Make a difference with location technology

Foursquare announces the return of its third-annual Foursquare for Good challenge

Foursquare For Good

These days we could all use a little more good in our lives. There is little to be said about 2020 that hasn’t been said already, but in spite of it all, we’ve also seen many instances of data and technology being used in creative ways to help improve (and even save) lives. From contact tracing apps, to COVID-19 data insights that tell people when to avoid visiting grocery stores based on when they’ll be busiest, we’ve seen innovators rise to the occasion for the good of their communities. After all, necessity is the mother of invention.

This is also why the Foursquare for Good program exists. Foursquare wants to challenge people to think about how location technology can be leveraged in innovative ways, particularly in a year like this, to help make life better for people and bring these ideas to the fore. Our mission is to partner with developers, academics, non-profits, and data scientists to make the real world a better, smarter, safer, and more inclusive place through the power of location technology.

That’s why we are excited to open up the Foursquare for Good challenge, now in its third year, with an open call for proposals from non-profits and developers around how to leverage our proprietary technology, our Pilgrim SDK and Places API, for social good. Now through October 25th, you can submit your proposal for how you would leverage location technology to uphold the Foursquare for Good mission.

What you can win:

  • Free access to our developer tools
  • Critical engineering resources from Foursquare to help get the idea off the ground
  • A $10,000 donation to the winning organization’s cause

One of Foursquare’s core values is to Invent the Future, but we believe that also means inventing a better future. That’s why AsylumConnect and Objective Zero were selected as the 2019 and 2018 winners of the Foursquare for Good program. Both organizations demonstrated a vision and commitment to connecting marginalized and protected groups with services, resources, and easy access to verified local support through location based services.

“LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and refugees face unique obstacles during their resettlement journey, from navigating pervasive homophobia and transphobia to social isolation. We are excited to leverage Foursquare’s photo data to help visually orient our users, and integrate Foursquare’s ratings and reviews data to help provide our users with a holistic picture of the services available in the AsylumConnect app. Through joining forces, we can ensure every persecuted LGBTQ+ person has on-demand access to free, trustworthy information for the safe navigation of their new community.” – Jamie Sgarro, AsylumConnect co-founder & executive director”

Last year we received nearly 50 submissions looking to leverage location technology to do everything from help people with special needs find accessible places in their local communities, to increasing voter registration and turnout. This year we’re looking to surpass that number and make an even bigger impact. The opportunities are only limited by your creativity.

Introducing the the 2020 Foursquare for Good judges:

Dennis Crowley
Dennis is the co-founder and executive chairman of Foursquare, whose original vision of connecting people to places as they move through the world remains a foundational element of Foursquare today. Dennis has long believed in the power of location technology to help solve complex problems, and knows what it takes to build apps and services around location.

Nicole Dunn
Nicole Dunn is the Program and Marketing Manager at Fast Forward, the accelerator for nonprofit tech startups. Her primary focus is catapulting the work of tech nonprofits through meaningful storytelling and programs that help them scale.

Gary Little
Gary is a Managing Director at Raine, an integrated merchant bank, advising and investing in high growth sectors of technology, media and telecom. Based in San Francisco, Gary focuses on advisory assignments and principal investments in the consumer internet, digital media and technology sectors.

Monica Melton
Monica serves as assistant editor for Forbes Innovation, covering cybersecurity and venture capital. She has covered politics at POLITICO, entertainment for Time Out New York, but her most fascinating beat has been covering the intersection of technology, finance, and entrepreneurship.

Jamie Sgarro
Jamie is Co-Founder & Executive Director at AsylumConnect, a nonprofit organization providing the world’s first tech resource platform designed to facilitate the safe navigation of those fleeing persecution due to sexual orientation or gender identity. Jamie and AsylumConnect were the winners of the 2019 Foursquare for Good Competition.

Lauren Smith
Lauren is VP of Strategy at Foursquare, responsible for building and implementing Foursquare’s strategic planning, business intelligence and corporate development processes, as well as leading a diverse set of cross-functional initiatives to accelerate business value.

We believe in the power of technology to create the next generation of life-changing apps and services. So show us how you want to use location technology to change the world. Submit your proposal now, and let’s work together to make the world a better place.

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