Second Best Idea Slam

While the best ideas on campus are being developed by student inventors in this year’s PennVention competition, the Weiss Tech House is holding a contest to collect "second best ideas" for future development.

"Right now, there are students on campus with great ideas that they don't have time to develop, and others who would love to invent something, but don't have that "big idea," said Anne Stamer, Director of the Weiss Tech House, "The goal is to bring these groups together."

The "Second Best Idea Slam" will unite prolific idea generators and skilled collaborators in a three part contest to encourage technological innovation. Any Penn student may participate, and everyone who submits an idea is eligible to win a prize!

Here's how it works: From now until February 1^st, students can log onto the Weiss Tech House website and submit ideas to a special web-based software program called the Darwinator. They will then be asked to evaluate and rank other submissions. Students who don't have an idea can "borrow" one from the "Free Ideas" section, develop the concept and submit it as their own. The Darwinator program will then generate the top 10 most highly rated ideas. These finalists will present their ideas at the "Idea Slam" on February 16. All members of the Penn community are invited to attend the "Idea Slam" where they will have a chance to hear pitches, interact with the finalists, and vote for the best idea. The winners will receive prizes like Ipod shuffles and all in attendance will have an opportunity to discuss future collaborations based on the ideas presented.