BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Dec. 1, 2025) — FuelAL celebrated the graduation of its Fall 2025 HBCU Innovation Internship cohort on Nov. 19 at Innovation Depot, recognizing 15 interns who completed placements across 13 leading employers in Alabama’s innovation and technology ecosystem.
The program continues its mission to grow Alabama’s tech talent through internship opportunities for students from the state’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The 12-week, paid program provides students with project-based internships at startups, accelerators and innovation hubs across Alabama, supplemented by professional development sessions designed to build leadership, communication and technical skills. Students are able to apply those skills directly to real-world innovation projects.
The Fall 2025 cohort represented eight schools: Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Bishop State Community College, Lawson State Community College, Miles College, Stillman College, Shelton State Community College, Talladega College and Tuskegee University.
Employers hosting interns for the Fall 2025 cohort included Alabama Collective, Analytical AI, Birmingham Port, Bronze Valley Investment Accelerator (powered by gener8tor), gBETA Bronze Valley (powered by gener8tor), AL Intel, HudsonAlpha Agtech Accelerator (powered by gener8tor), gBETA Huntsville (powered by gener8tor), Innovation Portal, MGM Tech Lab, SmartWiz, TechBirmingham, and Techstars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator.
“The FuelAL HBCU Innovation Internship was created with a single mission: to open doors of possibility for HBCU students across Alabama and connect their brilliance to the innovative startup companies shaping our state’s future in technology, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, research, and defense,” said Jasmine Williams, manager of talent retention and attraction at EDPA. “Through this internship, FuelAL is strengthening talent development and retention across the state, and we’re committed to carrying that momentum forward by opening even more opportunities for talented students to engage with Alabama’s growing network of innovative companies.”
After participating in FuelAL programs for three years, Fall 2025 graduate Precious Onah shared how the experience propelled her growth both personally and professionally.
“I’ve worked with big tech companies like Meta and Salesforce, but working inside Alabama’s startup ecosystem through the FuelAL HBCU Innovation Internship has been a transformative experience for me,” said Onah. “Interning with companies like Analytical AI and SmartWiz showed me what it means to take real ownership in a fast-paced environment where every idea counts. Being part of a small, mission-driven team revealed strengths I didn’t even know I had—and those lessons are shaping how I step confidently into the next stage of my career.”
Immediately following the graduation, FuelAL hosted interviews for the Spring 2026 cohort. The program received more than 170 applications, with 26 students selected for interviews and 21 internship placements available. Twelve employer partners are participating in the upcoming cohort, including two new organizations: TrebleOne and Zeus Research & Technology.
Employer partners for Spring 2026 include MTL Tech Lab, Alabama Collective, Analytical AI, Innovation Portal, Techstars, HudsonAlpha Agtech Accelerator (powered by gener8tor), gBETA Huntsville (powered by gener8tor), Zeus Research & Technology, TrebleOne, EDPA, TechBirmingham and Birmingham Port.
The Spring 2026 HBCU Innovation Internship cohort will begin work on Jan. 20 and applications for the Fall 2026 internships will open Feb. 2, 2026.
For more information on FuelAL and the FuelAL HBCU Innovation Internship please visit edpa.org/talent or email Jasmine Williams, EDPA’s manager of talent retention and attraction, at jwilliams@edpa.org.
About EDPA
The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing economic growth in Alabama. With support from over 60 Corporate Partners and guided by a board of top business leaders, EDPA focuses on economic development research, workforce development, talent retention, innovation, and entrepreneurship. EDPA’s initiatives include Alabama Launchpad, ATS (Alabama Talent Solutions), and FuelAL, all aimed at fostering a dynamic and diverse economic landscape in Alabama.
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