FINAL UPDATE: Thank you Kossacks - Team Act2Go won! Stay tuned!
UPDATE: Voting is valid until 15 in after last presentation, so we have another 30+ minutes. Teams are closing the gap, so give Act2Go two thumbs up at http://bit.ly/... Update #2: voting is still live, but site appears to be down. Be patient and keep trying. We are getting close to victory thanks to you!
My fellow Kossacks --
I've been working at an entrepreneurial workshop all weekend in Kansas City. Basically 100 tech and "idea" people got together, made pitches for tech product ideas, narrowed down to top 10 ideas, and then holed up in conference rooms in small teams for 54 hours to create the product and start-up company. The program is sponsored by The Kauffman Foundation, Enterprise Institute of Johnson County and several other kick-ass start-up programs.
I was lucky enough to join a team with Josh Dieker - former Nancy Boyda staffer - who had the idea to create an iPhone and G1 phone app that will make phone banking and canvassing easier on volunteers by having the script and demographics info appear on their phone as they talk. The basics about the app:
Why Would a Volunteer Use This App?
Allows the freedom to volunteer based on their schedule. Whether riding the bus, sitting on the sidelines of a soccer game, or stuck in traffic. Act2Go allows users to volunteer When They Want, Where They Want
Know Exactly Who You're Calling
Voter information such as name, location, and party affiliation displays directly on the screen.
Know Exactly What to Say
An easy-to-read interactive script appears on the screen to guide volunteers through the call and collect important data.
Real-time Communication with Campaigns
Act2Go makes it easy on volunteers to relay data by uploading info back to campaigns in real-time, direct from their phones.
Why Would a Campaign Want This?
Real Time Tracking and Reporting
Allows campaigns to easily track volunteer activity and voter data. Real-time voter data will streamline the GOTV process and open the door for micro-volunteers – those who can’t or won’t commit to long volunteer hours but still want to contribute time and energy toward a campaign.
Immediate Deployment
Act2Go will be a new rapid response tool that will enable campaigns to quickly pivot to new calling campaign in a matter of minutes, mobilizing micro-volunteers at the touch of a button.
Caller ID
Campaign's phone number shows up on the voter's caller id - not your cell phone number.
If you'd like to check-out the initial test version of the app, click here to get a preview.
It's an exciting app that will help both campaigns and volunteers in upcoming elections.....but we need your help. Beginning at 4pm CST, voting will open up online at KC Start-Up Weekend. Our team name is Activism2Go and the app is called Act2Go. We will be presenting to investors this evening - which you can watch live online at the same link. You will need to create an account to vote (measure to prevent multiple voting), but I've been told the sign-up process is completely painless (username and password) and the info will not be stored or used for any other purposes.
So, help us make the campaign volunteer experience a whole lot easier for campaigns and volunteers by voting for Act2Go. The winner tonight will receive a small cash prize, perhaps pick-up "real" investors, and allow us to truly launch the company --- just in time for 2010 elections and GOTV efforts.
Thanks for reading, recommending, voting, retweeting, facebooking, or whatever else you might be able to do to help launch this GOTV app!
We are doing it %^&# live people! Voting will come to a close at 7:30pm CST, so don't delay! Vote Activism2Go!
Thanks everyone - Team Act2Go truly appreciates your support.
For clarification -- go to the Knarly Vote link at the Startup website above, create username, give Act2Go double thumbs up and let's rock this vote! Here is the direct link: http://knarlyvote.heroku.com/ Select "Best KCSW Project" - then give Act2Go two thumbs up!
UPDATE: Presentations are going live and you can watch online. Voting closes in one hour - at 7:30pm CST -- so go the link, select "Best KCSW Project" and then give "Act2Go" two thumbs up!
Update: 6:50pm - Josh Dieker doing presentation live at http://kansascity.startupweekend.com/
40 minutes left to vote!
UStream direct link: http://www.ustream.tv/...