Food Insecurity Challenge

In a challenge hosted by the Ivy College of Business, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, students from across disciplines are invited to participate in a team-based challenge to generate new and innovative solutions to food insecurity. Students may sign up as a team (no more than 6) willing to tackle this challenge.

EVENT KICKOFF: October 23, 5 to 8 pm, Kingland Hub, Gerdin Business Building

How does the Food Insecurity Challenge work?

The Food Insecurity Challenge will open with a Hunger Banquet at the Ivy College of Business Kingland Hub on October 23, 2023. A local food insecurity expert will kick off the program, lay out the startling facts ranging from local food poverty challenges to world hunger, and give examples of problems to be solved during the challenge, including but not limited to food pantries, rural food insecurity, food quality vs. food quantity, food delivery, or food waste. Following the banquet, students will break into teams (no more than 6 people) to brainstorm concepts for solving these challenges, with the opportunity to ask questions, validate concepts, and prepare to tackle an approach, and the challenge will begin!

Two team options for students:

1. Form a team and plan to participate together. Sign up individually, but gather together during the team formation activity.
2. Sign up individually and find a team at the event. We will do a short exercise at the event to help match students to interest topics and other students. You do not have to have a team formed in order to attend, but everyone will end up on a team by the end of the event.

What’s a Hunger Banquet? 
You will randomly draw a ticket at the event that classifies you into a high-, middle-, or low-income earners category, and your meal will match your designation. Where you end up and what you eat is all in the luck of the draw (the meal options and portions are not equal, and that’s the point!).

Following the keynote address, students will split up into various topic categories to begin brainstorming problems they want to tackle. Those who already have a team will choose their topic area. Those who registered as an individual will have the opportunity to choose a group to join based on their interests and skill sets. Once everyone has successfully landed on a team, students will break into groups (no more than 6 people) to brainstorm concepts for solving these challenges, with the opportunity to ask questions, validate concepts, and prepare to tackle an approach. Let the challenge begin!

Between the kick-off and final presentations, students will have the opportunity to engage in a 30-minute Zoom mentoring session with business professionals and faculty/staff in fields surrounding the challenge. At least one member of each team must be present during the mentor meeting to be eligible for the final prize. Students should be prepared with their pitch deck and practice presentation to make the most of the mentoring experience and gain valuable feedback to help you become a winner!

Students will present their solutions on presentation day at Memorial Union on November 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. Following the presentations, judges will deliberate, and three winners will be selected. A networking reception will follow.

Presentations should be no longer than 4 minutes, be accompanied by a Powerpoint presentation, and address:

• Problem
• Explanation of solution
• Market demographic (who will this solution benefit)
• Timeline for implementation
• Resources needed

Three cash prizes will be awarded to the winning teams:

1st Place — $5,000

2nd Place — $2,500

3rd Place — $1,500