Lawson State Community College student Khalil Saadiq brought home 3rd place honors and $3,000 in total awards-following the 2025 Magic City Classic Business Pitch Competition, held in October at Iron City Birmingham.
"A lot of young people have bright ideas and may be afraid to pursue them, or maybe they never had the chance," he said. "There's so much support at Lawson and across Birmingham for entrepreneurship. Throughout the competition, the Alabama Collective paired high expectations with high levels of support-from presentation coaching to workshops and other events. Everyone was willing to give us guidance."
The Alabama Collective pitch event showcased the innovation and entrepreneurial talent of HBCU students and recent graduates across Alabama. Participants competed in a booth-style format for initial funding, then advanced to a live finale judged by industry leaders. Nearly $20,000 in prize money was awarded.
Khalil's company, DeeDee's Driven Detailing, is a premium mobile car care service built on excellence, convenience, and community values. Named in honor of his late aunt, a lifelong cosmetologist and entrepreneur, the business reflects Khalil's family legacy and his desire to uplift others through trade-based career development.
"I was raised in the entrepreneurial space, in the trades," he added, reflecting on the influence of his mother and aunt. "They used to tell me that you’ll never have competition if you're dedicated to doing a great job. The money and the connections will come."
A Birmingham native and Army veteran, Khalil previously attended Howard University as an economics major. He left the university, joined the military, and later completed his undergraduate degree in liberal arts. Living in Kansas, he also worked in the personal training space but felt called to do more.
Khalil returned to Birmingham earlier this year to continue his education this time using his veteran benefits to study automotive body and collision repair.
"We are getting industry experience that can take us in a lot of directions. We're learning what it means to be an automotive professional in 2025 and beyond," Khalil said on a sunny November afternoon as he and his classmates worked to rebuild a 1937 Chevrolet classic car.
"Mr. Gaston, one of our instructors, has over 25 years of experience. His love for the craft and dedication to mastery inspire me," he said. "He wants to teach you to be the best. That's a really important difference today, especially when people are looking for shortcuts or looking to AI to do the work for you. I appreciate that to no end."
