Monday, August 12, 2013

Details Released for First-ever Regional DataPalooza



August 12th, 2013, Raleigh, NC: HQ Raleigh and Forward Impact have released event details for the nation’s first-ever regional DataPalooza on September 12, 2013, in conjunction with Triangle Entrepreneurship Week and Raleigh MAIN Event.

The event celebrates the culmination of a 90-day open-data competition that began earlier this summer with the support of the White House and appearances by Todd Park and Nick Sinai, the Chief Technology Officer and Deputy CTO for the US Government.  Since the competition kicked off, 10 teams have used open data drawn from federal, state, and local resources to develop applications and business ideas that will catalyze positive change in the fields of health, energy, and education.

Three teams will advance to the final round, pitching their ideas to the audience and a panel of judges at the September event. The winning team, selected by experts from Blue Cross Blue Shield NC, SAS, Red Hat, and NC State, will receive a cash prize and a pitch spot at the CED Tech Venture Conference later in the month.

NC DataPalooza features presentations by notable keynote speakers including Marshall Brain, Ian Kalin, and Gunnar Hellekson. Brain is the Founder of HowStuffWorks and is highly involved as a mentor in the Triangle’s entrepreneurial community. Kalin is a former White House Innovation Fellow with the Department of Energy and now serves as the Director of Open Data for Socrata. Hellekson is the Chief Technology Strategist for Red Hat’s US Public Sector.

By hosting the first-ever regional DataPalooza, the Triangle will be recognized as a center for open data, collaboration, and entrepreneurial innovation, furthering our goal to make this region a top five entrepreneurial destination in the country.  The event is an exciting opportunity for local entrepreneurs and change makers to discover how open data can positively impact their businesses and community.

NC DataPalooza would not be possible without the generous support of Blue Cross Blue Shield NC, HQ Raleigh, and Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network. More information and event registration can be found here.

About HQ Raleigh:
HQ Raleigh is a shared entrepreneurial workspace designed to provide an environment that empowers, fosters, and cultivates companies that produce long-term job growth and positive social impact.

About Forward Impact:
With a focus on educational opportunities and entrepreneurial environments, Forward Impact works to support community-based strategies and scale high-impact entrepreneurs. Current initiatives include HQ Raleigh, Bull City Forward, and Leadership Exchange. 

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