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Welcome to the Innovate Alabama Entrepreneurship Hackathon: Unlock Your Entrepreneurial Potential!

Are you a college student with a burning passion for entrepreneurship? We’re excited to share an incredible opportunity with you. The 2024-2025 Innovate Alabama Entrepreneurship Hackathon is a chance to unleash your entrepreneurial spirit, bring visionary ideas to life, make an impact on our state, and compete for $15,000 in cash prizes, plus additional grant funding and mentorship to implement your innovative idea!

If you are not yet an entrepreneur, or don’t even have an entrepreneurial idea, that’s okay – you should still participate. You’ll get to work on a real-world problem as part of a small entrepreneurial team, expand your network, and gain valuable knowledge. This overall experience will prepare you for your own future entrepreneurial endeavors.

Registration is OPEN NOW!
Application to Compete Deadline: November 30, 2024 11:59pm.

REGISTER

Mark These Dates

Intent to Compete Due

Nov. 30
Before 11:59pm

Apply Now

Mandatory Info Session

December 2
Live Online Event

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Hackathon Period

December 2 – 20
Solution Build w/ Mentoring

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Hackathon

January 29
Workshop & Finale

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Event Theme

The 2024-2025 Innovate Alabama Entrepreneurship Hackathon is aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by rural youth in Alabama. The goal is to identify and create innovative solutions that not only help the selected community but also have the potential to benefit other rural areas across the state. Participants will work on crafting a venture plan that is self-sustainable, impactful, and creative, ultimately contributing to rural education and workforce development.

Who Should Participate

  • Students from Alabama’s Colleges and Universities who share a passion for entrepreneurship.  

  • Team size must not exceed four members, and all participants must be current undergraduate or graduate students at the time of application.

  • No prior entrepreneurial experience is necessary—this competition serves as a gateway to acquiring valuable collaborative and competitive skills in the entrepreneurial realm.

The Awards

🥇1st Place

$10,000

🥈2nd Place

$3,000

🥉3rd Place

$2,000

Unlock Your Entrepreneurial Potential

Don’t let this incredible opportunity slip away. Join us in an event that will leave a lasting impact on our great state. Empower your students to dream big, innovate, and compete, all while contributing to the growth of entrepreneurship in Alabama. Join us on this entrepreneurial adventure, and together, let’s shape the future!

Click Here to Apply

Questions Email:  [email protected]

Mandatory Info Session

Intensive Online Entrepreneurship Workshop for Admitted Teams
(December 2nd)

This comprehensive online workshop designed for participants will kickstart your entrepreneurial journey. Teams will be equipped with the essential tools and knowledge needed for success in this competition. We’ll unveil the Hackathon problem at the end of the workshop.

Hackathon Period

(December 2nd – 20th)

Dive headfirst into the exhilarating world of entrepreneurship. Work on your solution with virtual access to a team of mentors throughout the month.

Video pitches must be submitted by December 20, 2024 – 11:59pm.

Hackathon

The Entrepreneurial Exchange Workshop/5- Finalist Announcement & Pitch Prep
(January 29 – 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM)

The day includes mentoring sessions, lunch, pitch preparation, the announcement of the 5 Finalist Teams, and a networking reception. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with Alabama’s entrepreneurial community and ignite your entrepreneurial spirit!

To enhance your entrepreneurial journey all teams are required to participate in The Entrepreneurial Exchange Workshop.  The Entrepreneurial Exchange is a full-day event packed with insightful panel discussions and networking opportunities. The event is divided into three panels:

  • “Unleashing the Entrepreneurial Spirit – Real Stories, Real Success”: Featuring successful entrepreneurs, this panel discusses their journeys, emphasizing the role of mentors. 

  • “Fueling Your Future: Alabama’s Dynamic Startup Scene”: Examining Alabama’s startup ecosystem, this panel explores the significance of startup hubs and incubators. 

  • “Investor’s Gold: Truly Investable Ideas”: This panel delves into the secrets behind investable ideas.
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Five finalists will be announced, and they will have a one-hour mentoring session called “Pitch Perfect,” led by experts in Business Pitching. Afterward, they will be given time to prepare and practice their in-person pitch presentations, with no video presentations allowed.

Innovate Alabama Entrepreneurship Hackathon
(January 29 – 6:00pm)

As part of the Minority Serving Institution Summit at the BJCC, the finalists will present their pitches to both a live audience and a judging panel. The winning team will be awarded a $10,000 cash prize, in addition to grant funding and mentoring to support the growth of their entrepreneurial project. The second-place team will receive a $3,000 cash prize, while the third-place team will be granted a $2,000 cash prize.