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NBA Presents: AI for the City

Strategic Direction for All-Star Weekend Hackathon​

The Vision​

Transform NBA All-Star Weekend into a launching pad for "AI for the City" - a civic technology initiative that creates real value for Los Angeles while establishing a repeatable model for athlete-tech partnerships.

Core Concept Shift​

From: Generic AI hackathon with toy apps nobody uses To: Civic problem-solving sprint with guaranteed implementation paths through city government partnership

Competition Tracks - Real Problems for Real People in LA​

  1. Civic Solutions Track

    • Partner with LA City Council to identify broken/outdated government websites
    • Participants rebuild actual city services using AI coding tools
    • Winners get internship opportunities with city government
    • Real problems, real users, real implementation

  2. Local Courts Track (Basketball Focus)

    • Real-time court availability system for public basketball courts
    • Community-wired sensors or check-in system to show if courts are occupied
    • Solves actual problem: "Is the court free before I travel there?"
    • Requires buy-in from local community for implementation

  3. Tools for Your School Track

    • Students build solutions for their own high schools/colleges
    • Examples: homework help systems, club coordination apps, campus navigation
    • School administrations provide problem statements and implementation support
    • Winners get their tools deployed at their actual schools

Note: These categories may evolve as better ideas emerge through community conversations leading up to the event.

Key Stakeholders & Value Props​

For Young Participants:

  • Access to a field they thought was closed to them (AI coding)
  • Real job opportunities (city internships)
  • Mentorship from Google/tech company engineers
  • Connection to NBA stars and culture

For City of LA:

  • Free website/service upgrades
  • Pipeline of local tech talent
  • Positive PR around innovation
  • No cost, high value

For Tech Partners (Google, Anthropic, etc.):

  • Government relationship building
  • Cultural credibility through NBA association
  • Non-controversial impact initiative

For NBA Players/Celebrities:

  • Show up as their donation (no cash needed)
  • Introduction to tech investment opportunities
  • Positive PR with guaranteed messaging support
  • Gateway to "deal flow as a service"

Pre-Event Training Program​

Remote AI Curriculum (2-3 weeks before event):

  • Introduction to AI coding tools (Cursor, Claude, etc.)
  • Building with real civic data sets
  • Understanding local problem-solving methodology
  • Virtual mentorship sessions with tech partners
  • Ensures participants arrive prepared, not overwhelmed

Counter-Narrative: AI as Community Empowerment​

Addressing the "AI is bad for local communities" narrative:

  • Show AI as a tool for community self-determination
  • Local kids solving local problems with cutting-edge tech
  • Not AI replacing people, but people wielding AI for their communities
  • Tech companies eager to support this positive framing

The Bigger Play​

This event is the entry point to a larger opportunity:

Phase 1: AI for the City events at major gatherings (All-Star, Super Bowl, Olympics)

Phase 2: Build trust and relationships with athletes, managers, executives

Phase 3: Launch "Deal Flow as a Service" - a venture platform where:

  • Athletes/entertainers become LPs in tech funds
  • We curate and vet investment opportunities
  • Tech companies get celebrity brand ambassadors
  • Athletes get access to venture scale returns previously reserved for tech industry insiders

Why This Works​

  1. Solves real problems - No more useless hackathon apps
  2. Creates lasting value - City gets better services, kids get jobs
  3. Builds the right network - Unites tech, sports, government, community
  4. Establishes us as connectors - The bridge between worlds that rarely talk

Immediate Next Steps​

  1. Lock in LA City Council through your sister-in-law connection
  2. Approach multiple AI partners (Google, Anthropic, OpenAI) - not exclusive
  3. Define specific civic problems to solve with city input
  4. Recruit 2-3 current/former NBA players as judges/mentors
  5. Create media strategy emphasizing lasting community impact

The Formula for Scale​

[Major Event] + [Local Government] + [Tech Partners] + [Celebrity Presence] = Lasting Infrastructure + Investment Pipeline

This could be much more than another hackathon. It could be the beginning of a systematic approach to democratizing tech investment while solving real civic problems. The impact story writes itself, the business model is clear, and the network effects compound with each event.

Let's build the bridge between the court and the code.

Gary