HBCU Students

Our program consists of over 100+ HBCU students from throughout the country working together to solve city problems.

Participating HBCUs:

  • Grambling University

  • Dillard University

  • Fisk University

  • Bethune-Cookman University

  • Philander Smith College

  • Alabama A&M University

  • Tuskegee University

  • Jackson State University

  • Morgan State University

  • Winston-Salem State University

  • Elizabeth City State College

  • North Carolina A&T University

  • Shaw University

  • Johnson C. Smith College

  • Saint Augustine’s University

  • Fayetteville State University

2024 HBCU Fellows

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Build Smart City Applications

Students will work with their teams from October 2023 to February 2024 to develop a proof of concept or MVP based on their team’s problem statement.

Students will have support from coaches and mentors who will guide them through the problem-solving process. These proof of concepts will be shared with Challenge judges and city stakeholders.

A 5-month Challenge

The HBCU Smart Cities Challenge is a 5-month challenge for HBCU students to build smart city applications for their community, leveraging ICT, IoT technology, and Web3 tools.

With a focus on Tier 2 to Tier 4 cities, the Challenge works alongside city stakeholders, tech partners, and HBCUs to find tech solutions to real-world community problems submitted by the participating cities.

Workshop & Borderless Teams

The Challenge will hold virtual education workshops for students and Town Hall meetings for HBCU students from across the U.S. on the role that smart city technology can play in advancing their communities.

Unlike typical hackathons, HBCU teams will be a part of a "borderless model" which allows students to connect with each other based on interest and not geographic location.

How does the HBCU Smart Cities
Challenge Work?

The HBCU Smart Cities Challenge provides a platform for talented HBCU students to showcase their skills, creativity, and passion for smart city innovation.

Thank you to our Sponsors

“I’m glad I came to this event, because it’s going to enhance my knowledge and help me be a catalyst for my success later on in the future.”

Jalen Franklin

Winston-Salem State University