Future Now
The IFTF Blog
Super Happy Block Party Hackathon
IFTF would like to invite you to the first annual Super Happy Block Party Hackathon. If you have ever been the a hackathon before, all you need to know is the time and location. Its March 31 from 1pm-1am in downtown Palo Alto.
If you're wondering what a hackathon is then prepare yourself for something amazing. A hackathon is sharing skills and perspectives and questions and discovering novel ideas at unexpected intersections. It is building ridiculous and seemingly impossible things in a matter of hours. It is playing and dancing and eating delicious food and not sleeping. You don't need to know anything about computer code and art or science and design to have a super happy time. In fact, not knowing what the limits are is a huge advantage. Bring the kids! Come build the future with us!
SOURCE: Talenthouse Inc.
(Marketwire - Mar 6, 2012)
PALO ALTO, CA- Bridging the worlds of software developers, artists, and the City of Palo Alto, the inaugural Super Happy Block Party Hackathon will happen in downtown Palo Alto on March 31, 2012 from 1pm - 1am. Innovation Endeavors, Talenthouse, and Institute for the Future will open their doors to the community in the spirit of innovation by creating the perfect environment for an interactive block. The City of Palo Alto will block off High Street between University and Hamilton. In addition, the day long event will feature: fleets of colorful food trucks, parking spaces dedicated to local startups, and a Hack the Future tent to teach kids to code.
"We believe this is a new and categorically different approach to innovation," says Dror Berman, Founding Managing Director of Innovation Endeavors. "Super Happy Block Party Hackathon will be an innovation playground for all to enjoy. This is a well-thought out space and place designed to foster new forms of innovation and interaction."
"Super Happy Block Party Hackathon is the prototype for the conversation around cities of the future," says Mayor Yeh of Palo Alto. "Palo Alto has long been associated with world-class innovation. Hackers and artists play a central role in this dynamic economy that is destined for even greater greatness. Some of the most influential and innovative companies were born and started up on these streets. Super Happy Block Party is the first of many innovative manifestations to come from Palo Alto."
Super Happy Block Party is the 50th Hackathon of Super Happy Dev House -- a five year standing community of hackers, software engineers and makers who join forces at monthly Hackathons. In the tradition of Super Happy Dev House, Super Happy Block Party Hackathon is partnering with Dev House's sister projects, Hack the Future and Hacker Dojo -- making ideas, learning, and curiosity contagious.
"We were founded under the idea that smart, passionate people rubbing shoulders is what really changes the world," adds Katy Levinson, a Director of Hacker Dojo, "Super Happy Block Party is a logical next step for the 24/7 version of this community. We are honored by the opportunity to welcome more people into our community to become part of a force for innovation and creativity."
Artists, designers, and creatives from Silicon Valley will join hackers, software engineers and makers in a multimedia mashup conversation. Super Happy Block Party Hackathon designed a creative playing field for artists as well as hackers. There will be standing-height canvasses for artists to paint; pixelated tweeted murals and a mural of canvasses along the exterior of Talenthouse.
"Talenthouse became the world's leading platform for creative collaboration by building bridges between Silicon Valley and creatives everywhere. We are excited to translate our vision into a real world playing field for a day where hackers, designers and creatives come together to connect, collaborate, ideate, and innovate," says Roman Scharf, Co-founder and CEO of Talenthouse.
Highlights of the Super Happy Block Party will include: a Day Star Yurt with a Silent Disco with a live DJ inside; a constellation of LED strip lights laid out on the block for developers to hack; food truck culinary mash-ups, and a cavalcade of high-tech personalities and founders.
Local start ups and businesses along the High Street Innovation Corridor will be showcased in parklets (parking spaces) which will debut in the Popup Innovation Parking Lot on High Street. Startups can reserve a parklet by feeding the meter after contacting us via our micrositewww.superhappy.be
This event is hosted by Innovation Endeavors, Talenthouse, the City of Palo Alto, Institute for the Future, and Super Happy Dev House with the support and participation of local startups. To ignite the spirit of the Super Happy Block Party Hackathon, the sponsors produced this playful movie trailer which can be viewed here vimeo.com/besuperhappy/trailer
For more information on Super Happy Block Party, be super happy, at www.superhappy.be -Hashtag #shbp
About Innovation Endeavors
Innovation Endeavors empowers the best and brightest to connect and launch game-changing ventures. Founded in 2010 and backed by Eric Schmidt, the fund has backed over 100 entrepreneurs and more than 45 early stage companies. With its open space office in Palo Alto, Innovation Endeavors is changing the way venture capital firms and entrepreneurs interact, embracing fun, accessible, and design driven entrepreneurship - www.innovationendeavors.com
About Talenthouse
Talenthouse is the leading platform for creative collaboration, providing life-changing opportunities for the creative community. Talenthouse embraces artists at every level of their career, as well as all supporters of the arts. Attracted by the potential for discovering, collaborating with and mentoring emerging talent, many acclaimed industry icons and global brands partner with Talenthouse by hosting projects and initiatives known as 'Creative Invites.' Artists and brands choose Talenthouse to engage with their audience in a targeted, relevant and credible context -www.talenthouse.com
About the City of Palo Alto
Distinctive in every way, Palo Alto is known as the center of global innovation and technology where many world class businesses have established corporate headquarters. With its proximity to Stanford, lively downtown and shopping districts, varied natural landscape and easy accessibility from either San Francisco or San Jose, Palo Alto offers visitors a diverse and exciting environment to explore. Locals and visitors alike enjoy the variety of shopping, dining and cultural activities as well as over 50 miles of nature hiking and biking trails; there's truly something here for everyone -www.cityofpaloalto.org
About Institute for the Future
The Institute for the Future (IFTF) is an independent, nonprofit research group with 44 years of forecasting experience. IFTF's core work is in identifying emerging trends and discontinuities that will transform global society and the global marketplace. IFTF provides insights into business strategy, design process, innovation, and social dilemmas with research that generates the foresight needed to create insights that lead to action. IFTF research spans a broad territory of deeply transformative trends, from health and health care to technology, the workplace, and human identity - www.iftf.org