Global
March 27 - April 3, 2021
Virtual - Zoom/Slack
Overview
In Spring 2021 GiveBackHack is bringing you a Design Sprint designed with GBH alumni in mind. GiveBackHack Rocket Fuel Round will help you Define, Prototype, and Test the biggest assumption you’re making about your current business challenge.
At GiveBackHack Spring 2021 you will:
- Participate in a 3-step Zoom Design Sprint to receive the mentorship, training, and community you need for the next steps.
- Define: Your Riskiest Assumption
- Prototype: Design a way to test that assumption (through our workshop)
- Test: Launch/Execute that test by Saturday 4/3
- Have a chance for $3,000+ in rocket-fuel grant funding to take what you learn during the Design Sprint and apply it.
Pitches/Funding Details
- There is currently over $3,000 available. This is Rocketfuel-Round grant funding to take what you learn during the Design Sprint and apply it.
- 2 spots in the upcoming SEAChange cohort are also available
- Pitches will be in the following format:
- Name + background
- What you tested + What you learned
- What is your next step? What do you need funding for?
FAQs
- Do I need to participate in the Design Sprint to qualify for funding?
- Yes! We ask that you attend the workshop, prototype/test an aspect of your business.
- Is funding limited to the thing that we decide to test during the design sprint?
- No. The purpose of prototyping and testing is to gather data to inform decisions. Your pitch for funding should be for whatever you need to take your business to the next step.
- Will this event be open to the public?
- Only on Tuesday for community night! This event is curated to support GBH Alumni.
- Do ALL GBH Alumni count?
- Yes! If you are reviving an old project, trying a new product/service line, or have been active since GBH you are welcome! If you have any questions, please ask!
- Can my entire team participate?
- Yes! We encourage as many people from your team to participate as possible, you’ll need the help!
Schedule
Saturday - March 27
- 10:00am
- Prototyping/Testing Workshop
- 2:00pm
- Mentor Hours
- 4:00pm
- Check-in
Tuesday - March 30
- 7:00pm
- Community Night
Saturday - April 3
- 12:00pm
- Submit final video pitches
Judges
Emily Savors
Director of Grants Management, The Columbus Foundation
Since 1991, Emily has assisted the Foundation in carrying out its services to donors and supporting organizations, nonprofit organizations, and the community at-large. She has served as a catalyst in addressing community needs by researching, reviewing, and spearheading projects for funding consideration, and developing funding partnerships for special initiatives. Prior to joining the Foundation, ... Read More »
Jen Bowden
Director of Social Impact, IGS
Jen Bowden is the Director of Social Impact for the IGS Family of Companies, where she works to carry forward the company’s purpose of building a meaningful energy future together. In this role, she’s responsible for investments into the communities where IGS does business including philanthropic investments, volunteerism, sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion. Additionally, she has responsibilities ... Read More »
Mentors
Arnab Nandi
Arnab Nandi, Founder of Mobikit
Arnab works on big data analytics, human-in-the-loop data analytics, and next-gen query interfaces, with the goal of empowering humans to effectively interact with data. This involves solving problems that span the areas of data management, visualization, human-computer interaction, and information retrieval. At Ohio State, Arnab has co-founded initiatives such as The STEAM Factory, a collaborative ... Read More »
Kathleen Mazurek
Mentor
Kathleen Mazurek brings seven years of instructional leadership, community outreach and program management experience to the employers, students and communities in which she works. Kathleen has worked in Baltimore City Public Schools teaching art and community values to students from ages five to fourteen. She have established and nurtured partnerships with a multitude of area community ... Read More »
Dan Rockwell
CEO, Big Kitty Labs
Dan Rockwell is the cofounder of Big Kitty Labs (BKL), a digital software agency in Columbus Ohio. With over 20 years experience building and shaping technology solutions Dan is an avid futurist, strategy and ideation technology specialist. His clients include fortune 500 companies such as PG, to Honda and has helped build numerous startups in the central ohio region. Known for his passion for hustle, ... Read More »
Omar Nesmith
Chief Strategic Officer of Venture Suite
A self-described serial tech-preneur, Omar Nesmith is the Chief Strategic Officer of Venture Suite and a Managing Director of Venture Combine who is committed to economic development and entrepreneurship. He has spent the last 10 years consulting businesses on technology initiatives while launching ventures of his own, and is currently most passionate about the work he is doing in working with minority ... Read More »
Derek Dehart
Director of Product, BattleFace
Derek is an experienced Director of Product Management with a demonstrated history of working in the insurance industry. Skilled in Operations Management, PHP, Workforce Management, Contact Centers, and Management.
Haley Boehning
Principal Cofounder of Storyforge
Haley has been a founder or cofounder at multiple companies, and has served many leadership roles at Limited Brands.
Event Sponsors
Key Sustainability Partners
In-Kind Partners
Facilitators
Emily brings a background in Social Enterprise, Design Thinking, and Facilitation. She is currently a ForImpact Fellow within The Suddes Group, where she works to change the story of the nonprofit sector by coaching national nonprofits and social enterprises. Previously she has served as a Columbus Foundation Fellow at Besa Community and Innovation Consultant with Honda at Ohio State University.
Organizers
Emily brings a background in Social Enterprise, Design Thinking, and Facilitation. She is currently a ForImpact Fellow within The Suddes Group, where she works to change the story of the nonprofit sector by coaching national nonprofits and social enterprises. Previously she has served as a Columbus Foundation Fellow at Besa Community and Innovation Consultant with Honda at Ohio State University.
Max is Software Engineer living in Columbus. He is thrilled by watching people drive to make great ideas a reality, especially when they are focused around compassion and community.
He loves the outdoors and music, and compulsively works on open source projects.
Rachyl founded @greatercolumbusconsulting from her passion for helping small local businesses succeed. Rachyl is a lifelong Buckeye, with a degree from The Ohio State University, and 20 years of business experience in central Ohio. She has assisted executive teams in securing over $65M in funding, as well as helping businesses of all sizes create strategic goals that are realistic based on their ... Read More »
Grant is a software engineer living in Columbus, OH. He is always looking for new ways to apply his skills to make a difference in the community. In his spare time, he enjoys music, watches sports (especially Buckeye football), goes bike riding, and plays soccer.
Kate is passionate about using research to validate and focus a product idea, especially in its early stages. When not helping with GiveBackHack or working as an Account Specialist at CoverMyMeds, Kate likes to read, go hiking, and play Dungeons & Dragons.
Lydia Stutzman
GiveBackHack Global Organizer & Independent graphic designer, brand strategist, and illustrator
Lydia is an independent art director, graphic designer and strategist working with nonprofits and social enterprises. She is currently an adjunct instructor at Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD) and on the board for the Columbus Society of Communicating Arts (CSCA).
Adam Morris
GiveBackHack Global Organizer & Founder, of Wild Tiger Tees
Adam is a co-founder of Wild Tiger Tees, a budding social enterprise work program for youth experiencing homelessness. (Which started as a GiveBackHack project in 2018!) He is passionate about inspiring others to get involved, and hosts the People Helping People Podcast to inspire greater social change in the world. By day, he utilizes his technology background as the CTO for Asset Strategy Group, where he ... Read More »
KK D Keister
GiveBackHack Global Organizer & UX Designer
KK is a Columbus-based artist, designer, and researcher working hard to create more accessible and inclusive technology. Social organizing and collaboration are fundamental to how they approach life, whether it's bringing together social entrepreneurs with GiveBackHack, sharing community through local activist groups, or playing drums and guitar in punk bands.
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