WINTER 2016-2017
that PedalTap is now looking to partner with other organizations that share their vision of lowering the spread of infection through promoting proper hand hygiene while also conserving water . Ultimately , the team hopes to build partnerships that will enable them to secure their own workshop and increase their capacity for mass production of the PedalTap .
In addition to seeking new partnerships , PedalTap continues to enter their product in various competitions . In November 2016 , Nakibaala said , “[ The ] PedalTap team is also very excited and preparing to take part in the TechCon Innovation Marketplace . We are determined to be the winners of this year ’ s marketplace .”
TechCon is an annual conference hosted by the Higher Education Solutions Network and USAID . The convention brings together a wide range of people from students and development experts to entrepreneurs and researchers . One feature of TechCon is the Innovation Marketplace in which young innovators and students compete as individuals or teams in one of two categories : “ products & services ” or “ research .” The final round of winners from each category will win financial and / or mentorship support .
This year , PedalTap attended TechCon at MIT from November 10-12 where they won $ 1,500 in the “ products & services ” category .
Sarah Bernardo is a writer at the Blum Center for Developing Economies .
Celebrating 10 Years of Big Ideas
When the Big Ideas Contest launched ten years ago , it was a novel concept : give teams of students with potential breakthrough ideas small sums of money and a variety of supports and see what happens . Over the past decade , a lot has happened .
PAGE 15