Right now the finalists for the Dell Social Innovation Competition are backstage at the AT&T Center in Austin, TX prepping their pitches for a panel of judges. They’ve spent their weekend exploring the local flavors and sounds of ATX, and now it’s time for these students to take the stage and prove why their big idea should receive the big prize, $50,000 in funding to make their idea a reality. It makes me nervous just thinking about it.
The final event begins at 6:30pm CST today and will feature keynote speeches from Sonal Shah, who heads the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation, and from Manoj Sinha of Husk Power Systems, the 2008 Dell Social Innovation Competition Grand Prize Winner. It also decides the recipients of more than $100,000 in prize money including $1000 to the “People’s Choice” award, which you can vote on tonight. Start thinking about which finalist you’ll vote for and follow them on Twitter here.
We invite you all to tune in for the play-by-play live via the event webcast (link goes live at 6:30pm CST) or at #DSIC11 on Twitter.
Photo of finalist teams featured above at Moonshine restaurant, Austin TX. Taken by local photographer, Scott Van Osdol.
Check back tomorrow right here on Direct2Dell for the official announcement of the 2011 winner of the Dell Social Innovation Competition.
UPDATE: 5/17/2011 11:30 a.m.: The Dell Social Innovation Competition 1st place winner is Taka Taka Solutions – see related blog post here
