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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.

Register to attend the live pitch finale event on 4/10!

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 Finale
    Rosa Parks Musuem
    Montgomery, AL
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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

🥉3rd Place

$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

Current undergraduate and graduate students from Alabama Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are eligible to participate. Students from all years of study are encouraged to apply.

FACULTY AND STAFF

Faculty members and staff currently employed by an Alabama HBCU are also welcome to participate. 

 

ALUMNI

Alumni who have completed their undergraduate or graduate degree from an Alabama HBCU no earlier than 2020 are eligible to participate. This means that alumni who graduated in 2020 or later can take part in the competition.

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

The HBCU App Build & Pitch Competition is designed to harness the creativity, collaboration, and growth potential within the HBCU community.

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
We are dedicated to empowering HBCU students, alumni, faculty, and staff, propelling their innovative aspirations to new heights. We aim to instill confidence and nurture a culture of innovation within the HBCU community.
BUILD NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
Our competition serves as a dynamic networking nexus for HBCU innovators. Participants have the opportunity to form collaborations, share insights, and establish partnerships that can accelerate their ventures.
SHOWCASE DIVERSE TALENTS
HBCUs boast a rich diversity of perspectives and talent. This competition endeavors to spotlight the multifaceted talents within the HBCU community and illustrate their capacity to make significant contributions to the broader tech, innovation and entrepreneurial landscape.
PROMOTE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
Our aim is to contribute to the economic empowerment of the HBCU community. By nurturing and bolstering HBCU-owned enterprises, we aspire to create sustainable economic opportunities and catalyze positive socio-economic impact.

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