Startup Crowdsourcing Climate Change Called “Too Big” For New Orleans, Plans to Stay

iSeeChangeiSeeChange a crowdsourced climate change reporting project– a public media experiment– that draws on community observations and conversations with top climate scientists.

Originally produced in Colorado at KVNF Mountain Grown Community Radio in collaboration with interactive storytelling partner Zeega, iSeeChange is now in New Orleans with no plans to leave. The project is a part of Localore, a nationwide production of AIR, with principal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

iSeeChange curates questions, photos and data from its users, who range from scientists to students to farmers and more, observing how climate change is affecting the world around them. The project can identify weather trends after collected data is matched to NASA satellite data.

The mobile app helps individuals, communities and businesses see both that there is climate risk and therefore climate opportunities.

Founded in early 2012—the warmest year on record in the history of the United States—iSeeChange has documented the earliest ever spring growing season, a landmark wildfire season, and severe droughts in the Rocky Mountain West. Their award-winning prototype, The Almanac, focuses on stories that reveal the ways in which climate affects every citizen and binds communities together.

“When our users tell us that  flowers are blooming early, we warn you about allergies and help farmers prepare for droughts and wildfires. When Asian fishermen tell us the fish are swimming deeper, we can prepare for  snow days in the South,” explains the company.

iSeeChange creator and executive producer Julia Kumari Drapkin pitched at the Water Challenge on Monday during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW). The feedback she received from the judges was shocking: iSeeChange is “too big” for New Orleans.

“Our idea is not just big, it’s huge,” said Drapkin. “iSeeChange can change the world right here in New Orleans. We can launch this thing right here with our NOLA talent!”

The company will also be demoing at The Big Idea on Friday at Manning’s in hopes to win the $50,000 grand prize.

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We’d like to thank our sponsors for SBN’s involvement in New Orleans Entrepreneur Week: 365 ConnectFederated Sample, and Peer Partners. Want to be a sponsor? Email Julia@SiliconBayouNews.com! Startup Showcase 2014