Startup Weekend Idea Gallery
Click on a city above to be inspired.
9 Geographies · 45 Ideas · Categories, Tags & Classifications
B Technical MVP
C Network / Coalition
Costa
1. BreatheEasy East Bay
From air data to
enforceable action in frontline neighborhoods.
Neighborhood
air-quality & freight-exposure dashboard producing policy-ready evidence packets
and recommended interventions.
Environmental JusticeAir QualityPublic HealthData Dashboards
freight exposureparticulate matterevidence packetsfrontline communitiesBAAQMDOaklandWest Oaklandsensor data
MOU-ReadyB — Technical MVP
2. ReUseWorks East Bay
Deconstruction-first
reuse that keeps value—and skills—local.
Contractor-to-reuse
matching tool with pickup workflows and compliance-friendly diversion receipts.
Circular
EconomyWaste DiversionWorkforce
DevelopmentConstruction &
Deconstruction
material reusedeconstructiondiversion receiptscontractor matchingcompliance reportingSB 1383Alameda County
MOU-ReadyB — Technical MVPC — Network / Coalition
3. CoopConnect East Bay
Community-owned
connectivity planning for apartments and corridors.
Pilot planner for
mesh/fiber co-ops that estimates costs, recruits members, and outputs a governance
starter kit.
Digital EquityCooperative OwnershipBroadband & ConnectivityCommunity
Governance
mesh networkfiber co-opdigital dividegovernance kitcost estimatormember recruitmentBerkeley
MVPC — Network / Coalition
4. CoolRoutes East Bay
Safer walking routes
during heat and smoke—no app download.
SMS-link-friendly map to
cooling/clean-air resources plus a “service gaps” dashboard for policy action.
Climate
ResiliencePublic HealthPedestrian
SafetyAccessible Technology
extreme heatwildfire smokecooling centersSMS mappingservice gapsno-app-requiredvulnerable
populations
— Technical MVP
5. ShorelineReady East Bay
Sea level rise
decisions, prioritized by community benefit.
Shoreline adaptation
prioritizer that ranks near-term projects and generates funding-ready one-page
briefs.
Climate
AdaptationSea Level RiseInfrastructure PlanningGrant
Readiness
shoreline protectionadaptation
prioritizationcommunity benefitfunding
briefsBCDCAlameda
shorelineresilience scoring
MOU-ReadyC — Network / Coalition
6. PermitPath Bay
Cut clean-energy soft costs
by making permits legible, trackable, and fixable.
A permitting
navigator + lightweight tracker revealing where heat-pump/solar permits get stuck
across Bay Area jurisdictions.
Clean EnergyPermitting & ComplianceGovernment
Transparency
heat pumpsolar permitssoft
costspermit trackerjurisdiction
comparisonbottleneck analysiselectrification
MOU-ReadyB — Technical MVP
7. SignalLedger Bay
Connectivity truth on the
ground—usable for grants, oversight, and accountability.
Crowd-verified broadband map logging speed, outages, and affordability to
produce policy-ready evidence for digital equity.
Digital EquityBroadband & ConnectivityData
DashboardsGovernment Accountability
broadband
mappingspeed testsoutage
loggingaffordabilitycrowd-verifiedevidence packetsBEAD
— Technical MVP
8. CarbonClause SF
Procurement that rewards
low-carbon, circular vendors without breaking compliance.
A
clause-and-scoring tool helping agencies add circularity requirements and score bids
transparently.
Sustainable ProcurementCircular
EconomyPermitting & Compliance
procurement
scoringcircularity clauseslow-carbon
vendorsbid evaluationbuy
cleanSan Francisco
MOU-ReadyB — Technical MVP
9. MaterialMatch Bay
Turn local waste streams
into local inputs—fast.
Two-sided exchange where businesses list
reusable byproducts and local makers/composters claim them with pickup
workflows.
Circular EconomyWaste DiversionLocal Economy
byproduct exchangematerial reusepickup workflowsmakerscompostersindustrial symbiosis
MVPC — Network / Coalition
10. HeatShield Bay
Heat and air-risk decisions
you can act on this quarter.
Neighborhood dashboard translating risk
into prioritized interventions and a policy checklist for cities.
Climate ResiliencePublic HealthData Dashboards
heat vulnerabilityair quality riskintervention prioritizationpolicy checklistneighborhood-level
— Policy / MOU-ReadyB — Technical
MVP
11. Deposit+ PDX
Make reuse easier than
single-use.
Reusable-container return network coordinating drop
points, tracking turns, and generating policy metrics.
Circular EconomyWaste DiversionReuse Systems
reusable
containersdeposit returndrop
pointsturn trackingpolicy
metricsPortland
MOU-ReadyB — Technical MVPC — Network / Coalition
12. RepairRoster PDX
Keep money local by
making repair the default.
Booking/referral platform for local repair
pros with repair-vs-replace impact stats.
Circular EconomyLocal EconomyWorkforce
Development
right to repairrepair directoryimpact statslocal tradespeoplewaste preventionPortland
— Technical MVPC — Network /
Coalition
13. PublicWiFi Planner PDX
Put hotspots where
people actually need them—especially during climate events.
Planning tool suggesting Wi-Fi hotspot placement near libraries, transit, and
shelter sites using equity heuristics.
Digital EquityClimate ResilienceInfrastructure
Planning
WiFi hotspotsequity heuristicslibrariesshelter sitesclimate
eventssite planningPortland
MOU-ReadyB — Technical MVP
14. CompostCredits PDX
Reward organics
diversion and grow a local soil economy.
Verification-light rewards
program tracking diversion and routing feedstock to local composters.
Waste
DiversionLocal EconomyIncentive
Programs
organics diversioncompost rewardsfeedstock routingsoil economyverificationPortland
MVPC — Network / Coalition
15. CivicComment PDX
Better public comments,
fewer procedural barriers.
Turns meeting agendas into decision
points and helps residents submit relevant, specific testimony on time.
Civic
ParticipationGovernment TransparencyAccessible Technology
public commentmeeting agendastestimonydecision pointsprocedural accessPortland
MOU-ReadyB — Technical MVP
16. GridReady SEA
Make community energy
projects permit-and-interconnection ready.
Checklist/workflow
helping nonprofits and co-ops navigate interconnection steps and policy
requirements.
Clean EnergyPermitting &
ComplianceCommunity Governance
interconnectioncommunity energyco-op solarpermit checklistnonprofitsSeattle
— Technical MVP
17. MeetingMint SEA
From meetings to
commitments—track what government promised.
Converts
agendas/minutes into trackable commitments with owners, deadlines, and a public
follow-up page.
Government AccountabilityCivic
ParticipationData Dashboards
meeting minutescommitment trackerpublic follow-updeadlinesaccountabilitySeattle
— Technical MVP
18. MeshCommons SEA
Co-op internet
planning for neighborhoods, not monopolies.
Map-based planner
suggesting mesh node placements and generating a governance + funding starter
kit.
Digital
EquityCooperative OwnershipBroadband & Connectivity
mesh networknode
placementgovernance kitfunding
planco-op broadbandSeattle
Network / Coalition
19. RainWise Navigator SEA
Stormwater
resilience with incentives people can actually use.
Address-based
navigator for green-infrastructure incentives plus simple permit/maintenance
checklists.
Climate AdaptationGreen
InfrastructureIncentive Programs
stormwaterrain gardensRainWisegreen
infrastructureaddress lookuprebatesSeattle
MOU-ReadyB — Technical MVP
20. CircularScore SEA
A circularity label local
businesses can prove—not just claim.
Lightweight badge generator
scoring repairability, reuse, and local sourcing with an audit trail for
procurement.
Circular EconomySustainable
ProcurementLocal Economy
circularity labelrepairability scorelocal sourcingaudit trailbadge generatorSeattle
— Technical MVPC — Network /
Coalition
21. HeatShield MPLS
Target canopy and cooling
where it prevents harm.
Heat vulnerability view suggesting cheapest
interventions and helping justify budgets/grants.
Climate ResiliencePublic HealthGrant Readiness
heat vulnerabilitytree canopycooling interventionsbudget justificationMinneapolis
— Policy / MOU-ReadyB — Technical
MVP
22. E-Bike Equity MPLS
Turn rebates into real
ridership—especially for essential trips.
Eligibility checker + outreach
tracker connecting residents to incentives and measuring uptake.
Sustainable
MobilityIncentive ProgramsEquity
& Access
e-bike rebateseligibility checkeroutreach trackingessential tripsridershipMinneapolis
— Policy / MOU-ReadyB — Technical
MVP
23. OfflineFirst Outreach MPLS
Services that
work when connectivity doesn’t.
Offline-capable mobile forms for
outreach teams that sync securely when back online.
Accessible TechnologySocial ServicesDigital Equity
offline formsoutreach workersdata synclow-connectivityfield servicesMinneapolis
MVP
24. ToolLoop MPLS
Share tools, cut costs,
strengthen neighborhoods.
Lending-library platform for community
tool sheds with scheduling, deposits, and trust scoring.
Circular EconomyCommunity GovernanceLocal
Economy
tool librarysharing economyschedulingtrust scoringcommunity shedsMinneapolis
— Technical MVPC — Network /
Coalition
25. PolicyPulse MPLS
Plain-language policy,
fast—so more people can participate.
Produces a one-page brief
with who’s impacted, key dates, and suggested questions for decision-makers.
Civic
ParticipationGovernment TransparencyAccessible Technology
plain languagepolicy
briefskey datesimpact
summarydecision-makersMinneapolis
MOU-ReadyB — Technical MVP
26. LeadSafe Chicago
Transparent progress
toward lead-free water.
Dashboard for lead line replacement
progress plus resident resources and barrier reporting.
Public HealthWater InfrastructureGovernment
Accountability
lead pipeswater safetyreplacement trackingbarrier reportingresident resourcesChicago
— Policy / MOU-ReadyB — Technical
MVP
27. BuildingBenchmark CHI
Make energy
benchmarking compliance cheaper and clearer.
Guides building
owners through reporting, flags missing data, and estimates paybacks aligned with city
rules.
Building
PerformancePermitting & ComplianceClean Energy
energy benchmarkingbuilding compliancepayback estimatesreporting wizarddata validationChicago
MOU-ReadyB — Technical MVP
28. MaterialMatch Chicago
Construction
leftovers to local projects—before they hit the dumpster.
Marketplace
for reusable construction materials with pickup scheduling and circular impact
reporting.
Circular EconomyWaste DiversionConstruction & Deconstruction
construction reusematerial exchangepickup schedulingimpact reportinglandfill diversionChicago
MVPC — Network / Coalition
29. CivicBeacon CHI
Climate alerts people can
act on—without social media.
Low-bandwidth alert + map for
warming/cooling centers, air quality days, and disruptions (SMS-link friendly).
Climate
ResiliencePublic HealthAccessible
Technology
climate alertscooling centerswarming centersSMS-friendlylow bandwidthair qualityChicago
MOU-ReadyB — Technical MVP
30. TransitTruth CTA
Service reliability that the
public can verify.
Rider-facing tracker turning delays into weekly
scorecards usable for oversight and operations feedback.
Government AccountabilitySustainable MobilityData
Dashboards
transit reliabilityCTAdelay
trackingscorecardsrider
advocacyoversightChicago
MOU-ReadyB — Technical MVP
31. GrantSprint GR
Small-city grant capacity in a
box.
Shared timeline + task tracker to find climate/infrastructure
grants and assemble applications quickly.
Grant ReadinessGovernment CapacityClimate
Finance
grant applicationstask trackersmall citiesclimate grantsinfrastructure fundingGrand Rapids
— Technical MVPC — Network /
Coalition
32. RiverWatch GR
Local water health meets
local accountability.
Resident stormwater reporting + hotspot
dashboard translating issues into policy actions.
Water InfrastructureGovernment AccountabilityCivic
Participation
stormwater reportingwater qualityhotspot mappingresident reportingGrand RiverGrand Rapids
— Policy / MOU-ReadyB — Technical
MVP
33. RepairRoster GR
A repair economy you can
see and support.
Repair directory + booking request flow with a
public impact counter and partnership hooks.
Circular EconomyLocal EconomyWorkforce
Development
repair directoryimpact counterbooking flowpartnershipsright to repairGrand Rapids
— Technical MVPC — Network /
Coalition
34. Broadband Commons GR
Evidence for
internet equity, built from lived experience.
Community
speed/affordability logging producing neighborhood briefs for policymakers and
funders.
Digital
EquityBroadband & ConnectivityData Dashboards
speed loggingaffordability dataneighborhood briefslived experiencedigital equityGrand Rapids
MOU-ReadyB — Technical MVP
35. CompostCredits GR
Feed local composters,
build local soil.
Rewards diversion and matches bulk generators to
local compost capacity with pickup routes.
Waste DiversionLocal EconomyIncentive
Programs
compost matchingbulk generatorspickup routesdiversion rewardssoil buildingGrand Rapids
— Technical MVPC — Network /
Coalition
36. HomeWeatherize DET
Make weatherization
and energy upgrades navigable for real households.
Navigator
matching residents to programs, documents, and trusted local contractors with
reminders.
Clean EnergyEquity & AccessSocial Services
weatherizationenergy
upgradesprogram navigatorcontractor
matchingremindersDetroit
— Technical MVP
37. Blight2Build DET
Vacant lots to community
assets—tracked, permitted, and funded.
Proposal + approvals
tracker for reuse projects, with reclaimed materials sourcing hooks.
Community
DevelopmentCircular EconomyPermitting & Compliance
vacant lotsblight
remediationproposal trackerreclaimed
materialscommunity assetsDetroit
— Technical MVPC — Network /
Coalition
38. SignalLedger DET
Connectivity
accountability for neighborhoods, not carriers.
Logs
speeds/outages/costs and generates evidence packets for grants and
enforcement.
Digital EquityBroadband &
ConnectivityGovernment Accountability
speed loggingoutage trackingcost transparencyevidence packetsenforcementDetroit
— Technical MVP
39. MobilityCoop DET
Shared vehicles that keep
wealth local.
Co-op scheduling + utilization dashboard for shared
vans/EVs used by nonprofits and neighborhoods.
Sustainable MobilityCooperative OwnershipLocal
Economy
shared vehiclesco-op fleetEV accessutilization dashboardnonprofitsDetroit
MVPC — Network / Coalition
40. WaterAfford DET
Find help, reduce shutoffs,
improve policy feedback loops.
Plain-language assistance navigator
plus anonymized trend dashboard on affordability pain points.
Water InfrastructureEquity & AccessSocial
Services
water affordabilityshutoff preventionassistance navigatortrend dashboardanonymized dataDetroit
— Policy / MOU-ReadyB — Technical
MVP
41. LL97 Copilot NYC
Local Law 97 compliance,
explained like a checklist.
Workflow estimating emissions exposure,
suggesting retrofit pathways, and organizing reporting tasks.
Building PerformancePermitting & ComplianceClean
Energy
Local Law 97emissions reportingretrofit pathwayscompliance workflowbuilding decarbonizationNYC
— Policy / MOU-ReadyB — Technical
MVP
42. FloodReady NYC
Basement and coastal
flood risk—actionable, not scary.
Combines flood signals with a “what
to do now” playbook for tenants, landlords, and community orgs.
Climate
AdaptationPublic HealthCommunity
Governance
flood riskcoastal resiliencebasement floodingaction playbooktenantslandlordsNYC
— Technical MVPC — Network /
Coalition
43. HeatSafe NYC
Cooling centers and heat
alerts for the people most at risk.
SMS-link-friendly map highlighting
cooling resources and surfacing community outreach/policy gaps.
Climate
ResiliencePublic HealthAccessible
Technology
cooling centersheat alertsSMS-friendlyoutreach gapsvulnerable populationsNYC
— Policy / MOU-ReadyB — Technical
MVP
44. CompostNow NYC
Make compost rules
simple and participation measurable.
Resident guide + opt-in
reminders that track participation and route feedback to improve program
design.
Waste
DiversionCivic ParticipationIncentive
Programs
compost rulesparticipation trackingopt-in remindersprogram feedbackresident guideNYC
MOU-ReadyB — Technical MVP
45. MeshCommons NYC
Co-op internet
planning for dense neighborhoods.
Rooftop/building mesh planning
demo outputting a starter governance model and a costed pilot plan.
Digital
EquityCooperative OwnershipBroadband & Connectivity
mesh networkrooftop
nodesgovernance modelcosted
pilotdense neighborhoodsNYC
Network / Coalition