Connected Colorado (C²) Challenge

What is the C² Challenge?

The C² Challenge provides an open-ended innovation process for government procurement that removes the need to meet specific requirements and provides an open door to business and academic innovators to propose new ways of solving a problem. The goal is to provide communities with innovative solutions to specific issues that they are facing. The challenge enables urban and rural communities to leverage a collaborative approach to explore, vet, and implement regionally applicable solutions. 

After surveying our member jurisdictions about issues currently facing Colorado communities, the 2026 C² Challenge seeks actionable solutions that address three specific problems:

  • Early Indicators of Housing Instability | How might communities detect early indicators of housing instability to enable proactive intervention before a resident experiences homelessness?

  • AI Agents – Use and Governance | How do we better understand, manage, and secure use of AI agents within government organizations while encouraging their responsible use?

  • Efficient Business Licensing & Permitting | How might local governments streamline the business licensing and permitting process across municipal, county, and state requirements into a single, accessible experience?

Submit a Solution

Are you a solution provider who is planning on submitting? The Challenge application closes on June 5.

Prior to submitting, please review the Request for Innovative Ideas (RFI2) solicitation document.
Make sure to register for the Solution Provider *virtual* Info Session on Wednesday, May 13 at 9 am MT.

Submit a solution for Early Indicators of Housing Instability

Submit a solution for AI Agents Use and Governance

Submit solution for Efficient Business Licensing and Permitting

 

Resources

Purpose

To identify and test innovative solutions to the challenges threatening Colorado’s quality of life through an open, collaborative process.

Benefits

This is a unique opportunity to collaborate directly with smart cities in Colorado to develop and test solutions in real world environments while also gaining exposure within the Alliance network of more than 70 public, private, academic and allied members.

The following jurisdictions have confirmed their participation: City of Colorado Springs, Jefferson County, City of Centennial, City of Castle Pines, City of Lakewood, and Arapahoe Libraries. Submitting an application will enable you to receive feedback on your solution from these jurisdictions!

How does the C² Challenge work?

The C² Challenge process is divided into four separate stages:

  • Development
    • Governments propose and select problem statements/challenges to be addressed by solution providers
  • Intake
    • Proposals are submitted via provided intake form
    • Deployment Board (made up of participating government employees) evaluates solutions
    • Deployment Board members choose solutions to implement in their communities
  • Execution
    • Cities partner with providers to implement solutions in their communities
  • Assessment
    • Assess results for outcomes

Timeline

In 2025, the Alliance’s C² Challenge received 41 solutions!

The 2025 Challenge resulted in four different jurisdictions selecting winning solutions for scoping and demonstration in Colorado communities.

 

Testimonials:

“The piece that I really appreciate about the Challenge is that the problem statements are written intentionally to be broad, which creates a unique and beneficial way for communities to address issues that we are all experiencing without having to put out a traditional Request for Proposals (RFP). It opens our eyes to what’s available and what can be done.” – Will Jones, City of Greeley

“At Qwally, we have a big vision to make entrepreneurship and small business ownership more accessible than ever. Colorado Smart Cities Alliance built the challenge statement, assembled the audience, and gave us the opportunity to win. If you talk to any entrepreneur, that’s all they need—opportunity. Because of CSCA, we have an amazing new customer that helps turn our vision into a reality. We can only hope for more opportunities like these.” – Brandon Gumm, Qwally

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to work with at least one Colorado municipality [and potentially more] to redefine how our cities are being developed. The process of the Revive! Challenge was a truly great experience. The Alliance team was open, clear, responsive and informative and it made it a very positive experience for us as a solution provider.” – Dana Chermesh-Reshef, inCitu

“I really love that [the Revive! Challenge] is saving time for the private sector through a single application process, and that it increases the efficiency of government employees, who can now work together implementing a joint solution.” – Melanie Ward, City of Centennial