The Challenge
A Call to Action: The Startup America Policy Challenge
In December 2011, the White House announced the Startup America Policy Challenge where federal government agencies challenged the American public to serve as entrepreneurial problem-solvers, identifying the best solution for administrative change to a particular public challenge. To kick off the challenge, the U.S. Chief Technology Officer, Aneesh Chopra, asked the enterprising American public to identify ways in which the Department of Education, Department of Energy, and Department of Health and Human Services might break down barriers to entrepreneurship and best enable the use of new learning technologies, clean energy technologies, and healthcare information technologies in administrative practice, respectively.
The ideas for administrative change proposed thus far have been thoughtful, creative, diverse, and inspiring. Yet, they are just the tip of the iceberg. These solutions need further reflection, critique, and development. This is where you come in!
A Response: Policy Challenge
In response to this challenge, network of schools and organizations is working to mobilize students, scholars, practitioners, and concerned public citizens from across the country to participate in the policy challenge - a response to the call for action! The policy challenge affords you the extraordinary opportunity to actively participate in critically evaluating and developing a viable actionable plan of implementation for an idea for administrative change that seeks to best enable the use new technologies in education, clean energy, and healthcare and medicine at the relevant federal agency. Responding to this call to action by participating in this policy challenge is your ticket to becoming a member of a pioneering community of problem solvers!
Stage 1: Short-Form (Two-Page) Proposal (Open Competition: January 31 – April 2, 2012)
As an individual or a small team, submit a brief two-page proposal here that critically evaluates and develops a viable actionable plan of implementation for an idea for administrative change at the relevant federal agency proposed through the Startup America Policy Challenge. You may also submit your own original idea. Any person who is eligible to participate may submit a short-form proposal.
Stage 2: Long-Form Proposal (Closed Finalist Competition: April 16 – May 12, 2012)
Short-form proposal finalists will be invited to submit a detailed proposal that elaborates on their initial proposal, paying particular attention to the feasibility of their ideas.
The Finale in D.C. (Closed Finalist Presentations: May 18, 2012)
Finalists will be invited to participate in The Finale in Washington, D.C. on May 18th to present their full proposals to a panel of high-profile expert judges with backgrounds in government, industry and academia, as well as meet in person with agency principals to discuss their ideas. The winning team(s) will be announced at the Finale, and their proposals will be shared with the Cabinet Secretary from the relevant federal agency.
