Have a problem that you want to solve?

How do you make sure you’re addressing the right problem? Who needs it solved? Who else is tackling this problem?
IDEAs that Matter is a fast-paced, cross-functional, creative, human-centered event to deep dive into an issue you really care about solving.
This 20-hour Sprint gives you time and guidance to create a thorough pitch deck. Stay and work through the night in teams to accomplish your pitch deck.
If you don’t have an idea yet but want to be part of a dynamic group, come and join a team during the event!
Teams ready to pitch ideas on Saturday afternoon will be competing for cash prizes ($1,000, $750 or $250).

What to expect at the 20-Hour Event
• Reviewing human-centered design principles
• Gaining empathy for potential users + discovering their unmet needs
• Gathering research and finding contradictions in the market
• Defining problem statement
• Analyzing current solutions
• Determining economic value
• Clarifying new value proposition
• Planning next steps
• FOOD, FUN, NETWORKING, & PRIZES

Open to all ND, St. Mary’s Students, Local High School Students and Community Members in the counties of St. Joseph, Elkhart and Marshall

Tentative Schedule
6:00 pm – Introduction and Announcements
6:15 pm – Students who are in attendance to potentially compete for the prize money and find additional team support will state the problem they are working on. Students in attendance looking for a team will find a group they are interested in working with
6:45-7pm – Workshop will begin with design thinking principles and problem deck creation
8:00pm – Work Time begins- Mentors will be available, with entire group check in at 10pm
10:00pm/8am – Teams may continue to work together at the IDEA Center or leave to work at a another location
8am – Those who have left start arriving back at IDEA Center
9am – Entire Group Checkin- questions/mentor work
10am – Those teams who want to pitch for the prize money notify staff
10am -12pm- Continue to work on problem pitch deck to prepare for competition
12:00pm – Lunch
12:30pm – Presentations Begin
After Presentations – Judging Deliberation
Approx 1:30 – Prize Money Announced