Michael Contreras Co-Founder & Director Sensis Challenges

1. POWERING COMMUNITIES FOR PRIZE CHALLENGES

2. BORN FROM THE DOE
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3. RESONANCE AMPLIFIES CROWD INNOVATION
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4. We do innovation better
We accelerate ideas from concept to
implementation by igniting the collaborative
power of the crowd. This is made possible by
targeting and activating the right passionate
solvers, producing better solutions for your
challenge.
Said simply, we crowdsource innovation.
Crowdsource Innovation
To cultivate transformative products and services
by tapping into the knowledge and resources of the
public

5. Crowd Innovation Process
1
Activation Ideation
Solutions
Innovation
Prototyping Incubation Evaluation
2 3 4 5 6
Where’s the talent & what
motivates them?
What’s possible? What’s viable? What’s feasible? What’s scalable? What’s the impact?

6. PRIZE TRANSFORMATION
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7. Crowd Innovation Process
1
Activation Ideation
Solutions
Innovation
Prototyping Incubation Evaluation
2 3 4 5 6
Where’s the talent & what
motivates them?
What’s possible? What’s viable? What’s feasible? What’s scalable? What’s the impact?

8. 2017 IMPACT METRICS
PRIZE MONEY AWARDED INCUBATED START-UPS
$4M 22
CHALLENGES LAUNCHED
13
SOLVERS ACTIVATED
5K

9. CASE STUDY
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11. TIM JULIA JOHNDENISE AMY
Designer/EntrepreneurResearcher/Student Textile Technologist
MEET THE PROBLEM SOLVERS
PERSONAS
Maker/Hobbyist Active Duty
• Defined by dozens of attributes and interests
• Ensure increased optionality
• Millions in potential audience size

12. AUDIENCE ACTIVATED
• Paid and organic social outreach
• Community management
• Tailored creative

13. P
A
G
E
1
3
STORIES FROM PROOF CHALLENGE
One of the runners-up finalists was Michele Putko.
Michele is a mother of three and Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering Lecturer at the University of Massachusetts
Lowell. She also has degrees from the U.S. Army War College and U.S. Military Academy at West Point. She
and her three children developed a solution for Proof Challenge in the “Mobility” Category.
§ Her submission, the “ChemBio Combat Duck Boot,” was to get rid of the over boot and employ a ChemBio boot, similar to
a duck boot high top sneaker. The bottom of the boot would be made from the same butyl rubber material as a standard
COTS duck boot, such as the popular LL Bean duck boot. The top or upper part of the boot would be made from the same
material as the outer shell of the JSLIST protective garment; 50% nylon and 50% cotton with a water-repellant finish.
The proposed Duck Boot would be lighter, waterproof at the base (unlike most current combat boots), water resistant in
the upper region and most importantly, comfortable.
One of the top three finalists was Thomas Luginbill.
Thomas is Chairman at Grey Matter, a transfer-technology startup that works with first responders and law
enforcement to create personal protective equipment for agents in the field. He worked with the College of
Southern Maryland’s Endowed Entrepreneur & Innovation Institute to submit a “Mobility” solution for Proof
Challenge.
§ Grey Matter’s idea, the “SPIDER Suit,” uses a self-decontaminating polymer in directly eliminating risk. The SPIDER Suit
filters toxic chemicals, and self-decontaminates. The Suit also traps chemicals and breaks them down into H2O. SPIDER
technology integrates with lightweight fabrics, keeping users cool, dry, and alert.

14. LET’S GET STARTED
twitter.com/sensischallengesensischallenges.com www.facebook.com/sensischallenges
www.linkedin.com/company/sensischallenges mcontreras@sensisagency.com
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