AAMU Sophomore Shares $14,000 Prize at TMCF AI Bootcamp
Moss Helps Team Win National AI Pitch Competition
Alabama A&M University sophomore Sydney Moss helped lead a four-student team to victory in a national artificial intelligence pitch competition, earning a share of a $14,000 prize for an innovative solution designed to improve risk assessment in the insurance industry.
Moss, an accounting major from Kennesaw, Georgia, joined students from three other historically Black colleges and universities to win the pitch competition at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) AI Technical Bootcamp, held Oct. 13-17 in San Mateo, California.
The team received $14,000 in prize money, with each student earning $3,500 for their contributions to the project.
Moss competed as part of RisktakeHERS, a four-member team that included Maelle Malangu, a senior economics major at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University from Paris, France; Phylicia Thompson, a junior computer science major at Virginia State University from Newark, New Jersey; and Kenzie Moore, a junior computer science major at Spelman College from Montgomery, Alabama.
Alabama A&M sophomore Sydney Moss, second from left, and her teammates celebrate winning $14,000 at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund AI Technical Bootcamp in California. From left are Phylicia Thompson of Virginia State, Moss, Maelle Malangu of North Carolina A&T and Kenzie Moore of Spelman College. Each received $3,500.
Moss was the only Alabama A&M student selected to attend the bootcamp, which brought together 15 students from HBCUs nationwide to explore emerging AI technologies and develop solutions to real-world challenges.
For Moss, the victory was especially meaningful because it marked her first pitch competition.
“I’ve never done a pitch competition before, so it challenged me to step completely out of my comfort zone,” Moss said. “It was a huge learning experience that showed me what I’m capable of when I take that leap.”
The RisktakeHERS developed an AI-powered agent designed to streamline the insurance underwriting process and reduce the likelihood of overlooked risks.
The proposed technology would integrate with an insurance company's existing software, allowing underwriters to upload documents that the AI agent would scan and analyze for information relevant to risk assessments. The system would flag potential concerns for further review, generate a risk score following underwriter approval and recommend preventive measures.
The team developed the concept to address a common challenge in the insurance industry: Underwriters often must review large volumes of information across multiple platforms, increasing the possibility that important risk factors could be missed.
Alabama A&M University sophomore Sydney Moss, third from left in the back row, joins fellow Thurgood Marshall College Fund AI Technical Bootcamp participants on the court following a Golden State Warriors game in California. The experience was among the activities arranged for the 15-student HBCU cohort.
Their solution demonstrated how AI could improve efficiency while maintaining human oversight in critical decision-making.
The team received guidance from industry professionals Erich Van Heerden, a senior security analyst at Guidewire, and Manasvi Narayanan, a software engineer at CNA Insurance.
Beyond the competition, the bootcamp provided Moss with opportunities to strengthen her understanding of AI, sharpen her research skills and gain experience transforming technical concepts into compelling business presentations.
The experience also included networking opportunities and a visit to a Golden State Warriors basketball game, where participants were invited onto the court following the game.
As an accounting major, Moss demonstrated how business knowledge, analytical thinking and technological innovation can intersect to address complex industry challenges. She plans to earn her certified public accountant (CPA) license and pursue a career in either auditing or asset management.
Moss credits her experience at Alabama A&M with helping her develop the confidence to pursue opportunities beyond the classroom.
“I've had an amazing time on The Hill and have experienced more opportunities than I could have ever imagined,” Moss said. “The faculty and students here constantly uplift each other to reach our goals and become our best selves. I truly couldn't ask for a better HBCU experience.”