App Build & Pitch Competition
Calling all Alabama HBCU students, staff, faculty and recent graduates! Showcase your creativity and tech prowess for a chance to win $15,000 worth of cash prizes.
The Spring 2024 application deadline has passed.
About the Event
The App Build & Pitch Competition is an opportunity for HBCU Students, Faculty, Staff, and Alumni teams to showcase their creativity and tech prowess for key stakeholders, investors and possible employers. Our competition invites HBCU students, alumni, faculty, and staff to shine a spotlight on their software application development skills, cultivate practical skills, and vie for resources that can transform their ideas into tangible realities.
Upcoming Dates
- Wednesday, April 10th Pitch Night FinaleRosa Parks MusuemMontgomery, AL
Watch the Info Session
Before you submit your video application, watch our brief informational video to learn about competition rules, FAQ’s, and best practices! This step is crucial for success; many high-performing participants benefit from understanding the competition’s fundamentals beforehand.
The Awards
🥇1st Place
$10K
🥈2nd Place
$3K
$2K
Following all pitch presentations, the judges will deliberate thoughtfully to select the winners. The judging criteria will encompass factors such as impact, creativity, complexity, work product and quality delivery of presentation.
Eligibility Criteria
STUDENTS
FACULTY AND STAFF
Faculty members and staff currently employed by an Alabama HBCU are also welcome to participate.
ALUMNI
APPLICATION
Participants can submit working applications spanning a wide range of industries, including social entrepreneurship, healthcare, education, cybersecurity, retail, hospitality, etc. The focus is on fostering innovation within the HBCU community.
Application Process
Please note that all participants must adhere to the specified application deadline. You must submit your 5-minute video pitches by 7:00 PM on Friday, April 4, 2024. The application deadline for the Spring 2024 App Build & Pitch Competition has now passed. Thank you for your interests!
Competition Process
EVALUATION
A panel of esteemed judges will rigorously assess the quality of the application demonstrated, the clarity of the pitch, and the innovation and feasibility of the idea. Click here to view the judging criteria.
From the pool of applicants, the judges will meticulously curate a selection of 5 finalists who will be announced at the Pitch Night Finale on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 6PM.
FINAL PITCH EVENT
During our live event on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 in Montgomery, AL, top finalists will pitch their applications in person to a distinguished panel of judges. Each finalist will have a designated time slot to present their application, articulate its value proposition, and respond to queries from the judges. All applicants are invited to attend Pitch Night. Finalists are required to arrive by 3PM.
WINNER SELECTION
Following the finalists pitch presentations, the judges will deliberate thoughtfully to select the winners.
The judging criteria will encompass factors such as innovation, impact, creativity and the overall quality of the pitch. Click here to view the video pitch judging criteria
Competition Objectives
EMPOWER HBCU INNOVATORS
BUILD NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
SHOWCASE DIVERSE TALENTS
PROMOTE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
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