There will be an additional bonus to this year’s JumpStart Challenge, providing even more incentive to solve problems for existing businesses and create new, scalable innovative startups in Lincoln.

Telecommunications and software provider Calix will award an additional $5,000 to the team that presents the best and most viable idea in the ALLO Challenge.

“I’m thrilled that there has been an extra incentive added by Calix for someone to develop a solution to the ALLO Challenge,” says Christina Oldfather, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development.

“I can’t wait to hear all of the innovative ideas from the pitch participants to utilize the gigabit network in our city to solve problems!”

The JumpStart Challenge Kickoff event was held on September 21 and featured a fiber network industry challenge presented by ALLO and a sports tech challenge presented by the UNL Athletic Department. 

“Our ALLO team is passionate about doing more in our communities. If we think creatively and innovate in new ways, our fiber-optic network can continue to create lasting and meaningful change in each ALLO town. It's especially important to us to make this an external challenge and gain perspective from the big thinkers across our fiberhoods,” says Tanna Hanna, Director of Marketing & Social Media for ALLO Communications.

Participants can choose to pitch a potential solution at the JumpStart Challenge Pitch Competition on October 7 at 5:30 p.m. at The Mill, 330 South 21st Street, in the Telegraph District. Each participant will have six minutes to present their solution to the judges. 

“I'm personally so excited to hear the pitches and start working on this challenge to better serve our hometowns,” Hanna adds.

Full details on this year’s ALLO and UNL Athletics challenges can be found at www.jumpstartchallenge.com/lincoln.

Calix provides cloud, software platforms, systems and services to communications service providers, including ALLO Communications and others throughout North America. Headquartered in San Jose, CA, Calix also has locations in Petaluma, CA, Minneapolis, MN and Richardson, TX in addition to Nanjing, China. 

The winner of each challenge will receive a $1,000 cash prize, three months of free coworking at FUSE Coworking or Turbine Flats, a year of free internet from ALLO and an opportunity to partner with ALLO or the UNL Athletic Department to take their idea to the next level. Winners also have the potential to earn a $25,000 LaunchLNK grant with their solution.

For more information, contact Christina Oldfather, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, at (402) 436-2374 or coldfather@selectlincoln.org.