Top 10 Mountain View Apps Challenge Finalists Announced

News from the City of Mountain View:

After careful deliberation by a panel of judges, which included experts from both the tech industry and public sector, the top 10 finalists from the City of Mountain View’s first apps challenge have been selected.

In alphabetical order by team name with their respective Twitter-sized pitch:

• AAF Consultants – The app will track and reward your water usage every month by linking to city water bill. Users can report water misuse and share tips.
• BlueLight – Improved mobile 9-1-1 to route correctly, share exact location, add a photo and provide medical info with dispatch for faster emergency response.
• Crystal Dragon Jesus – An app that makes it easy for Mountain View residents to dispose of hazardous waste.
• Xiaoke Tao – Don’t just ask people to recycle; tell them exactly how much they have helped save the planet.
• Empowering the Underemployed – Let’s connect the underemployed with gigs to help make ends meet by bringing the Mountain View Day Worker center into the app economy.
• Mango Apps – This app will help people find the great art that is in the city. Art lovers can easily open the app and see art that is in the city.
• Monk – Monk is a platform that provides financial security by enabling social circles and communities to save, borrow and lend together.
• My City – My City, the best app for everyone to know and keep track of the community.
• OrchardView – Bring orchards back to Mountain View!
• Polco – Re-imagine government: put people, representatives, issues and legislation all in the palm of your hand. Learn, analyze, debate and vote.

Contest participants submitted ideas for mobile apps for the City of Mountain View that would facilitate innovative ways for members of the community, local government and services providers to engage with each other. In all, 26 entries were received by the June 1 deadline.

Finalists will have until August 3 to prepare prototypes for an Apps Showcase at City Hall. Following, a short video of their presentation will be posted online, and the public will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite ideas fromAugust 10-21.

The first place winner will receive $2,000, with second and third place winners receiving $1,000 and $500 respectively. Winners will be announced to the public August 24 after all contestants have been notified of their contest standing.

For more information and to follow the MV Apps Challenge online as updates become available, visitwww.MountainView.gov/AppsChallenge or follow us on Facebook.MountainView.gov, twitter.MountainView.gov andwww.MountainView.gov/GooglePlus.