Float your ideas for change at Venice Innovation Game

Venice is looking for some fresh ideas -- from you.

The Venice Innovation Game asks individuals to share ideas with peers though a “pitching” process. Ideas will be published for other participants to comment on, contribute improvements to, and vote for the ideas they like best. By offering a forum for fresh, provocative and creative thought, the game aims to engage and stimulate our diverse and innovative community to offer solutions to Venice’s challenges.

"How will Venice become a sustainable community?  We encourage everyone to submit their ideas to the Innovation Game," says George Watland, senior director of the Angeles Chapter Sierra Club.

Venice Beach Young Professionals (VBYP) a project of the Venice Chamber of Commerce, is sponsoring the "game" and looks to the community for ideas to address issues and challenges in Venice. It's free to register, and top ideas mean prizes too (see below).

The game was developed through an online platform called Northern Rift.

“Every great idea starts as a hunch,” game creator Robert DePinto says. “We all have these hunches, yet very few are shared – so we lose creativity and great ideas disappear.”

The game offers a fresh way for the Venice Chamber of Commerce to address community needs by tapping into an unending resource – the creative and innovative spirit of Angelenos living in Venice.

“We’re excited to see the ideas that develop through the Venice Innovation Game,” VBYP president Aileen Martinez says. “It’s intended to not only recognize local innovators, the winning ideas will become impact projects spearheaded by VBYP. Young, vibrant entrepreneurs and professionals want an opportunity to do things for a good cause. With a truly innovative partner like Northern Rift, the ideation of creative ideas and solutions is an important piece in advancing the culture of social good in Venice."

The game is open for ideas and the submissions deadline is February 3.

The challenge is open to anyone with an idea. Prizes totaling more than $50,000 will be distributed to the winners with the top five ideas and top fivecollaborators. Prizes include a variety of business workshops and tools that are suitable for start-ups and multinationals alike, as well as premier networking and VIP experiences. Prizes also include Sierra Club memberships and a spot on the Angeles Chapter's Wilderness Travel Course.

Venice Innovation Game prize sponsors include founder and chairman of FIXT, Jimmy O’Mahony; co-founder and managing partner of We See Dragons, Brendon Cassidy; NextSpace @ Amplify;, LMU Athletics, founder/CEO of CRD Max Carey Jr.: CEO/Founder of BuzzEON Jason Sullivan and the Sierra Club Los Angeles Chapter.

Find out more about the Venice Innovation Game and prizes at www.VeniceInnovation.com.