Some of the best ideas are hatched in response to a challenge or roadblock standing in the way of everyday business. Picture this scenario: You are sitting around with a group of friends or co-workers talking about everything from work to family, when someone says “I wish they would invent a way to do ____”.
It’s a common conversation taking place in offices and around job sites everyday as we look to use technology to overcome challenges. Matching these challenges with solutions is the concept behind one of the latest programs to come out of the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development.
The program is called JumpStart Challenge and this is the second year we have set-about bringing brilliant minds together to focus on issues and co-create a solution with opportunity to pitch an amazing outcome for the industries at hand.
This year, we had two businesses, Cabela’s and Home Services, looking for solutions to industry problems.
Cabela’s sought a solution that alerts the company about the many differences in collection-practice regulations across states for their CLUB Visa credit card.
HomeServices asked for a solution allowing homebuyers to search for more specific information on homes and neighborhoods, such as walk-ability, kid-friendliness and pet-friendliness. HomeServices also pitched the need for a “CarFax for Homes” type of reporting.
After the initial gathering where the business expressed their challenges to more than 100 software engineers, developers, and entrepreneurs; 10 teams came back with solutions.
The winner of the Cabela’s Challenge was Sourabh Chakraborty, whose solution will send automated alerts that require action in an efficient and timely manner to company employees. He was awarded a $1,000 cash prize, executive coaching, the opportunity to pitch the solution for Cabela’s executives, and beta testing for his product within the company.
Taking home the prize for the HomeServices challenge were Matan Gill and Cory Scott with their solution, myBlock. The web-based social platform will include features such as Quality Ratings, Resident Verification, Honest Reviews and interactive maps. For their win, Matan and Cory were awarded a $1,000 cash prize and the opportunity to make a presentation to company executives.
There was also a Wild Card category where software developers and designers could submit an idea for consideration.
The co-founders of Forgelight Creative, Tyler Sprunk and Derek Maze, won the Wild Card Category with a spin-off idea from the HomeServices challenge. They say their web-based application will allow home buyers to rate homes under a variety of aspects and search for homes that match unique preferences. It also provides leads for realtors to find clients, manage their client relationships and sell homes. For their idea, Tyler and Derek won a $1,000 cash prize and FUSE Coworking, located in the Haymarket, also provided them with free co-working hours at their space.
Congratulations to the winners!
The Chamber’s mission is to improve the lives of Lincoln residents by providing increased economic opportunity and can only be accomplished together. Networking opportunities, business advocacy, and creating economic viability are critical to our success. We encourage you to become a member and help us achieve these goals for Lincoln. For more information, please contact our Membership Director, Kristin Holmes, kholmes@lcoc.com.
by Wendy Birdsall, President, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
402-436-2350 | www.lcoc.com