Enter Contest

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​​​Disrupt Aging Innovation Concept Challenge

The purpose of the Innovation Challenge is to foster creativity and seek out promising ideas to help solve the challenges of older residents face living as safely, independently and comfortably in their homes and communities as they age. 

This challenge is open to students and adults, and anyone interested in developing innovative approaches, business concepts or tools/products that will:

  • Eliminate generational barriers
  • Increase social integration
  • Improve the “livability” of the Central Iowa community for older populations

The Innovation Challenge is your opportunity to present a Business C​oncept for a product or service that can meet the objective of helping people 50+ live longer lives and improve the quality of life for everyone. For example, see this Harvard Business Review Article.

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Innovation Concept Challenge Details

  1. ​Must be at least 14 years old to enter.
  2. Enter by answering the 7 questions on the Innovation Concept Challenge form below. When describing your business idea, you (and your team) should answer each question in 300 words or less.
  3. Deadline for entries: Midnight, February 24, 2017
  4. Finalists announced during CiWeek 8, Thursday March 2, 2017
  5. Finalists will be paired with SCORE mentors to refine their ideas to present in a “Shark-Tank” style format on March 16, 2017.

Concept Challenge Prizes

Three cash prizes will be awarded, plus the first prize winner will also receive a three-hour DMACC class scholarship.

Prizes are:

  • First , $1,000 and scholarship for any DMACC course
  • Second , $500
  • Third , $250

First and second cash prizes are generously donated by Edgewater, a WesleyLife Community.

The first place DMACC course scholarship was donated by DMACC-West.

Third prize is generously donated by
​Aging Resources of Central Iowa.

Perform with Kaila Mullady Contest CLOSED

Kaila Mullady Kaila Mullady—the current Vice Beatbox Champion, Loop station champion and two-time reigning Beatrhyme Champion—will be a keynote speaker during ciWeek 8, inspiring people with her story and her talent. DMACC’s 8th annual Celebrate Innovation Week (ciWeek) will be held this coming year from February 27–March 3, 2017. ciWeek is all about celebrating innovation in the areas of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.​​In the months leading up to ciWeek 8, DMACC West and Jordan Creek Mall are partnering on a “Celebrate Innovation Project.” Part of that project is a contest to perform with Kaila Mullady. 

The aim is to engage the community in a celebration of innovation in the performing arts.

To be eligible, local contestants will submit their original work, whether that is spoken word, poetry or beatboxing.

Each finalist will perform a collaborative music/poetry number with Kaila Mullady on the Jordan Creek Town Center​ Stage on February 25.​

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​Kaila Mullady Contest Rules​​

1.    Must be at least 14 years old to enter.
2.    Entry must be in the form of a 2 to 6 minute YouTube video
3.    Piece must be an original creation, entered by the sole creator.
4.    Piece must be family-friendly. No explicit language or themes.

 
Who: lucky finalists
What: perform live in a combined compilation with Kaila Mullady
When: February 25, time TBA
Where: Jordan Creek Town Center, West Des Moines, IA
Why: to celebrate innovation in preparation for ciWeek 8
How: enter a submission below by February 1​, 2017

 
*Kaila and two guest judges will be scoring the pieces for creativity, originality and composition.​
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Contest Entry Form