Step 1: Brainstorm Your Idea
Great ideas start with great questions. Let's find yours.
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Start with Problems You See
The best innovations solve real problems. Think about:
- What stops you or your friends from playing sports?
- What's too expensive or hard to access?
- What could make practice more fun?
- What do elite athletes have that you don't?
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Think About Cost
How can you make expensive things affordable?
- Use recycled materials
- Share costs with a team
- Use your phone instead of special equipment
- Build it yourself with DIY guides
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Consider Your Community
The best solutions work for real people:
- Does it work without internet?
- Can it run on an old phone?
- Is it safe for all ages?
- Can it be built locally?
Click a prompt to get started:
What if...?
What if we could practice [sport] without needing [expensive thing]?
How might we...?
How might we help kids who don't have access to [resource]?
I wish...?
I wish there was a way to [solve problem] using just [available resource].
Combine two things
What if we combined [technology] with [sport]?
Make it cheaper
Elite athletes use [tool]. How can we make it for $20?
Build vs. Buy
My team needs [solution] but can't afford it. What if we built it?
💡 Your Idea Canvas
Fill this out as you brainstorm. You can save it and use it for your submission!
Step 2: Build Your Prototype
You don't need a lab or fancy tools. Here's how to build with what you have.
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Physical Prototypes
Hardware or equipment ideas:
- Cardboard - Perfect for testing sizes and shapes
- Recycled materials - Bottles, containers, old sports gear
- Duct tape - Holds anything together!
- PVC pipes - Cheap and easy to work with
- Arduino/Raspberry Pi - Basic electronics (~$30)
💡 Tip: Your first prototype should be ugly. It's just for testing!
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Digital/App Prototypes
Software or platform ideas:
- Figma - Design app screens (free)
- Google Forms - Test if people would use it
- WhatsApp/SMS - Manually do what the app would do
- Glide/Bubble - Build apps without coding
- Video mockup - Show how it would work
💡 Tip: Start by doing it manually, then automate later!
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Community/System Ideas
Organizing people or resources:
- Pilot program - Try with 5-10 people first
- Social media group - Use existing platforms
- Simple spreadsheet - Track and organize
- One-page guide - Explain how it works
- Partner with local org - Find allies
💡 Tip: Start local, prove it works, then scale!
💰 Prototype Budget Calculator
Keep it under $50 for your first prototype!
Total: $0
⚠️ Over budget!
Step 3: Test & Refine
Get feedback and make it better.
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Test with Real Users
- Find 3-5 people to try it
- Watch them use it (don't help!)
- Ask "What's confusing?" not "Do you like it?"
- Look for what they struggle with
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Document Everything
- Take photos/videos of your prototype
- Record what worked and what didn't
- Save failed versions (they're learning!)
- Write down feedback you got
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Iterate Quickly
- Don't try to fix everything at once
- Pick the biggest problem first
- Test again after each change
- Be ready to pivot if needed
Ready to Share Your Innovation?
You've brainstormed, prototyped, and refined. Now it's time to submit your idea to the challenge and inspire the world!