Innovate Alabama Entrepreneurship Hackathon (United States)

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.

Event Theme

• The 2023-2024 Innovate Alabama Entrepreneurship Hackathon is aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by rural entrepreneurs 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 economic development.

Key Event Details

• Intensive Online Entrepreneurship Workshop for Admitted Teams (November 28)
  • This comprehensive online workshop designed for Admitted Teams Only will kickstart your entrepreneurial journey. Teams will be equipped with the essential tools and knowledge needed for success in this competition. They’ll unveil the Hackathon problem at the end of the workshop.
• Hackathon Period (November 28 – December 20)
  • 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, 2023 – 11:59pm
• The Entrepreneurial Exchange Roundtable/5- Finalist Announcement & Pitch Prep (January 10 – 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM)
• To enhance your entrepreneurial journey all teams are required to participate in The Entrepreneurial Exchange Roundtable.  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.
• The day includes mentoring sessions, lunch, pitch preparation, the announcement of the 5 Finalist Teams, and a networking dinner. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with Alabama’s entrepreneurial community and ignite your entrepreneurial spirit!
• The five finalists will have a one-hour mentoring session called “Pitch Perfect,” led by experts in Business Pitching. Afterward, they will be given two hours to prepare and practice their in-person pitch presentations, with no video presentations allowed.
• Innovate Alabama Entrepreneurship Hackathon (January 10 – 6:00pm)
  • As part of the US Association of Small Business Entrepreneurs Conference 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.

For more information, visit The Alabama Collective.