Entrepreneurs from historically Black colleges and universities across Alabama competed for $20,000 in cash prizes during the 2026 HBCU Business Pitch Competition, held Oct. 29 at Topgolf Birmingham as part of Magic City Classic week.

Hosted by The Alabama Collective in partnership with Digitalundivided, the event brought together 51 student and alumni entrepreneurs representing 10 Alabama institutions to pitch their business ideas to industry judges and showcase the entrepreneurial talent emerging from the state’s HBCUs.

Bryson Hannah of Alabama A&M University earned the competition’s $4,000 first-place prize for Internably LLC, a networking platform designed to connect college students, interns and early-career professionals based on their companies, schools, cities, and career interests. Fellow Alabama A&M founders rounded out the top three, with FuelTrip taking second place and $3,000, followed by NexU in third with $2,000.

“What we witnessed at this year’s competition was a powerful reminder of the incredible talent, creativity, and entrepreneurial potential emerging from Alabama’s HBCUs,” said Charisse Stokes, executive director of The Alabama Collective. “These 51 founders didn’t just show up with ideas — they showed up with vision, determination, and the confidence to turn those ideas into businesses.”

The competition used a booth-style format that gave participants three minutes to present their business concepts without slides or audiovisual materials, followed by three minutes of questions from industry judges. The highest-scoring founders at each booth received $1,000 and advanced to a live final round.

In all, 10 businesses earned booth-level awards, including ventures representing Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Talladega College and Trenholm State Community College.

While the competition provided an opportunity for founders to secure funding and gain exposure, organizers also expanded this year’s event to offer additional business development resources.

Through a partnership with Digitalundivided, selected entrepreneurs participated in START, a three-week virtual business incubator designed to help early-stage founders turn their ideas into viable business models. Participants received training based on Lean Startup methodology, developed a Business Model Canvas, and earned an automatic spot in the competition’s opening round. Those who completed the program also received a $250 stipend.

Other eligible participants, including HBCU students, recent graduates, faculty, and staff, entered the competition through a separate track.

“We’re especially proud that this year’s partnership with Digitalundivided allowed us to expand beyond the competition itself, equipping entrepreneurs with practical skills, mentorship, and connections that will serve them long after the prizes are awarded,” Stokes said.

The event also included entrepreneurship training, small-group mentoring sessions with industry leaders, and a lunch-and-learn discussion, giving participants opportunities to develop their business concepts and connect with experienced professionals.

Modupe Rouse, chair of Digitalundivided and a judge for the final round, praised the founders for both their ideas and their strategies for bringing products and services to market.

“I was blown away by these innovative business ideas and the go-to-market strategies,” Rouse said. “These student founders took the START program skills and leveled up.”

The Alabama Collective is a statewide nonprofit focused on expanding opportunities in technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation through partnerships with HBCUs, industry leaders, and other organizations.

The 2026 competition was supported by JPMorgan Chase, HBCU CARES and Nebius.