THIS IS FOR YOU! Colony 5 is pleased to invite you to participate in the 2017 Civic Tech Challenge.  The Civic Tech Challenge brings together idea leaders, coders, architects, designers, and analysts to transform concepts into app prototypes focused on economic development.  You will become an Idea Leader by submitting your request online.

Our goal is to find the top 6 entrepreneurs with the best and brightest app concepts that offer impact in Chicago's economically distressed communities.  App development has become far less expensive and much more intuitive leveling the playing field for agents of change typically concept rich but resource poor.  

The Civic Tech Challenge is means for the pipeline of community relevant concepts to rapidly, during the Hackathon weekend, become at least Minimally Viable Prototypes with an ultimate path to become economically sustainable businesses scalable to other markets.  

We look for Idea Leaders from community entrepreneurship and training programs who are confident in their ideas and have the skills and passion to become deployable businesses, together on Chicago's South & West sides.  

We seek Techies - designers, architects, and coders from Chicago's Civic Tech community interested in accelerating change directly through the application of their skills and passion.

Idea Leaders and techies will team up onsite to communicate, collaborate and create the tech enabled market forces to disrupt distressed communities. Meals will be provided.

Be sure to submit your team concept and any skillsets and team members you desire to support development of your Minimally Viable Prototype.  Check out the Participants page to join a team, compare concepts, and even vote.

• Part 1: Summary of Concept
  *Overview of Prototype *Identified by a brand/name *A need or problem clearly identified *Key features of concept offer an appropriate solution to the need or problem *Concept aligns with App Categories
• Part 2: Demo of Prototype
  *User interface is clear and easy to see *App is considerate of User experience *App functions address the identified need or problem *App is stable and works as described
• Part 3: Business Sustainability
  *User Adoption is feasible *User Retention is Feasible *App can be a Viable Business *Evolution of App Business is feasible
• BONUS: Edge Technologies
  *An emerging device is a key part of app design (drones, wearables, HUD, NFC, etc.)*Emerging device is currently receiving consumer adoption *Emerging device is accessible to market by 2020