Bellevue residents and local tech entrepreneurs have until Monday, Oct. 12, at 5 p.m. to register for a city-hosted forum that will launch a new round of funding for civic technology projects.
The City of Bellevue will unveil Civic Innovation Challenge 2 at the Exchange Northwest Forum on Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bellevue City Hall, 450 110th Ave. N.E. The program selects three to five participants to pilot proposals addressing city priorities, with each recipient eligible for up to $15,000 in stipend funding, coaching from entrepreneurs and investors, and a design partnership with city staff.
The evening will also include a keynote and a "Concourse Connecting" networking session, according to a GeekWire calendar listing for the event.
What the challenge offers
The second challenge will be open to individuals, teams, students, startups and businesses, according to the city's innovation programs page.
In the first round, launched in 2025, the city selected four companies from 23 applicants: Certivo, Legislaide, Juganu and FindIt. All four piloted artificial-intelligence projects, according to a city announcement.
Who's behind the forum
The forum is hosted by the Exchange Northwest, a partnership of the City of Bellevue, Bellevue College, Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech) and King County Information Technology (KCIT).
The group formed to advance civic innovation, digital equity and community collaboration across the Pacific Northwest, according to a WaTech press release.
When the partnership launched, Bellevue College President Dr. David May said the Exchange would connect education, industry and government to strengthen the region's innovation capacity. King County CIO Stephen Heard called the collaboration a team effort that helps move the region forward.
The Exchange grew out of Bellevue's Inclusive Innovation Forum, which the city started in late 2024.
How to register
Registration is required. Residents can find the sign-up link at exchangenw.org or through the GeekWire calendar listing. The deadline is Monday, Oct. 12, at 5 p.m. Questions can be directed to [email protected].
