NYC BigApps is a competition that empowers the sharpest minds in tech, design and business to solve the city’s toughest challenges. And the competition in Brooklyn was pretty tough.
Industry City hosted the “People’s Choice” competition, where five finalists were chosen (determined by online and onsite voting) to pitch to a panel of judges who cast their own votes to determine which team will get a shot at going head-to-head in the BigApps Battlefield, pitching to a celebrity panel for one guaranteed spot in the Finals.
20 teams in all will be competing in the Battlefield, and we’ll be announcing them as soon as those votes are in.
In the meantime, here are the five “People’s Choice” finalists – and the winner who will go on for a chance at the big prize:
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PEOPLE’S CHOICES AND THE WINNER
Buskr
Buskr is a new self-promotion app for local artists, musicians and performers where they can promote their talents and shows!
Get on board to find a performance in your neighborhood bar or restaurant, a thrilling street performance up the road, or something unknown and exciting downtown! Buskr provides the performers with a platform to directly promote themselves and their shows, and lets end-users see when and where they’re performing. The app can be used to find a live street performance, a band at your local bar or a performer you happen to like, who may be performing nearby. Who knew? The app also allows fans to show their appreciation by tipping the artist directly with a debit or credit card.
Tour-De-City
Tour-De-City allows travelers who are independent sorts to put together their own custom tours in under two minutes. No tour agents required. You can plan your own itinerary – and they also provide a menu of suggestions. The website is live. Mobile edition coming to iOS and Andoid in September.
Cartwheels LLC (beta coming mid-August)
All of those food trucks/vendors and how do you keep track of them? That’s what Cartwheel is doing, differentiating them by type, offering ratings and reviews (and health violations) and listing menus and specials. The idea is to start in NYC and go national before too long.
Equilibrium
Equilibrium is an app that helps you get your balance. Not physically, but the goal is harmonious living by syncing your calendar to balance learning, exercise and community service. It also tracks your progress, so you won’t have to worry about getting too much of a good thing – or vice versa.
Heat Seek
Heat Seek is using the Internet of Things to track the temperatures in those NYC apartments that tend to get frigid when the temperatures drop. Yup, finally, something to truly monitor slum lords and make them accountable. The cost of the device came up as something of an issue, but they currently have it priced at $30-$40, and expect that to drop to $15. Sound like a winner? It was unanimous.
