A Collaborative Brainstorming Competition
What is it?
SolveSB is a South Bend-specific ideathon, a collaborative event in which individuals from different specialties work together to solve an existing problem.
Location
Technology Resource Center (TRC)
1165 Franklin St
South Bend, IN 46601
How it works
1. Sign up to participate.
Registrants can participate based on the following criteria:
- Individuals must be of or over the age of 18.
- Individuals from all disciplines and areas of expertise are invited to participate — from creatives to coders and everything in between.
- Each team will work the same problem statement.
- Participants can sign up alone or in pairs.
- Individuals or pairs will be placed on teams by program staff. Teams will reflect a variety of experiences and backgrounds.
2. Work to solve our problem statement.
For SolveSB: Housing, we will hold a kickoff event and two optional work sessions before teams present their solutions to a panel of judges. Teams will collaborate to ideate and propose an innovative solution to our Housing-related problem statement. A detailed problem statement will be announced at the beginning of the event.
3. Compete to win!
Our judging panel of City and community partners will award the top teams based on how innovative, pragmatic and equitable their solutions are.
Our Past SolveSB events:
SolveSB: Sustainability
During our first SolveSB event in July 2022, we called upon local high school students, college-age young adults, and mid-to-late career professionals alike to join in a weekend of fun, competition, and brainstorming. Individuals formed teams or were placed placed in project teams based on their skills. They then worked to intensively solve a problem statement under the topic of sustainability. The Summer 2022 problem statement was: “How might we increase the amount of residents that move about the city on bike, by walking, or rolling?”
Special thanks to our judges and speakers from the Department of Innovation and Technology, Office of Sustainability, South Bend Bike Garage, and Bike Michiana Coalition, as well as our lunch sponsor, The General.
Finally, we extend a big congratulations to our winners, Team Coveleski!
SolveSB: Housing
During our second SolveSB event in January 2023, the community based teams who joined focused on housing in the South Bend community. The January 2023 Problem statement was: ‘How can we increase the development of housing in our urban neighborhoods through innovative or new approaches to financing?’
Special thanks to our judges and speakers from the Department of Innovation and Technology, Office of Sustainability, South Bend Bike Garage, and Bike Michiana Coalition, as well as our lunch sponsor, The General.
Finally, we extend a big congratulations to our winners, Team Coveleski!
About the TRC
The Technology Resource Center (TRC) in South Bend’s Ignition Park was built to democratize technology in our region. The TRC focuses on technology and data, teaching new skills to the community, and co-building an inclusive tech future for South Bend. To learn more about the TRC or other upcoming events, click here!