Seattle has a reputation for innovation in tech and science, but it also has a reputation for another kind of change: civic innovation, tackling some of the biggest social issues in the U.S. and beyond
Social Venture Partners, a Seattle-based nonprofit, aims to help civic innovators reach their potential with their annual Fast Pitch competition and they’re giving anyone interested an opportunity to learn more about the competition and how to take part.
The Fast Pitch application workshop, taking place Tuesday, May 30 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., will walk applicants through the process of applying to and taking part in the competition. SVP staff will also answer questions from attendees and offer help with applications.
Each year, 56 innovators compete in five tracks: startup nonprofit, established nonprofit, for-profit, high school and university. The deadline to apply this year is June 20 and the competition lasts through the final showdown on October 24.
Competitors get more than just experience pitching their ideas: they also have the chance to win thousands of dollars in prizes and pro-bono services to turn their civic innovations into reality. Last year’s winners included iRummage founder Belle Pan, who at that time was a 13-year-old middle school student. iRummage is a nonprofit platform that allows K-12 schools to organize student-run rummage sales for school funds.
Find more details on the application workshop here and all the info on Fast Pitch here.
That’s one of the highlights from our GeekWire community calendar, the spot for geek and tech events in Seattle and the greater Pacific Northwest. See the full calendar here, submit your event here and keep reading for more suggested events over the next few weeks.
Startup Storytellers: Greatest mistakes and lessons learned
What: Every founder experiences mistakes and failures — sometimes again and again —on their journey to entrepreneurial success. Hear from local founders about the stumbles in their journey and what they learned along the way. Featuring: Omri Mor, Co-founder and CEO of ZIIBRA; Swatee Surve, CEO & Founder of Litesprite; Matthew Berk, Founder and CEO of Bean Box; and Stephanie Sprangers, CEO and Co-Founder of Glamhive.
When: May 24, 6 – 8 p.m.
Where: General Assembly SEA
Get involved: Registration and more info here.
Scratch Day in Redmond
What: Whether you’re a Scratch master or have never heard of the animation and game making platform, this event is sure to be a whole bundle of fun. Learn from members of the MIT team that develop Scratch, meet other Scratchers in the PNW and learn how to do things like create stories and games on the platform. Great for kids of all ages!
When: May 28,1 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where: Microsoft Building 99
Get involved: Registration and more info here.
Evergreen Tabletop Expo
What: It’s a game extravaganza! Join hundreds of other game enthusiasts for a weekend of board and card games of all walks. Meet game designers and publishers, or grab a spot and play a game from the demo library with fellow expo-goers. There will also be special events and tournaments for players of various levels, and special guests from the tabletop game development world.
When: June 3 – 4
Where: Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center
Get involved: Tickets and all the event details are here.
GeekWire Cloud Tech Summit 2017
What: Join GeekWire for our first technical summit, all about cloud technology and the people making it happen. Hear from speakers including Azure EVP Scott Guthrie, Docker CEO Steve Singh, Cloud Foundry Foundation Executive Director Abby Kearns and many more. Plus, geek out with fellow developers and cloud aficionados in our tailored technical and business tracks.
When: June 7, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Where: Meydenbauer Center
Get involved: Tickets and more details, including a full schedule, here.
