Innovation and energy filled the room as The Alabama Collective hosted the 2025 Magic City Classic Business Pitch Competition on October 23 at Iron City Birmingham. The one-day event brought together HBCU students and recent graduates from across Alabama to pitch their business ideas and compete for nearly $20,000 in cash prizes.
More than a competition, the event served as a launchpad for creativity and collaboration, offering hands-on mentorship, training sessions, and real-world feedback from industry experts.
Designed to be accessible and inclusive, the competition required no formal business plan—just a strong idea and a drive to make an impact. Participants represented industries including health and wellness, technology, food and beverage, education, finance, and agriculture, reflecting the diversity of innovation across Alabama’s HBCUs.
This year introduced an engaging booth-style pitch format, where participants presented ideas within their business category. Top scorers from each booth earned $1,000 prizes and advanced to the Pitch Finale, where finalists pitched live on stage for the top awards.
In total, nearly $20,000 in prizes were awarded to student entrepreneurs whose ideas combined creativity, clarity, and real-world potential.
Innovation and energy filled the room as The Alabama Collective hosted the 2025 Magic City Classic Business Pitch Competition on October 23 at Iron City Birmingham. The one-day event brought together HBCU students and recent graduates from across Alabama to pitch their business ideas and compete for nearly $20,000 in cash prizes.
More than a competition, the event served as a launchpad for creativity and collaboration, offering hands-on mentorship, training sessions, and real-world feedback from industry experts.
Designed to be accessible and inclusive, the competition required no formal business plan—just a strong idea and a drive to make an impact. Participants represented industries including health and wellness, technology, food and beverage, education, finance, and agriculture, reflecting the diversity of innovation across Alabama’s HBCUs.
This year introduced an engaging booth-style pitch format, where participants presented ideas within their business category. Top scorers from each booth earned $1,000 prizes and advanced to the Pitch Finale, where finalists pitched live on stage for the top awards.
In total, nearly $20,000 in prizes were awarded to student entrepreneurs whose ideas combined creativity, clarity, and real-world potential.
The Alabama Collective (TAC) is building a more inclusive, tech-driven economy across Alabama. Guided by the principles of Expose, Educate, Engage, and Empower, TAC connects talent, training, and opportunity—helping students, founders, and communities transform ideas into impact.
