A newly expanded contest at the University of Chicago is seeking mobile app proposals from anyone with an idea for how technology can help at the University, in the city, or with everyday life.
IT Services, UChicagoTech and the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship will award a cash prize to the best idea for a mobile app, along with an invaluable asset in the tablet and smartphone world: someone to build and launch their app.
“The best ideas for apps come from everyday experiences. We will provide an outlet for those ideas that is simple and comes with built-in support,” said Klara Jelinkova, Associate Vice President and Chief Information Technology Officer.
People can submit an idea in any of the following categories: business, education, entertainment, medicine, news, social networking or utilities.
“We will take ideas from faculty, staff and students anywhere at the University,” Jelinkova said.
The first phase of the Mobile App Challenge starts in the fall, with an open call for any and all app ideas. Over the winter, IT Services will work with the first-round winners to build prototypes of their apps. They’ll be whittled down to three finalists in the spring. The finalists will build their apps and compete for the final prize: $10,000 and a launch of the app. The winners will be announced at the Innovation Showcase during the New Venture Challenge finals in May 2013.
“The members of the UChicago community are creative, energetic and observant, and we hope through this challenge to find out what inspires them,” Jelinkova said. This may include researchers who want to disseminate knowledge, students who understand real-life problems, or anyone on campus who sees a way to increase the fun, ease and efficiency of life at the University of Chicago and beyond.
IT Services piloted a much smaller mobile app challenge last year, and got a handful of great submissions. Students and faculty suggested apps that would teach people about birth control options, track SafeRide buses, save people money at the residential dining halls, or help people find the best campus activities for their interests.
Dennis Zhao, second-year economics and statistics student from Cupertino, Calif., submitted an idea for an app that would match undergraduates with faculty who were offering research jobs. “I was seeing a strong need from other students for a resource like this, and start thinking of ways to develop it,” Zhao said.
Zhao recorded a video pitch for this idea, which won the People’s Choice Award in last year’s contest. “I think my idea fulfilled the requirement of helping students and faculty, but it wasn’t necessarily mobile,” he said. Undeterred, Zhao is already thinking about forming a team for next year’s contest.
He said he has been surprised at the depth of the entrepreneurial spirit at UChicago. “I feel like there are a lot of great ideas floating around here. Because it’s a non-technical school, people are more collaborative and willing to leverage to each other’s strengths,” he said.
Details about the Mobile App Challenge can be found at appchallenge.uchicago.edu. Orientation and information sessions for anyone interested in submitting to this year’s Mobile App Challenge will begin Thursday, Oct. 4.
—Prof. Jacqueline Stewart
