Students and residents can now apply to participate in a hackathon and pitch competition hosted by the Venture Café Phoenix and the City of Phoenix’s Office of Innovation. Competitors will have an opportunity to develop innovative solutions that will increase access to chilled drinking water in public spaces – and compete for cash prizes.
“To solve an important challenge, Phoenix is tapping into one of our greatest resources— our creative and enterprising residents,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “Expanding public access to drinking water, especially in areas of high pedestrian and public transit, is essential to keeping our residents comfortable and safe. I’m excited to see the ideas that come from the City of Phoenix’s first Innovation Challenge.”
Groups of five to six people will work together to develop an innovative concept to present to a panel of judges for a chance to win up to $600 per person.
“Access to water in a desert city with over 1.5 million residents is essential,” said Vice Mayor Ansari. “However, given the challenges with existing infrastructure and our rapidly rising population, water access is not always guaranteed for our residents, particularly those who are homeless. I’m excited to see the solutions generated by those competing in the City of Phoenix’s first Innovation Challenge.”
Here are some details for contestants to consider and discuss:
- New technologies to provide drinking water in public spaces that could make a system more accessible.
- Non-tech ideas to provide access to drinking water without using plastic water bottles.
- Cooling and shading efforts to keep the systems cool so the water stays cool in extreme heat.
- Education and communication strategies around the systems to build interest and encourage people to use the bottle filling stations.
- Innovative ideas for maintenance and preventing vandalism, such as tech solutions or wrap-around support from the community or businesses.
- Adding a public art component to support the project and encourage community engagement and preservation of the system.
- Sustainable ways to alert if a system isn’t functioning properly and potentially losing water, as well as providing alternative options for those who forget their water bottle and would like to use a water filling station.
Contestants will participate in the hackathon from 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and attendees can watch the pitch competition from 5:30-7 p.m. at 850 PBC located at 850 N. Fifth St. Apply to participate in the hackathon or register to watch the pitch competition here. Lunch and snacks will be provided.
About the Office of Innovation:
The City Manager’s Office of Innovation partners with residents, City departments, and local and national organizations to advance solutions to some of our City’s most pressing challenges, championing the strategic use of data to deliver effective, efficient and equitable impacts for the City and its diverse communities. innovate@phoenix.gov
Venture Café Phoenix partners with companies and organizations that are evolving business, education, technology, social justice, science and the arts within Phoenix and beyond. Along with pitch nights, thought provoking content and one-on-one sessions, the Thursday Gathering event provides participants with hundreds of connection and action opportunities each week. When you take part in a Venture Café event, you can meet hundreds of creative, resourceful people who are just as invested in improving life in Phoenix as you are.
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