members: Tapiwa Musinga, Tatenda Joseph, Thabo Ibrahim Traore, and Sunday Ochigbo
Insights from Leaders
Reflecting on the event, Charisse Stokes remarked, “This Hackathon has brilliantly showcased the power of collaboration and innovation in addressing the unique challenges of rural Alabama. I am immensely proud of what these young entrepreneurs have achieved and am excited about the potential impact of their ventures on our communities.”
Gratitude to the Panelists and Facilitators
A heartfelt thank you to our distinguished panel: Alex Cox, Alex Linn, Hudson Hollister, Matt Jaeh, Kellie Clark, Miller Girvin, Benzamin Choi, and Matt Hottle, whose expertise and insights were invaluable in guiding this competition to its successful conclusion.
Looking Forward
The Alabama Collective is proud to have been the conduit for such groundbreaking ideas and collaborations. As we reflect on the success of this event, we look forward to continuing our support for rural innovation and entrepreneurship in Alabama.
