HBCU Making & Innovation Showcase

About the showcase

The AAAS HBCU Making and Innovation Showcase was developed to support HBCU student entrepreneurs, inventors, and innovators in collaborating on the designing and creation of a hardware or software product. Teams are encouraged to identify, research and address a problem in their surrounding home or school communities, before prototyping a solution and pitching their invention.

Selected student teams surpass milestones throughout months of enrichment and e-mentoring webinars in preparation for the awaited Showcase in Washington, D.C., where they participate in 1.5 days of workshops and the prototype pitch competition.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) supports students and faculty from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to participate in the AAAS HBCU Making and Innovation Showcase through the grant, Strengthening an Inclusive Innovation Ecosystem through an HBCU Community of Practice.

NSF Award Number 2332409 

Previous Making & Innovation Showcases

participating cohorts receive:

  • Travel awards to cover lodging and flight expenses to Washington, DC for the in-person Showcase.

  • Faculty advisors:

    • Guidance and resources in support of development in areas of making, invention, innovation and entrepreneurship within HBCU institutions and networks.

  • Student teams:

    • Months of e-mentoring with Innovation, Product Marketing, and Design Thinking professionals in prototype development phases.

    • Experience pitching a prototype to industry experts and a judging panel.

    • Continued guidance on product commercialization and go-to-market strategy in the year following their Showcase Pitch.

    • A cash prize for teams ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place at the Showcase.