Case Study: City of New York achieves civic innovation and crowdsourced solutions with Socrata

New York City Asks Hackers to Solve Tough Issues

New York City launched the BigApps competition in 2009 to tap its open data and the local tech community to solve pressing civic problems. The challenge was to turn vast public datasets into focused, usable solutions and to attract broad, sustained participation that would produce real social and economic impact.

The city used its user-friendly open data portal (nyc.gov/data), APIs, design-thinking workshops, crowdsourced challenge categories, and prize support — including $30,000 and accelerator access — to connect developers with real-world problems and partners. The program drew hundreds of participants, produced about 150 eligible ideas, and generated practical winners like OnBoard, PASSNYC and Nesterly that moved toward prototypes, new ventures and improved services for New Yorkers.

City of New York

Andrew Nicklin

Director of Open NY, former Director of Research and Development, NYC DOITT