Innovation, creativity, and tech excellence took center stage on April 9th as Alabama’s top HBCU student innovators gathered at Montgomery Whitewater for the highly anticipated HBCU App Build & Pitch Competition, hosted by The Alabama Collective. The event offered students hands-on experience in app development, real-world pitch training, and the chance to compete for nearly $20,000 in cash prizes.
A team of Talladega College students called Fine Print placed third out of 10 finalist teams. There was also a team from Talladega who teamed up with students from Stillman College under the name Solace AI to earn honorable mention.
This year’s competition brought together teams from across Alabama HBCUs for a full day of skill-building, mentorship, and live competition. Students participated in an Ecosystem Building Workshop, received coaching from industry professionals, and pitched fully functional applications to a distinguished panel of judges.
“The App Build & Pitch Competition is a testament to the brilliance and potential of our HBCU students,” said Charisse Stokes, executive director of The Alabama Collective. “By giving them real-world experience in app development and connecting them with tech leaders and mentors, we’re not just building apps—we’re building futures, one pitch at a time.”
After an intense round of presentations, the top 5 teams advanced to the Pitch Finale, where they showcased their applications live in front of an audience of judges, mentors, and supporters.
Other competition winners included first place team ($10,000) Mom Care from Alabama State University, second place team ($3,000) Next Up from Alabama A&M University and honorable mention team ($1,000) UBIZY from Oakwood University.
The event was made possible thanks to the generous support of Innovate Alabama and CSpire, whose commitment to tech talent development continues to fuel innovation and opportunity across the state.
What’s Next?
The Alabama Collective will continue its mission of empowering the next generation of Black tech talent and entrepreneurs through upcoming programs, including Innovation Power Hours in September 2025 and the Innovate Alabama Entrepreneurship Hackathon in January 2026.
For more information about the HBCU App Build & Pitch Competition or to learn about upcoming opportunities, visit www.thealabamacollective.com or follow The Alabama Collective on social media.
