HungerTech Challenge looks to solve food insecurity

Eighteen teams will submit their innovative solution this week as part of the AgriNovus Indiana HungerTech Challenge. In the challenge’s second year, teams look to address the problem of food access for SNAP recipients through the creative implementation of technology.

HungerTech aims to solve food insecurity in Indiana, specifically among rural, low-income, minority and older populations. AgriNovus CEO Mitch Frazier says technology can aid in solving food insecurity through improvements to affordability, distribution and grocery access/transportation.

In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Frazier emphasized the importance of technology in solving hunger in America.

“If they are an innovator, and they can find a way to connect food supply with food demand using technology, we want to unlock that,” said Frazier. “[HungerTech] is focused on how do we best use the power of technology to connect food supply to food demand specifically focused on those in most need, served by the SNAP program?”

The AgriNovus chief says the prize money given to the winners is meant to act as an ‘accelerator’ to help turn “that initial viable idea into an initial viable product.” 

The winning teams will be announced on June 12th. The grand prize is $25,000 and the second place prize is $5,000. 

Along with the monetary prize, ”participants will receive access to AgriNovus research data, connections to subject matter experts and mentors, as well as one-on-one coaching to develop their idea,” said Frazier. 

Frazier explained that connectivity is just as valuable as proximity regarding food shortages, especially since the 2014 Farm Bill that authorized the use of SNAP to purchase groceries with digital technologies.

“HungerTech has an opportunity to be a new category of software, part of ag tech, part of this $58 billion agbioscience economy in Indiana” said Frazier. “With the help of AgriNovus, [HungerTech] is incredibly well positioned to chart that next chapter of growth.”

Indianapolis-based Elevance Health is the presenting sponsor for the competition, along with Shipt, AT&T and TechPoint. With the sponsors acting as judges, Frazier said, “all of them bring a unique point of view to this market and to the needs of this market, and to see that level of expertise focused on this innovation is just a really unique opportunity for both the innovators and for the sponsors themselves.”

Last year’s winner, Civic Champs, created a web-based and mobile platform that automates volunteer management for nonprofit organizations. The app developed by the Bloomington-based company allows SNAP shoppers to purchase from participating grocers and schedule home delivery at no additional charge.