Philander Smith University and Southern University students claimed top honors at the sixth annual Moguls in the Making entrepreneurial pitch competition, where 50 students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) crafted innovative solutions to address economic mobility challenges in Detroit. Held from October 2-6, the competition was hosted by Ally Financial in collaboration with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), the largest organization representing the Black college community. This year’s event took place at The Icon building in Detroit, home to Pensole Lewis College, the state’s only HBCU and the nation’s only design-focused HBCU.
As part of the competition, the students got a surprise early in the week, courtesy of The Jennifer Hudson Show. Viewers can tune in on October 25 to see the special moment unfold.
“These Moguls stand out among their peers—they’re eager to learn, explore career paths, and make a meaningful impact in their communities,” said Reggie Willis, Chief Diversity Officer at Ally. “They bring fresh, insightful ideas to their pitches, and it’s inspiring to see their growth over just a few short days.”
Fifty students—organized into 10 teams—toured Detroit and visited Ally’s headquarters, learning about the city’s rich history and the challenges it faces. Stops included Orchestra Hall, the Motown Museum, and the Detroit Pizza Bar. Each team was assigned an industry and tasked with developing a concept to improve economic mobility in Detroit. From there, they created business plans to bring their ideas to life.
The five-day program also featured motivational speeches from Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, along with workshops, fireside chats, and mentorship sessions. On the final day, the students presented their business plans to a panel of judges, who awarded prizes to the top four teams. The students on those teams received scholarships for the 2025 school year, guaranteed paid internships at Ally in the summer of 2025, and additional educational support.
Top Teams and Pitch Concepts
- First Place Tie: Philander Smith University and Southern University
- Philander Smith University students took top honors with their project, Little Genius, an AI-powered platform for K-5 students that enhances literacy, numeracy, and science through personalized learning. The platform tailors unique learning pathways for each student and includes interactive assessments with voice recognition and offline capabilities.
- Southern University and A&M College developed Electric Meets Opportunity, an app that provides low-income communities with affordable access to clean energy vehicles, helping users reach essential destinations like work and healthcare.
- Second Place: Hampton University
- Their project, Gov On the Go, addressed the lack of access to public services in underserved Detroit communities by creating personalized pathways and success tracking to reduce poverty and boost economic mobility.
- Third Place: Spelman College
- The D.O.P.E. Initiative proposed creating a credit union focused on providing access to capital for historically underserved residents in Detroit’s housing market.
Each student from the top teams received a scholarship, with the first-place winners awarded $20,000 each, second-place students receiving $10,000, and third-place students earning $5,000. All other participants received $1,000 scholarships for their efforts.
TMCF President and CEO Harry L. Williams expressed pride in the continued partnership with Ally, noting, “Ally’s investment in HBCU students highlights their commitment to empowering future leaders to uplift their communities and society.”
Since 2019, more than 300 students have participated in the Moguls in the Making program. Ally has awarded over $1 million in scholarships and prizes and hired numerous past participants as interns and full-time employees across various roles, including technology, marketing, and corporate services.
The competition saw over 600 applicants from 52 schools, with participating teams coming from institutions such as Elizabeth City State University, Florida A&M University, Howard University, North Carolina A&T, and more. Mentors, including Ally executives and HBCU alumni, provided guidance and support to the students throughout the event.
Learn more about the program at www.ally.com/moguls.
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