Be there: Civic & Government Technology Showcase

It’s hard to know what’s out there.

We have all gotten so used to Google and Amazon, etc, making it simple to find anything you need, ranging from a new phone to a new toothbrush. Not only can you find options, you can compare them, see ratings, and even talk to other people who have gone through the same decision-making process.

That’s not the case when it comes to government, particularly government software. Our public institutions are structurally isolated: each, say, city runs their own show, with no formal mechanism for collaboration or even conversation. Of course, exceptions exist: US Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, and others help connect the dots. Yet, brass tax: when you’re trying to solve a problem and you need technology?—?be it permitting, parking, or potholes?—?it’s hard to know what’s out there.

This is especially troubling given the number of reusable solutions emerging, and the numbers added everyday. The software-as-a-service marketplace for governments is exploding. The existence of companies such as CityGrows,MeWe, and SupportPay?—?just to name a few?—?illustrate that governments no longer have to go it alone. They can pull from a increasingly stocked shelf of existing, tested (and beautiful) solutions.

But, again, how do you know what’s out there?

Well, that’s where events like the upcoming “Civic and Government Technology Showcase” come in. As I’ve written before, it’s too early for anything like an “app store for government.” No, what we need is more in-person interaction, conversation, and collaboration. That’s exactly what will happen this Thursday in Sacramento.

Hosted by Innovate Your State, a non-profit backed by Tim Draper, and theMayor’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, at the event, hundreds of public servants?—?local, state, and federal?—?will have the opportunity to hear from and connect with 30 organizations, charting the course for civic and government technology. And it’s those conversations that’ll not only help those governments work better, but strengthen the government technology ecosystem overall.

So… if you’re in the area, and you want to know what is out there, this is the place to be.

See you Thursday.

- Abhi