That’s a wrap - Go Code Colorado 2016

Go Code Colorado awards $75,000 to public data apps

DENVER, May 27, 2016 - Three teams using public data to solve business problems walked away with $25,000 each Thursday night at the 2016 Go Code Colorado final competition. 

Hively, Foodcaster and Regulation Explorer emerged victorious, wrapping up the third annual statewide app challenge.

The three were part of 10 finalist teams that advanced from challenge weekend competitions in Colorado Springs, Denver, Durango, Fort Collins and Grand Junction, where 35 teams first presented their ideas for how to use public data to help businesses build competitive strategy.

The finalists next participated in a mentor weekend to hone their apps and business ideas before they presented at the final competition.

"Teams participating in the challenge demonstrated what innovators and entrepreneurs can accomplish with open data, creativity and collaboration," said Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams. "It’s great to see a statewide community established around Go Code Colorado. I look forward to watching the enthusiasm for the program continue to grow and flourish each year."

Teams presented solid business concepts, from an app that connects local farmers with consumers, to a platform that connects employee personalities with business culture, and everything in between.

Five Colorado entrepreneurs, data experts and startup innovators judged the competition to determine which teams would take home $25k: Dianna Anderson, vice president, Global Data Strategy at IQNavigator; Deborah Blyth, chief information security officer for the state of Colorado; Andre Durand, founder, chairman and CEO at Ping Identity Corporation; Nicole Gravagna, PhD, adviser, author and health tech leader; and Sue Heilbronner, CEO at MergeLane.

"The teams provided a powerful illustration of how app developers and entrepreneurs can work with public data to provide useful tools to the Colorado business community," said judge Sue Heilbronner, CEO of MergeLane. "The three winning teams sealed the deal by writing solid code, demonstrating app usefulness and delivering a great presentation. Well done."

The teams that won and their app and business ideas are:

Hively
Created a platform for companies to connect with potential employees based on personality match. During their presentation Hively said that typically businesses hire based on skills and knowledge, and fire because of personality; wasting resources and time sifting through applicants that are not a match and hiring the wrong fit.

"We are not stopping with the Go Code challenge, we plan to revolutionize the way companies hire," said Dalton Patterson of Hively. "Hively finds talent you need with personality that fits."

Foodcaster
Developed an app to help food trucks find the best location to park by informing food truck owners of parking regulations, the amount of foot traffic the area gets, events going on in the area and other beneficial tips through data mined from social platforms and government datasets. Foodcaster discovered that most food truck operators are first time small business owners; the greatest challenge they face is finding a location that will be profitable and legal.

"I’m really excited to help Colorado small businesses and food truck owners make better-informed business decisions through our app," said Paige Crowley of Foodcaster.

Regulation Explorer
Created a platform that helps energy companies determine the best location sites to drill for oil and gas based on government regulations such as proximity to schools. The Regulation Explorer team said during their presentation that the current process takes months and thousands of dollars to investigate potential drill sites. They want to simplify the process and create transparency for communities and government officials.

"There’s a great need for information regarding regulations. We are excited to put oil and gas regulations on the map through the help of Go Code," said Emily Hueni of Regulation Explorer.

About Go Code Colorado: Go Code Colorado is a statewide business app challenge housed in Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams’ office. The award-winning challenge – the first and only statewide effort of its kind – brings together a community of entrepreneurs, business partners and software developers to use public data to solve business problems. Many private sector organizations support Go Code Colorado, including the 2016 challenge summit partner, AT&T.