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In the span of several months, COVID-19 has irrevocably transformed economies around the world, ushering in an era of “business as unusual.” To meet the urgent needs of communities and health systems, organizations of all types have had to rapidly shift their focus, redirecting their assets and capabilities to support the global response to the pandemic and fill in gaps. Distilleries and breweries have leveraged their supply chains and equipment to produce hand sanitizer. Automakers are manufacturing ventilators and respirators. Hotels are providing rooms to those without homes. Members of the OpenIDEO community are shifting their operations to aid in this effort (Top Manta, a winner of the 2019 BridgeBuilder Challenge, is currently pivoting to produce protective face masks, for instance). It is nothing short of one of the fastest, most widespread displays of global innovation in history—and it must be just the start. During this time of unprecedented need, we will quickly rethink and redesign our ways of working—from business models, to supply chains, to safeguarding employment, to approval processes and product lines. Our collective ingenuity can get us there.

In addition to meeting the immediate needs related to COVID-19, businesses and employees in many sectors are merely struggling to survive and stay afloat in the face of debilitating losses and cuts. Many business owners are innovating to continue services, and the resulting models and offers emerging from this time have the power to change communities and society for the better.

IDEO wants to uncover additional opportunities for this creativity to emerge from businesses of all sizes to meet today’s most pressing needs, while planning for a future that we know will look very different from our present.

Challenge Journey

Inspiration Phase

Started on Apr 9, 2020

Ideation Phase

Started on Apr 9, 2020

CURRENT PHASE

Ideation Phase

The Inspiration Phase and the Ideation Phase are both live and accepting submissions.

The Ideation Phase: Use this Phase to share ideas for how businesses might pivot to support the COVID-19 response and enable a more just and resilient future.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Help businesses of all sizes to meet today’s most pressing needs, while planning for a future that we know will look very different from the present. Jump into the Challenge and share.

KEY DATES

This 3-week sprint launched on April 9, 2020 and will be open until April 30, 2020.

SUBMIT IDEAS

Inspiration Phase

The Inspiration Phase and the Ideation Phase are both live and accepting submissions.

The Inspiration Phase: Use this Phase to post examples of COVID-19 business pivots that inspire you or resources that you feel will help those looking to pivot.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Help businesses of all sizes to meet today’s most pressing needs, while planning for a future that we know will look very different from the present. Jump into the Challenge and share.

KEY DATES

This 3-week sprint launched on April 9, 2020 and will be open until April 30, 2020.

SUBMIT INSPIRATION

Ideation Phase

The Inspiration Phase and the Ideation Phase are both live and accepting submissions.

The Ideation Phase: Use this Phase to share ideas for how businesses might pivot to support the COVID-19 response and enable a more just and resilient future.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Help businesses of all sizes to meet today’s most pressing needs, while planning for a future that we know will look very different from the present. Jump into the Challenge and share.

KEY DATES

This 3-week sprint launched on April 9, 2020 and will be open until April 30, 2020.

SUBMIT IDEAS

Inspiration Phase

The Inspiration Phase and the Ideation Phase are both live and accepting submissions.

The Inspiration Phase: Use this Phase to post examples of COVID-19 business pivots that inspire you or resources that you feel will help those looking to pivot.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Help businesses of all sizes to meet today’s most pressing needs, while planning for a future that we know will look very different from the present. Jump into the Challenge and share.

KEY DATES

This 3-week sprint launched on April 9, 2020 and will be open until April 30, 2020.

SUBMIT INSPIRATION

Ideation Phase

The Inspiration Phase and the Ideation Phase are both live and accepting submissions.

The Ideation Phase: Use this Phase to share ideas for how businesses might pivot to support the COVID-19 response and enable a more just and resilient future.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Help businesses of all sizes to meet today’s most pressing needs, while planning for a future that we know will look very different from the present. Jump into the Challenge and share.

KEY DATES

This 3-week sprint launched on April 9, 2020 and will be open until April 30, 2020.

SUBMIT IDEAS

THE CHALLENGE

How might businesses of all kinds rapidly adapt to support the immediate needs of the COVID-19 response, and enable a more just and resilient future?

Read The Full Brief

Opportunity Areas
Opportunity Area 1: Meeting Immediate Protective Demand 

How might businesses leverage their existing assets, resources, channels, and partners to creatively supply critical resources to our community during this pandemic?

  • With the rapid spread of COVID-19 and the need for immediate deployment of medical responses, governments, hospitals, and individuals are scrambling to source the protection they need. From medical first responders battling in warlike conditions everyday to workers in essential businesses keeping our basic services running, the supply of essential personal protective equipment (PPE) like respirators, gloves, and face shields is inadequate. For hospitals, preparing for the surge in need for specialized medical supplies like ventilators has been challenging globally. In addition, non-medical grade face masks and hand sanitizers are becoming staples for households and businesses alike.
  • How can businesses across all industries help address the shortage in protective products? Are there other innovative ways to ensure the safety of our people in face of the pandemic? Knowing that countries and regions are seeing the outbreak peak along separate timelines, how might we build on our learnings and share across borders?

Opportunity Area 2: Meeting Immediate Needs for New Services  

How might businesses pivot to fill new demand for services that help to mitigate the challenges posed by social distancing?

  • People need more than protective products to cope with the drastic disruption to society. The list of necessary services is long and complex. Enabling “physical distancing” for the most at-risk populations requires delivery of food and other essential items. With schools closed, students, caregivers and teachers need immediate access to resources that will support continuing education. Healthcare workers depend on help with childcare and ways to ensure safety of their families. Social services to support emotional and mental health are seeing greater and greater demand. Prolonged social distancing is highlighting and exacerbating the exclusion and burden placed upon marginalized communities, including those without regular access to the internet, raising an opportunity for businesses to serve a wider swath of the population.
  • How can businesses address needs for new services to help people cope with COVID-19? How do we ensure adequate provision and protection of marginalized communities?  In many ways, this opportunity area is about rethinking the roles both existing and new businesses (and their associated resources, capabilities, and networks) can play to step in and help people with these new needs. 
Opportunity Area 3: Adapting Today in Service of a New Future  

How might businesses adapt to play new roles and thrive in the post-COVID world?

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented disruption to economic activity at all levels around the globe. It is also quickly creating new norms, constraints and opportunities. Businesses will need to navigate this new reality in order to thrive, and their success is needed to support the livelihoods and needs of all. How is COVID-19 transforming industries and changing expectations, risks and opportunities for businesses? What are ways businesses need to change to succeed in this new era? How might we learn from the COVID-19 pandemic to rebuild the economy so that it is more just, sustainable and resilient?
  • This opportunity area invites reflection on the ways in which COVID-19 will change our assumptions about business-as-usual, the role of community, and the importance of the ability to innovate.

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Evaluation Criteria for Vodafone Americas Foundation Funding

Submissions are invited from registered nonprofit, civil society, community-based, and for-profit organizations working anywhere in the world.

Anyone is welcome to submit to the Challenge and benefit from community management and resources. To be eligible for Vodafone Americas Foundation funding, submissions must focus on one of the following tech areas, describing how tech will enable business to pivot, adapt and thrive:

  • Internet of Things (IoT): Smart devices allow us to connect, share and analyze data remotely. IoT can be used in hospitals and health systems for monitoring, as well as in other essential sectors like agriculture. At this time, we’re curious how we might find new uses for sensor technology to help combat COVID-19. 
  • Artificial intelligence (AI): AI-based solutions and tools are being used for a wide variety of needs right now – providing medical screenings, assisting with information dissemination, and monitoring the spread of the outbreak. 
  • Mobile Data & Technology: Mobile technology and data can be leveraged to develop apps that help trace the spread of the disease, to communicate with vulnerable populations, or to provide access to crucial services (health-related and beyond).
  • Although not required to receive funding, in addition to addressing one of the tech areas above, submissions that include a focus on supporting women and girls will receive special consideration.

Eligible submissions will be:

  • Actionable and tangible: Teams should showcase a plan and ability to quickly launch the submitted pivot within a 1-month timeframe. Submissions should describe any prototypes or initial tests performed so far.
  • Impact-oriented: Teams should demonstrate how they plan to meet a real need. This includes thoughtfulness around impact measurement: how will this pivot create value for communities and the world?
  • Complete: To help us move quickly during the evaluation process, we request that all teams interested in consideration for funding respond to all questions in the submission form by April 30.

How to indicate interest in funding:

All submissions to the Ideation section of the Challenge will be considered for this funding opportunity. No additional materials are required. However, it is recommended that participants ensure that the eligibility criteria listed above is demonstrated in the answers to submission questions.

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Know people or organizations who are doing business adaptation work? Help spread the word.

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