(photo: 2025 Moguls in the Making winning teams with their mentors. Third Place: North Carolina A&T State University, Second Place: Hampton University, and First Place: Spelman College)
Spelman College students took top honors in the seventh annual Moguls in the Making entrepreneurial pitch competition, where 50 students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities developed innovative solutions to address economic mobility challenges in Detroit.
The winning Spelman team will be featured on “The Jennifer Hudson Show” on Sept. 25 to speak about their Moguls in the Making experience and winning idea.
The competition, held Sept. 11-14 in Detroit, was hosted by Ally Financial in collaboration with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Since its inception in 2019, nearly 400 students have participated. Ally has awarded nearly $1.5 million in scholarships and prizes through Moguls in the Making.
“Moguls in the Making provides invaluable early business experience for future leaders, offering students the opportunity to learn from experts and explore how different industries can make an impact,” said Kathie Patterson, chief human resources and corporate citizenship officer, Ally. “At Ally, we’re focused on creating brighter futures by intentionally addressing economic mobility challenges facing our communities.”
Students toured Detroit to learn about the city’s heritage, community and challenges before being assigned industries to develop business plans that supported economic mobility. This year’s program also introduced students to responsible applications of artificial intelligence to prepare them for the workforce of the future.
The weekend included motivational speeches from executives, community leaders, and mentors, along with workshops, fireside chats and career insights. Actor and HBCU graduate Terrence J spoke about how grit and determination fueled his path in entertainment.
On the final day, teams presented their plans to judges, who awarded prizes to the top three. Each student on a winning team received a scholarship for the 2025 school year and additional support for their education.
Top winners included:
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First Place: Spelman College. Each student received a $20,000 scholarship. Their idea, Prospera, creates an ecosystem to build up women-owned small businesses, framing itself as more than a fintech platform but a partner in financial well-being. Team members were Aubria King, Ca’Miyah King, Kennedy Washington, Madison Harris, and Sydney Johnson.
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Second Place: Hampton University. Each student earned a $10,000 scholarship for FuelU, a solution addressing food insecurity through meal plans at Detroit community colleges. Team members were Arthur Green, Kaleb Moore, Lynnette Smith, Symonne Brooks, and Trinity Polk.
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Third Place: North Carolina A&T State University. Each student received a $5,000 scholarship for Detroit Capital Connect, an AI-powered tool helping small businesses identify and apply for funding opportunities. Team members were Akevia Wilkerson, Bryce Ferebee, Dorian Jackson, Enioluwa Olabode, and Jakari McIver.
All other participating students received $1,000 scholarships.
“The Thurgood Marshall College Fund is incredibly proud to extend our relationship with Ally for the seventh year,” said Dr. Harry L. Williams, TMCF president and CEO. “Ally’s investment in the innovation and entrepreneurial talent at HBCUs highlights its commitment to empowering students to improve their socioeconomic standing—benefiting not only the students but also their communities.”
More than 460 students applied for this year’s competition, representing Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Howard University, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, Prairie View A&M College, and Spelman College.
Mentors and coaches from Detroit’s business community, including Ally executives, alumn,i and past participants, supported the student teams throughout the competition.
Learn more about the program at www.ally.com/moguls
