Chicago Ideas Week

Question 1

BlocPower

Answer 1

Founder: Donnel Baird (2015 Winner)
Where it was created: New York City
What is BlockPower?
- markets, finances and installs solar and energy efficiency technologies to help houses of worship, nonprofits, small businesses and multifamily projects slash their energy costs. 
Website: http://www.blocpower.org/

Question 2

EarthEnable

Answer 2

Founder: Gayatri Datar (2015 Winner)
Where the organization takes place: Rwanda
What is EarthEnable?
-installs sanitary floors for low-income families that currently live and sleep on dirt, which causes significant health problems
http://www.earthenable.org/

Question 3

Democracy Works

Answer 3

Founder: Seth Flaxman (2015 Winner)
Where the organization takes place: 
What is Democracy Works?
- leverages web technologies to improve civic engagement and voter education
http://democracy.works/

Question 4

Disease Diagnostic Group

Answer 4

Founder: John Lewandowski (2015 Winner)
Where the organization takes place:
What is Disease Diagnostic Group?
- focuses on screening, tracking and diagnosing highly infectious or neglected tropical diseases in the developing world through portable and reusable devices.
- DDG’s flagship product is the Rapid Assesment of Malaria (RAM), which detects magnetic nanoparticles created by the parasite
- particularly Malaria