Challenge Overview

Are you passionate about improving public safety and policing in the United States?

Stand Together Ventures Lab is launching the Unbundle Policing: Reimagine Public Safety Challenge, which will support participants in 2 phases:

1. The [Virtual] Incubator (EXTENDED DEADLINE AUGUST 2, 12pm ET) is for anyone who wants to learn more before submitting an idea. It supports budding entrepreneurs in developing or strengthening solutions in preparation for the next phase. Incubator participants will receive expert instruction and mentorship, the opportunity to meet potential team members, and access to in-kind resources, including cloud services platforms (AWS Activate credits), project planning, product design (Adobe Creative Cloud licenses), collaboration software, and impact consulting services. 

2. The Accelerator (applications due November 19) is the phase in which applicants receive funding based on their solutions to help pilot or scale their models. Participation in the Incubator is not required. The Accelerator is a six-month wraparound support program that will provide an immediate $50,000 per accepted team to deploy or scale much-needed solutions that reduce adverse law enforcement encounters across the United States. Select teams may receive additional funding or investment post-Accelerator from the over $1 million available.

Why Unbundle Policing?

An effective criminal justice system protects people and preserves public safety, respects human dignity, provides restorative justice for victims and perpetrators, removes barriers to opportunity for people with criminal records, and ensures equal justice for all under the law. Protecting public safety also requires input from and partnership with community members. 

However, the current approach to policing in the US often breaks down trust and imposes harm, especially for people of color. Communities and lives are harmed when police engage in situations they are not trained for or that could be better addressed by alternative solutions. To unbundle the all-encompassing nature of policing, we need collaborative, community-based alternatives developed, strengthened, and adapted nationally for a more comprehensive approach to public safety and well-being.

In partnership with MIT Solve, Stand Together Ventures Lab is launching the Unbundle Policing: Reimagine Public Safety Challenge – an Incubator and Accelerator for social ventures focused on decreasing unnecessary law enforcement encounters and resulting adverse outcomes. By launching this Challenge, Stand Together Ventures Lab aims to accelerate a range of better alternatives for point of crisis situations otherwise likely to result in an unwarranted police encounter, emergency room visit, incarceration, injury, or death.

This Challenge is looking for a wide range of solutions, such as:

• Alternatives to deploying police response to 911 calls or traffic enforcement that don’t require armed responses, whether a noise complaint, car accident, or other incident;

• Alternatives to police-enforced legal sanctions, particularly those related to mental illness or substance use disorders;

• Increased transparency, public input, and evaluation of police goals and functions within a community;

• Improved approaches to recruiting, training, evaluating, and supporting police officers in their roles;

• Better coordination between police, healthcare, and community-based organizations;

• Other alternatives or approaches that help reduce the number and risk of adverse encounters and/or that support the ability of police to focus on core threats to public safety.

Solutions should:

• Utilize data and technology to better understand and divert unnecessary law enforcement encounters;

• Engage diverse stakeholders such as law enforcement, justice-involved individuals, and community-based organizations;

• Incorporate conflict resolution, mediation, and trauma-informed approaches

What to Expect

Through the virtual, three-month Incubator, individuals and teams will have the unique opportunity to learn from a diverse range of viewpoints on the state of policing and crisis response in the US and work with police officers, community leaders, and startup experts to build solutions at no cost to you. Incubator participants may have existing solutions or ideas that would benefit from refinement and feedback, or simply be interested in the Challenge and looking to meet a team, focus on a problem, and ultimately prepare to apply to the Challenge with a solution.

The Incubator application is due August 2, 2021, and the deadline for submitting a solution to the Challenge is November 19, 2021. Teams that do not participate in the Incubator may still submit a Solution to this Challenge at that time, but these teams will lose the benefit of significant education, advisor support, and partner resources that will support them in their Challenge application.

All teams that submit to the Challenge will automatically be considered for admittance into the Stand Together Ventures Lab Unbundle Policing Accelerator, where selected teams will be invited to the six-month follow-on Accelerator with an immediate $50,000 in funding, in-kind resources (including access to pro bono legal services), and support to pilot and deploy their solutions – or further support and scale existing solutions. Select teams may receive additional funding and investment post-Accelerator. In doing so, we hope to bring meaningful and scalable change to the current state of law enforcement’s response to, and interactions with, communities across the country.

Incubator Approach

The Incubator is designed to support a range of Solution stages and teams. There will be a range of workshops, mentors, and other support appropriate for you.

The majority of the programming will take place remotely via video conferences and online collaboration tools.

Live workshops will be offered to help you consider a range of issues such as:

• Education - Who are the stakeholders involved in your solution? Which aspects of justice system reform should be incorporated into your solution?
• Problem Identification - What is the exact problem you are trying to solve? What are the root causes? Is this a research, innovation, or adoption problem? 
• Team Building - Whether you are coming into the Incubator as an individual or an existing team, you’ll have the opportunity to meet others similarly committed to reforming the justice system. Is there a missing skillset on your team? Are you looking for team members?
• Customer Discovery - What specific group will your solution serve, and how will it impact their lives? How can you better understand this group?
• Demonstration - Are you presenting and pitching your solution in a compelling way? What might a pilot or expansion of your solution look like? 

In addition, the Incubator will provide frameworks, mentors, and direct coaching for teams to develop their products, business models, legal structures, and market approach (including exploring potential pilots).

Participating in the Incubator

You may be a good candidate for the Incubator if you:

• Are passionate about seeing better policing outcomes, decreasing the risk of unnecessary law enforcement encounters, and improving overall public safety and community well-being;
• Are excited by the opportunity to refine an existing product/solution or to begin work on an early-stage idea;
• Have strong principles, a learner’s mindset, openness to diverse opinions, and are eager to contribute; and
• Believe in your potential to make a difference. 

We are looking for a diverse mix of Incubator participants who bring a variety of strengths to build complementary teams. You or your team members might fill some of the following roles: 

• Entrepreneur [risk-taker, business-owner, startup founder, inventor]
• Designer [planner, creator]
• Engineer [builder, problem-solver]
• Researcher [questioner, analyzer, investigator, teacher, writer]
• Justice Expert/Professional [lawyer, police officer, first responder, 911 operator]
• Technologist [applicator, experimenter, implementer]
• Data Expert [analyzer, cruncher, validator, visualizer, processor]
• Policy Expert [analyzer, researcher, speaker, writer]
• Activist [campaigner, organizer, reformer, supporter, speaker]

Questions? Contact rachael.drew@solve.mit.edu

FAQ

Table of Contents

What does Unbundle Policing mean?

What's the timeline?

What is the difference between the Challenge, the Incubator, and the Accelerator?

Why should I apply to the Incubator?

What/who are you looking for?

What are you offering?

How do I participate?

What are the Incubator/Accelerator eligibility requirements?

Can I apply for the Accelerator if I don't participate in the Incubator?

What’s expected of me?

How do I add team members to my application?

Who’s involved?

Glossary

What does Unbundle Policing mean?

Police work is a bundle of services, and much of it is beyond the scope of preventing and solving violent crime. Law enforcement has often become a backstop for much of society’s ills, sometimes being stretched thin while dealing with domestic disputes or providing safety for schools. Unbundling policing means separating out the many roles the police are asked to play–patrolling for traffic violations and showing up at accidents, responding to calls for mental health interventions, addressing homelessness–and distributing these to  alternative responders, like unarmed traffic managers and social workers. The goal of this approach is to connect individuals to the best resources to address their needs at first touchpoint.

What's the timeline?

What is the difference between the Challenge, the Incubator, and the Accelerator?

Good question! The Unbundle Policing Challenge consists of two parts: the Incubator and the Accelerator. 

Incubator: A three-month program designed to support participants as they develop and refine solutions, build and solidify teams, and garner expert feedback. Ultimately, the Incubator program will prepare teams to submit their solutions to the six-month Accelerator in fall 2021. The program is no cost to you – a short application to join the Incubator is required. 

Accelerator: An invite-only, six-month wraparound program that will provide $50,000 per team to deploy or expand solutions across the US. Select teams may receive additional funding and investment post-Accelerator from the over $1 million available. Applications for the Accelerator will be open October 1 - November 19, 2021.

What/who are you looking for?

We are looking for people who are committed to using their skills and passion to solve the challenge of adverse outcomes from unnecessary police encounters, including:

• Individuals with or without current teams
• Anyone in an early stage of a solution - whether you have interest, an idea, or an existing product/service in the marketplace

Teams or individuals are encouraged to apply to the three-month Incubator, especially if they fill any of the following roles: 

• Entrepreneur [risk-taker, business-owner, startup founder, inventor]
• Designer [planner, creator]
• Engineer [builder, problem-solver]
• Researcher [questioner, analyzer, investigator, teacher, writer]
• Justice Expert/Professional [lawyer, police officer, first responder, 911 operator]
• Technologist [applicator, experimenter, implementer]
• Data Expert [analyzer, cruncher, validator, visualizer, processor]
• Policy Expert [analyzer, researcher, speaker, writer]
• Activist [campaigner, organizer, reformer, supporter, speaker]

Solutions may focus narrowly on a specific problem/use case or combine various systems, data, and roles. Solutions may require buy-in from existing law enforcement agencies or be delivered entirely outside of traditional law enforcement.

Take a look at the following 'reverse pitch' videos for examples of the issues for which this Challenge is seeking solutions: 

What are you offering? 

Incubator participants will receive:

• Mentorship and feedback from experts in criminal justice reform, innovation, investment, and data/technology;
• Opportunities to receive feedback on your ideas from key stakeholders – law enforcement, justice-involved individuals, community-based organizations, and others;
• Direct access to leading investors, thinkers, and partners focused on this space
• Dedicated time and support for your team in collaborating on, prototyping, and launching/growing your solution
• In-kind resources, including cloud services platforms (up to $100,000 in AWS Activate credits), project planning, product design (up to 5 Adobe Creative Cloud licenses), collaboration software, and impact consulting services.

Winning teams (those that submit to the Challenge Accelerator at the end of the Incubator program and are selected) will receive invitation to the follow-on six-month Accelerator with an immediate $50,000 in non-dilutive funding and hands-on coaching, partnership support, pro bono legal services, and access to additional funding and investment opportunities post-Accelerator.

How do I participate?  

• The Unbundle Policing Incubator Application is now closed.
• The Unbundle Policing Accelerator Application will be open October 1 - November 19, 2021.

We also welcome all types of support in order to make this Challenge successful. Please reach out to Ayla Smith at ASmith@stventureslab.com if you are interested in providing any of the following:

• Program Support: Advise on and help design Incubator content, structure, and delivery method 
• Customer Perspective: Provide a 'customer view' of problems that need to be solved in this space
• Mentorship/Advising: Offer open office hours or consultations for teams who seek input; advise teams on an ad hoc basis; lead a workshop relevant to your experience 
• Feedback/Pilot Partnership: Curate feedback sessions from stakeholders in your network, or explore a pilot at your organization or in a specific geographic region
• Co-Funding/In-kind Resources: Provide financial or in-kind support to the program or directly to ventures demonstrating early success
• Marketing Amplification: Help promote the Challenge to your networks

What are the Incubator/Accelerator eligibility requirements?

• The Incubator and Accelerator are open to all, with the note that this is a US-based program focused on deployment of solutions in the US. 
• Accelerator team leads must be at least 18 years old. 
• At least 1 member of Incubator and Accelerator teams should be fluent in English.
• Teams of any organization type are eligible (nonprofit, for-profit, hybrid, unregistered).

Can I apply for the Accelerator if I don't participate in the Incubator? 

Anyone can submit a Solution to the Challenge, with or without participating in the Incubator. That said, we highly encourage participation in the Incubator as it will provide a variety of support resources for all stages of teams and provide support in preparing, refining, and submitting your solution to the Challenge.

What about IP? 

All Incubator and Accelerator participants will retain their IP. 

What’s expected of me?

Incubator participants should:

• Prioritize participation in workshops, mentor sessions, and reviewing/using resources (there is no time or attendance minimum requirement, but judges will consider active participation as part of the review process in selecting Challenge winners);
• Attend and participate in relevant workshops;
• Make specific and relevant asks of MIT Solve and Stand Together Ventures Lab staff so that we can best support your growth and success; 
• Actively collaborate with your team (whether existing or newly formed) outside of workshop hours; and,
• Follow the community expectations regarding civility, responsibility, and respect (which will be detailed during orientation in September).

Accelerator participants should: 

• Commit to a six-month program where at least one team member is dedicated full time to solution deployment
• Engage with product support, coaches, communities, business mentors, and other partners (through Stand Together Ventures Lab relationships) in order to launch or scale your solution

How do I add team members to my Accelerator application?

Please see "How to Add Team Members to Your Solution."  

Who’s involved?

Stand Together Ventures Lab: Stand Together Ventures Lab is the core organization putting on the Unbundle Policing Challenge and running the Incubator and Accelerator. Stand Together Ventures Lab (through STVL3, LLC and STVL6, LLC) is part of the Stand Together community, a group of foundations and organizations dedicated to empowering people in every community to improve their lives. The Lab originates, incubates, and funds ventures that leverage disruptive business models or unique applications of technology to solve core societal challenges.

MIT Solve: MIT Solve is powering the Unbundle Policing Challenge and supporting the Incubator and Accelerator. Solve is an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a mission to solve world challenges. Solve is a marketplace for social impact innovation. Through open innovation Challenges, Solve finds incredible tech-based social entrepreneurs all around the world.  

Customer Illuminated (CI): Customer Illuminated will be running the Thursday "Venture Series" Incubator sessions. CI is a boutique consulting firm that specializes in customer discovery and validation. We help startup founders, entrepreneurs, R&D departments, and PMs find product-market fit.

Global Access Network (GAN): Incubator and Accelerator participants will have access to GAN resources. 

Glossary:

Alternative Policing Services: Can include mental health services, traffic services, investigation/detective services, bylaw enforcement, parking services, etc.

Public Safety: We take an expanded view of public safety that not only prioritizes a protection definition (protecting individuals from violent harm), but the acknowledgement that being safe depends on much more: food, clean water and air, housing, a basic income and the means to obtain it--an education and a job. It might include health care, health insurance, and the freedom from discrimination.

Incubator Programming

Summary

The Stand Together Ventures Lab virtual Incubator will run via Zoom for 11 weeks, with 60-90 minute sessions twice a week. Sessions will run on Tuesdays (90 minutes) and Thursdays (60 minutes) at 1pm PT/4pm ET beginning on Thursday, September 9, 2021. 

Tuesday sessions will typically include a presentation and/or panel discussion of experts in the field of deflection, diversion, and/or related topics to Reimagining Public Safety, as well as breakout groups to discuss and collaborate. 

Thursday sessions are called “Venture Series” are a set of workshops that build on one another. The Venture Series will provide a comprehensive framework to further refine your product and plans regardless of your stage, including discussion and guided practical application. Additionally, helpful reading materials/videos will to supplement workshops.

Schedule   

Thursday, September 9: Welcome & Kick-Off 

• Get to know us and each other! Learn more about what’s in store for the Incubator. Get energized, meet other participants, learn about our community and norms, and address questions. Overview of the resources, tools, and people available to support you during the 11-week incubator.

Tuesday, September 14: Why Unbundle Policing?

• A discussion on what it means to reimagine public safety when we consider the history of policing in America and the current roles that society expects law enforcement to play. Breakouts will focus on discussing the scope of the problem you or your team are addressing.

Thursday, September 16: Venture Series Session 1: Customer Discovery That Removes The Guesswork 

• Learn to recognize the value of early and ongoing interviews with customers (and all stakeholders), and interviewing best practices.

Tuesday, September 21: When the Call Comes In: The Current State of Police Dispatch and their Role in Reducing the Criminal Justice Footprint

• A primer on how 911 works, including an overview of call centers and dispatch, constraints of existing technology, and where innovation is happening. Dispatch and call center experts will be available for Q&A.    

Thursday, September 23: Venture Series Session 2: Jobs To Be Done

• An introduction to the Jobs To Be Done Theory (i.e., Jobs Theory or JTBDs) as a framework for creating products people will actually adopt.

Tuesday, September 28: Learning from Lived Experience: The Reality of Law Enforcement Encounters

• Learn from individuals with lived experience in law enforcement encounters, and explore key strategies and movements that are transforming how we address emergencies from a reactive system driven by public safety goals and procedures to a preventative, health-first approach.

Thursday, September 30: Venture Series Session 3: Products (AKA Solutions)

• Introduction of a Jobs Theory approach to product design and feature prioritization.

Tuesday, October 5: Community First Responders

• A discussion on existing community responder models followed by breakout groups facilitated by leaders in the field.

Thursday, October 7: Venture Series Session 4: Competition And Positioning

• Introduction of a Jobs Theory approach to competition and positioning..

Tuesday, October 12: Solution Prep Session

• Present version 1 of your solution submission to peers and mentors for initial feedback, clarifying questions, and support.

Thursday, October 14: Venture Series Session 5: Markets, Segmentation, And Targeting

• Introduction of a Jobs Theory approach to gauging market size and segmenting the market to target customers who are most likely to adopt their products, specifically.

Tuesday, October 19: How We Built This: Insights from Founder and Funders

• Explore a range of early stage funding and business model options with successful founders and funders. Small group Q&A with relevant, real-world examples.

Thursday, October 21: Venture Series Session 6: Diffusion (AKA Go To Market)

• Introduction of a Jobs Theory approach to diffusion/bringing products to market.

Tuesday, October 26: Designing Community-Informed Solutions

• Examples of how other organizations have successfully partnered with and learned from individuals with lived experience in designing their solution. Breakouts focused on designing/refining your engagement strategy and identifying partners that should inform it.

Thursday, October 28: Venture Series Session 7: Pricing (AKA Resource Exchange)

• Introduction to a Jobs Theory approach to pricing/resource exchange.

Tuesday, November 2: Working with System Stakeholders on Pilots and Partnerships

• Many solutions will require buy-in, adoption, and potentially budget from police departments or other governmental agencies. Learn how others have successfully designed pilots and developed partnerships with these key stakeholders and refine your plan.

Thursday, November 4: Venture Series Session 8: Tying It All Together

• Participants see how everything we’ve covered previously fits together in one, cohesive framework.

Tuesday, November 9: Pitching Your Solution

• Learn the critical elements of effective pitching, refine your pitch materials and script, and practice pitching for feedback.

Thursday, November 11: Veterans Day Holiday!

• No Session

Tuesday, November 16: Open Working Session

• Work with staff and mentors to finalize your application, pitch, or any other final needs you have before submitting to the Accelerator.

Thursday, November 18: Final session with Special Guests

• Congratulations! At this point, you will have submitted your solutions and applied to the Accelerator! We’re coming together to look back at what you’ve done in the past 11 weeks and share hopes for the future. This session will have some not-to-be-missed surprise guests.