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Culture May 1, 2020
This is a company that breeds competition for good.
Photo by Oluwakemi Solaja on UnsplashXPRIZE? Sustainability? Solving core problems? Saving the future?
“What do these words have to do with me?” I wondered, as a developing Creative. I love writing and designing, creating is my essence I ooze. What could I possibly do to make an environmental impact or change the world?
I was today years old when XPRIZE opened my eyes to a whole new world of possibilities for creative people like me, as well as folks who may be more scientifically-minded.
XPRIZE is a company that tackles large-scale environmental issues like global warming, or the currently dying coral reef. Alongside that, they look for new ways to make science fiction novels a reality, such as pioneering new frontiers like privatized space shuttles.
Their mission also includes breaking the bonds of exclusion and separation found in societies. They ask, what can we build today to cure the ongoing human-made diseases that plague Earth, like dirty oceans, or making sustainable products? In addition, what can be done for the social issues that plague humanity such as access to clean water?
Once XPRIZE has the problem they want to tackle, they hold a contest for the world of great, audacious, engineers, creatives, whoever it may be, to solve it. The “Prize” is funding to see that solution to fruition.
I got to experience first hand, how XPRIZES’s team finds a problem to tackle, come up with content, and then work through a solution they’d like to see fixed. They came to ENTITY Academy to run a workshop with us to give us some real-world collaboration and problem-solving experience.
Thus, starts a competition to make that solution a reality.
We were given these seven topics to choose from:
From these seven, we were told to break into groups and pitch an idea for one of the multitudes of problems within the chosen topic and then how we would want to solve it using technology as the main frontrunner while including diversity and quality in the solution.
We were given 15 minutes to create the idea. My group decided to tackle Homelessness within the “Civil Society” topic. We created software that would help the homeless find jobs, get makeovers, and an alternative place they could go to ensure the safety of their belongings.
To combat the dehumanization of the homeless we proposed interviewing them and giving them a voice. The last part was making this software accessible to all. We decided on having little pods on streets, that anyone (not just the homeless) can use. The best comparison to give you a mental image of what that would look like would be that it’s a fixture like a mall directory but on an iPad-like stand.
Viola! Finished!
Y’all, this challenge that we were given was fun but very hard. XPRIZE really challenges you, to dive deep with your solutions. It forces you to see the inconsistencies of the structures put in place by our society.
This experience with XPRIZE was one of the most exhilarating and empowering moments in my life. It made me feel that I actually had control of my future, the state of humanity, and the healing of our home: Earth.
Employees of XPRIZE get to do this every day! They made me realize that anyone can help change the future. You don’t have to be an entrepreneur or a scientist, you can be you.
You are enough.
XPRIZE currently has several ongoing competitions right now, including ones to help combat the spread of COVID-19.
