IBX Game Changers Challenge
Link back to the Information Advocates Notebook
Link to the iStart IBX Web site
Business Name
Philadelphia Information Advocates
Business Abstract
A network of dedicated, trusted, community-based listeners intelligently connecting resources to requests.
An Information Advocate is a person who helps their neighbors, community members, or any other group of people learn about the resources, skills and needs of other members of the community and the world. They provide access to social supports and help the community to build social capital by listening to their constituents and converting what they learn into information that can be shared in ways that are appropriate to each person's needs. They help people to conduct research and teach people how to use information and communication tools. Their importance lies in the fact that they are a person who is available to be helpful in using modern technology and knowing who does what in the community. Information Advocates help their community with COMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION and TRUST.
1. Read and agree to the official rules and conditions
2. Team leader name and email address:
3. Team names and email addresses:
4 Advisor names and email addresses:
Application and Organizational Information
5. Team or Company name:
6. List all founders/board members/advisors:
7. Organization website:
8. Organization address (if not located in Philadelphia, Chester, Montgomery, Delaware, or Bucks counties, what are your plans to establish a location in the region?
9. Business model:
10. Date established/years in business:
11. How will you measure your impact on health and wellness? What metrics will you use?
Your Solution, Innovation and Social Impact
12. Describe your proposed solution, product, or service and how it will help improve health and wellness in the region.
13. What root health issues will be impacted by your solution?
14. Why do you consider your solution innovative? Discuss how it is different from existing solutions.
15. What do you hope to achieve in the next 12 months towards implementing your solution? What major tasks do you need to complete to achieve these milestones?
Scalability and Practicality
16. What communities or constituencies are you targeting/will you target initially? Why? How have or do you propose to impact health among these groups?
17. What are your plans for scaling your solution throughout the region and beyond? What resources will you need to accomplish this?
18. How will your venture create a lasting impact on health and wellness?
19. What is your business model? For a for-profit venture, how will you make money? For a non-profit, what
revenue streams will you develop to sustain your venture?
20. Financial model: describe your revenues and projected costs for the next several years. At what point do you reach break-even? Describe resources (investment and other) that you will need to reach break-even and sustainability.
21. What research, analysis, or testing have you done to validate the impact of your proposed solution and the viability of your business model?
22. Feasibility Please provide a brief history of your venture, including obstacles overcome and milestones reached.
23. Please provide a brief background for each of the founders or principals who will be working on your solution, emphasizing experience relevant to implementing your proposed solution.
24. Who are/will be your competitors and what will make you competitive with them?
25. What potential obstacles to your long-term success do you foresee? How do you plan on overcoming these obstacles?
26. What resources or expertise are you currently lacking?
27. How do you believe Independence Blue Cross or the other challenge supporters could be helpful to you as you implement your solution?
Other
28. Feel free to attach additional materials that help describe your product, service, or solution; its impact on health and wellness; or your team. The maximum attachment size is five (5) pages.
29. Where did you hear about the Challenge?
A: Jeff Friedman posted a message in the Open Access Philly email list: IBX Game Changers Challenge