PeaceRise Community Walkthrough and Overview of the PeaceRise Innovation Challenge

PeaceRise is a community that transcends traditional boundaries, bringing together minds from across the globe and various disciplines - from technology to design, academia to nonprofits, corporate professionals to independent creators - all united in pursuit of harmony through innovation. Broadcasting from the heart of Cincinnati, Ohio, under the umbrella of the Alloy Grow Lab, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit business incubator, PeaceRise is more than just a community; it's a movement towards a peaceful future through collaborative innovation.

Introducing the PeaceRise Innovation Challenge

The PeaceRise Innovation Challenge is our first community-building initiative, inviting dreamers and doers worldwide to propose innovative solutions that embody our mission of peace and harmony. This challenge offers a unique opportunity to showcase your ideas and connect with like-minded visionaries dedicated to making a tangible difference. Regardless of your background or field of expertise, your contributions are invaluable in shaping a world where peace thrives.

Joining the PeaceRise Community

Joining PeaceRise signifies one positive action toward making a global impact. Here's a simple guide to becoming part of the community:

• Visit and Join: Navigate to PeaceRise.co and click on "Join Community."
• Agree to Terms: Accept the terms, conditions, and privacy policy.
• Sign Up: Opt to continue with Google, Apple, or your email, following the prompts to join.
• Onboarding Process: Engage in onboarding to align with the community's mission of innovating for peace.

Your Role in the PeaceRise Community

During the onboarding you'll have opportunities to:

• Customize Your Profile: Upload a profile picture and cover photo, and add a bio that showcases your passion.

• Select Your Profile Role and Team Role: Select roles that match your interests, expertise, and strengths, facilitating effective collaboration within the community and during the PeaceRise Innovation Challenge.

After completing the onboarding you are considered a Peacerise Peace Partner and will be brought to the homepage of the community.

Resources and Events for Community Engagement

The homepage of PeaceRise provides a wealth of resources and events designed to foster innovation and collaboration:

• Peace Partners: Directory of members
• Events: Join Braintrust sessions led by a diverse group of experts. Participate in team-building activities. Engage in dialogues, not divisions.
• Library: Access a comprehensive resource library. Discover articles and links covering the six pillars of the challenge. Explore PeaceTech initiatives from around the world. Watch videos covering peace-building tools, case studies, and webinars.
• Challenge Pillars: Learn about each challenge pillar and discover a link library of relevant articles.
• Direct Messaging: Connect with fellow PeaceRise Peace Partners
• Discussion Channels and Direct Messaging: Connect with the community through thematic channels and direct messaging.
• Harmony Links: Read our welcome message, community guidelines, concept note, and alignment with UN SDG.

The PeaceRise Innovation Challenge: Event Structure and Timeline

The PeaceRise Innovation Challenge is structured to guide participants through initial announcement, education, ideation, team formation, submission, live event participation, and post-event development and support:

1. Initial Announcement (February 5th): PeaceRise Community and PeaceRise Innovation Challenge overview.
2. Informational "Braintrust" Sessions: SME-led sessions offering insights, scheduled for February, March, and April.
3. Application and Submission (March 4th to April 28th): Opening of the Submission Portal for team application and idea paper submission, culminating in the portal closure.
4. Hybrid Challenge (May 3-6, 2024): A focused sprint hosted at the University of Cincinnati 1819 Innovation Hub culminating in submitting a pitch deck.
5. Final Presentations and Judging (May 10, 2024): Live pitching for teams participating in person and virtual pitches from those participating from afar.
6. Awards and Recognition (May 11, 2024): Announcement of winners.
7. Publication of Contributions (May 13th): Release of all pitches public access.
8. Post-Event Engagement and Development: After the challenge, participants will receive ongoing support, including community building, mentorship, resources for further development, and avenues to integrate solutions into real-world applications.

From Ideas to Impact: Realizing Good Ideas

PeaceRise is grateful for early partnerships with Big Kitty Labs , Pieces for Developers , The Ghost Agency, Inc. , and BotsCrew , and Disco . Big Kitty Labs, in a commendable move, has pledged dedicated developer hours specifically for constructing winning solutions from the challenge. Pieces for Developers is an AI-enabled productivity tool designed to supercharge developer efficiency. Ghost Agency is an award-winning agency lending insights into UI/UX, creativity and strategic thinking. Bots Crew will provide access to the BotsCrew platform to allow any participant to build conversational AI projects. Disco is hosting the virtual community on their online learning platform. These partnerships are pivotal in transforming ideas into actionable solutions with real-world impacts. By bridging connections between entrepreneurs and established companies, PeaceRise ensures that innovative ideas are not only realized but also have the potential to make a tangible difference.

Broadening the Community:

In addition to Alloy and the 1819 Innovation Hub, PeaceRise is enriched by the contributions of leaders from various fields. These experts, ranging from founders to academics, will deliver informational "Braintrust" sessions, offering deep dives into their areas of expertise.

These sessions cover a range of topics crucial for innovators in the PeaceTech space. From Nomiki Petrolla 's focus on a customer-centric approach in software development at PDS Lab to Dr. Leah C. Lewis, J.D. 's journey of launching Cocoon Technologies Inc. for public safety, attendees will explore diverse perspectives on leveraging technology for social impact. Paul D'Souza will delve into Go-To-Market strategies with societal impact, while Rob Richardson ( MidwestCon ) discusses the power of gamification for social change. Nancy Tinsley RN MBA FACHE offers insights on creating value in innovation, and Matt W Gore provides expertise on crafting impactful pitch decks. These sessions represent the first step of PeaceRise's commitment to building a knowledge-rich community, where learning from experienced professionals inspires meaningful innovation and collaboration.

PeaceRise extends invitations to academic institutions at local, regional, national, and international levels, encouraging them to participate with their teams. With events designed to be hybrid, participants from any location can easily join and contribute. This approach underscores our commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive platform where experts and novices alike can share, learn, and collaborate towards common goals in the PeaceTech space.

Call to Action

We invite you to join PeaceRise and be part of a global movement dedicated to creating sustainable solutions for harmony. Together, let's inspire change, foster global peace, and innovate for a better tomorrow. Let's rise together for peace.

We look forward to welcoming you to the PeaceRise Community!