5 Innovation Contests and Hackathons that Spurred New Products

In the tech startup world, innovation happens all the time. Innovation is a resource that the world can always use more of, and like any resource, it must be harvested. To harvest the energy of the sun, you need solar panels. If you want to turn the air into electricity, you need wind turbines. If you want to turn innovative ideas in profitable businesses, you need hackathons.

Hackathons embody everything that is fantastic about the tech startup world. Hackathons take place when a handful (or many, many more) like-minded individuals come together, take time out of their days and build amazing new companies and apps just for the sake of building. But there are some pretty jaw-dropping benefits to hackathons that justify the time and energy spent organizing and participating in these events.

There are a variety of different hackathons that have spurred hundreds of great innovative new products. Below are five hackathons that carry a little more prestige than the others because of the success that the startups have achieved since their inception.

1.   Startup Weekend LA, Notable Birth:  Zaarly
Part of the Startup Weekend series we all know and love, this hackathon takes place in Los Angeles at the Coloft coworking space. Anyone is welcome to pitch a startup idea and receive feedback from other Startup Weekend attendees. Teams organically form around the top ideas (as determined by popular vote) and then it’s a 54-hour frenzy of business model creation, coding, designing and market validation. Startup Weekend culminates with presentations in front of local entrepreneurial leaders with opportunities for critical feedback.

2.   Startup Bus, Notable Birth:  txtroo
With buses departing from San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Chicago, Cleveland, New York and Miami, Startup Bus is a hackathon on wheels. Participating ‘buspreneurs’ produce different products as they travel to SWSX in Austin, TX. Not only is there a Startup Bus America but in December 2011, this style of hackathon was launched in Europe as well.

3.   Hack the Midwest, Notable Birth: Qup
Participants have just 24 hours to build and create a viable product. They can either build a team on their own or be paired through event coordinators.

4.   AngelHack, Notable Birth: Go Give
AngelHack unites developers around the country for a national hackathon where they can showcase big ideas and win seed capital from investors. It is one of the largest hackathon series with over $200,000 in prizes and $30,000 in sponsor prizes.

5.   Disrupt, Notable Birth:  Docracy
Presented by TechCrunch, Disrupt is series of hackathons that have taken place in Bejing, New York and San Francisco. Consisting of separate events over four days, Disrupt is open only to hackers and developers willing to work on projects to present. At the heart of Disrupt is the Startup Battlefield where entrepreneurs present to a judging panel of VCs, angels and general investors. What’s up for grabs?  The $50,000 prize, the coveted “Disrupt Cup”, a wealth of press exposure and new open doors.

So if you have an idea that you’ve been itching to try it out, but may not have had the time to do so, try out a hackathon. Sure you may lose some sleep, but you might gain a million dollar idea.  

Are You Fired Up!? iKC Unveils Fire Up Presenters

iKC is hosting Kansas City’s first Fearless Innovators and Ruthless Entrepreneurs’ Unconventional Pitch (Fire Up) on June 20, 2012.  This month, the conference sought out 11 knockout presenters to participate in Fire Up.  And now, we have the names:

Fire Up Topic #1: What’s the Next Disruptive Innovation?

• Kevin Payne— Better Data, Better Decisions, Better Lives
• Joel Stephens— Augmented Reality Mirror: Next Time, “Test Drive” Your New Hairstyle First!
• Adam Coomes— Non-Sexy: The Next Disruption
• Doug Richards— Gamification: The Way We Work, Learn and Play
• Christian Braddock— Slurpees, Big Gulps and the Gross Profit Split: The Revolution of the Franchisor-Franchisee Relationship

Fire Up Topic #2: Answers to Questions You Didn’t Know You Had  

• Tim Sylvester— How can Modern Infrastructure Make KC the Most Entrepreneurial City in the World?
• Herb Sih— How to get S%&^ Done Fast
• Shaun Williams— How to Maximize ROI in a Mobile World
• Eze Redwood—Innovative Platforms Bring Collaboration: How Unique Virtual Spaces can Unite Groups
• Bryan Richard— Why Software Development is Hard: 5 Tips for Managing Developers, Shipping Software, and Staying Sane

Presenters only have 5 minutes (20 slides, 15 seconds per slide) to convey a particular message.  Wish these Fire Up presenters good luck on June 20—they’ll need it.  This will be the most intense pitch series KC has ever seen!  Are you ready? 

Predict Successful Innovation with Dr. Michael E. Raynor at iKC

Dr. Michael E. Raynor of Deloitte Research.

iKC, sponsored by Master Your Card Missouri, is excited to spotlight Dr. Michael E. Raynor as the keynote speaker during this year’s innovation and entrepreneur conference on June 20, 2012.  Dr. Raynor started his career as a consultant, but quickly discovered his passion for research and innovation.  This realization led Raynor to the Harvard Business School where he focused on becoming a professor.  But as many creative thinkers and innovators know, career paths are not always straight ones.  Dr. Raynor took on a hybrid position with Deloitte LLP’s research arm, Deloitte Reseach, which has proved both fruitful and ever-changing.

But Dr. Michael Raynor is so much more than just a high-level consultant.  He’s a husband, a father, a best-selling author, an investor, an innovator.  Raynor can speak to a wide range of individuals at iKC—from the budding entrepreneur to the high-power investor—because it seems as if Raynor has been everywhere and done it all.

Dr. Raynor will present a keynote speech titled The Innovator’s Manifesto: Deliberate Disruption for Breakthrough Growth at iKC on June 20, 2012 at the H&R Block World Headquarters in downtown Kansas City.  The keynote will focus on the emerging rules of successful innovation and will speak to investors, entrepreneurs, managers and corporate M&A’s alike.

“My idea is that we worry about innovation processes rather than the substance of good ideas because we do not yet know what really good ideas truly look like,” Raynor says.  “In my research I’ve tried to tackle the question of innovation as scientifically as I can, and I believe I’ve got some interesting progress to report.”

According to Raynor, entrepreneurs and innovators far too often swing blindfolded at a piñata, hoping that they get a good whack.  But why swing blindfolded when a much more deliberate approach to ideas and innovation exists?  That’s what The Innovator’s Manifesto keynote is all about.

“Getting the right process in place is difficult, but conceptually straight-forward, rather like training for a marathon,” he says. “You know what to do to prepare for it, but not everybody does it because it’s hard.  Similarly, we’ve tried everything to make innovation easy, believing that somehow if we find the right management process, the good ideas will emerge automatically.  I think a different approach is needed, one that focuses on the defining attributes of good ideas, independently of how they were created.” 

iKC attendees now have the chance to learn what makes for a great idea – one that is systematically more likely to success.  Listen to Dr. Raynor live at iKC on June 20, 2012—purchase your ticket today.    

Follow iKC! @iKC_2012

iKC Asks KC Entrepreneurs to Fire Up!

iKC is throwing Kansas City's first Fearless Innovators' and Ruthless Entrepreneurs' Unconventional Pitch. We know, it's a mouthful. That's okay, though...you can just call it "Fire Up" for short.

A Fire Up is a 5 minute, lightning-fast pitch presentation:  20 slides.  15 seconds per slide. 

Sound a little too fast?  It probably will be.  Fire Up will put entrepreneurs in a hot seat and will force them to be concise, to think on their feet and to spark the interest of the crowd.

We’re looking for 12 brave contestants to participate in iKC’s Fire Up event.  Six will present on one topic and 6 on another.  What are the topics, you ask?  Go ahead—pick your poison:

What is the Next Disruptive Innovation?

The Answers to Questions You Didn’t Know You Had 

Interested Fire Up participants are encouraged to submit their information to the iKC website at www.sparkinginnovation.org/fire-up.

Click here to learn more about iKC or visit iKC on Twitter @iKC_2012! 

Gigabit Challenge Application Deadline Just Two Weeks Away

Attention entrepreneurs! The first deadline for The Gigabit Challenge is quickly approaching.  Time to buckle down and polish up those business plans.  Applications and executive summaries are due Monday, October 31^st (that’s a mere two weeks away!).

The Gigabit Challenge is open to all entrepreneurs, startups, early-stage businesses and existing high-growth companies who have an idea that will make use of Google’s first-in-the nation one-gigabit Fiber network.  Those interested in entering a business plan have just two weeks left to submit their applications accompanied by 3-5 page executive summaries.  Judges will then select the top 25 business ideas.  Those finalists will move on to pursue the $100,000 Grand Prize and the opportunity to build a business on the first one-gigabit Fiber network.   

Do you have an idea that can harness the power of a gigabit?  The Gigabit Challenge is looking for you.  Apply today!

Get ready to Think Big…with a gig. 

Written by Laura Goede

@LauraGThinkBig

Gigabit Challenge Now Open for Applications

Today’s the day!  The Gigabit Challenge is now officially accepting applications.  The business plan competition is looking for new ideas and disruptive technologies that will make use of Google’s first-in-the nation one-gigabit fiber network.  The Gigabit Challenge welcomes submissions from all entrepreneurs, startups, early-stage businesses and existing high growth companies. 

Applicants have from now until October 31^st to submit their applications accompanied by 3-5 page executive summaries.  After submissions are complete, the Challenge judges will review each one and select the top 25 finalists.  Those finalists will move on in pursuit of the $100,000 Grand Prize and the opportunity to build their business on the first one-gigabit fiber network. 

Here are some important competition dates to keep in mind:

Round One:

• October 3, 2011 – October 31, 2011 – Open Applications, Executive Summaries
• November 22, 2011 – Selection and Announcement of 25 “Semi-Finalists”

Round Two:

• December 8, 2011 – Deadline for Semi-Finalists to Submit Business Plans and PowerPoint Presentations
• December 17, 2012 – Selection and Announcement of “Finalists”

Round Three:

• Mid-January, 2012 – Finalists present in front judges, winner selected that day

Do you have an idea that can harness the power of a gigabit?  Are you ready to turn the tech industry upside-down and change the world?  Apply for the Gigabit Challenge today!

It’s time to Think Big…with a gig.

Written By Laura Goede

@LauraGThinkBIG