Autotech Council brings the Auto Ecosystem together to build new innovation

The Autotech Council’s recent Developer Challenge brought OEMs, Tier 1 Vendors, and VCs to San Jose to collaborate with software developers which resulted in several new auto-based applications.

The Autotech Council Developer Challenge allowed developers on the leading edge of automotive and connected car applications to work with OEM and Tier 1 engineers to create new apps and services for the auto industry. The Challenge’s technical sponsors, Carvoyant, Faurecia, Triggerfinger Software, PubNub, and GROM Audio provided APIs and tools for the sandbox in which the developers were working, engineering and technical support, as well as prizes.
The developers presented their solutions to Autotech Council members, press, and judges. Developer Challenge judges included:

·         Dani Essindi Behrendt, Strategic Alliance Lead at Honda Labs Silicon Valley
·         Serge Matynia, Innovation Project Manager at Renault Silicon Valley
·         Chuhee Lee Deputy Director at Volkswagen Group ERL
·         Vinuth Rai, Director at Toyota InfoTechnology Center
·         Robert Seidl, Managing Director of Motus Ventures


The top three solutions were selected based on originality of the idea, user interface, overall quality, and pitch quality. The winning teams were:

3. Driver Safeguard: sensors which automatically adjust the seat to the driver’s size, along with radio & HVAC preferences.

2. Auto Awarez: links the connected car and connected home, with the ability to control the garage door and thermostat.

1. CarSense: a solar-powered sensor and intelligence solution that detects presence in a parked car, & sounds an alarm when the temperature passes critical points.


About the Autotech Council:
Since 2012, the Autotech Council has worked on helping better innovation in the auto industry get to market faster through discovery, education, introductions and cooperation. “Better and faster” innovation benefits the entire automotive value chain, from the entrepreneur and risk-taking VCs to the vendors, parts companies, automobile manufacturers and ultimately the consumer. On the web at www.autotechcouncil.com.

Contact Information

Elizabeth Palmer

Marketing Associate

Autotech Council

Contact via E-mail