Technologists and University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) students gathered last week for the second 1776 Labs event, part of OnGov’s initiative to develop technology-based solutions for civic challenges. The event took place on Thursday and Friday and aimed to foster collaboration between government officials and university students.
The first 1776 Labs event, held in April, established a framework for democratizing the government solution development process, involving over 80 students. This latest event continued that mission, allowing governments to address specific problems at no cost by generating deliverables such as ideas, presentations, or prototype solutions, according to Silas Deane, founder and CEO of OnGov, which focuses on improving government service delivery through artificial intelligence.
Deane emphasized the importance of understanding the underlying issues before technology is purchased, stating, “The country was founded on the idea that government should be built by and for its people, and somehow we lost that in the procurement process.”
Local officials brought a variety of challenges to the event. Jeannette Bruno, chief transformation officer in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, sought ways to assist behavioral health providers in proactively identifying individuals needing post-crisis support. Bruno hoped students would approach the issue from new angles, highlighting the need for diverse perspectives in public service.
Bruno conveyed her enthusiasm about the event, noting that it aims to produce a proof of concept within 24 hours, with the county’s Department of Health and Human Services likely to lead subsequent experimentation phases.
Renee Chenault-Fattah, executive director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, posed a challenge focused on how technology could enhance residents’ understanding and exercise of their civil rights. Established in 1951, the Commission works to address discrimination across various protected classes. Chenault-Fattah recognized the need for fresh ideas to tackle agency challenges, particularly amid recent reversals of civil rights protections at the federal level.
Another participant, Senzwa Ntshepe, owner of The Connect, presented a challenge related to technology’s role in improving access to well-paying jobs and career development for young people. Ntshepe emphasized the need for innovative solutions beyond conventional thinking to enhance civic engagement.
Students participating in the event, a mix of disciplines including policy, business, and engineering, found the experience rewarding. Trenton Ryu, a UPenn Ben Franklin Scholar studying economics, expressed his commitment to connecting talented students with real governmental challenges, stating, “With today’s technology, I believe students have far more to contribute than we sometimes give them credit for.”
The approach developed at 1776 Labs is expanding across the country, with events planned at several universities through spring 2027, including Vanderbilt University and Stanford. The series will conclude with a national event at Amazon HQ2, highlighting the outcomes of prior gatherings. Due to high demand, the event organizers had to decline participation from seven universities this year, with plans to include those institutions in the following year.
Deane summarized the initiative’s goals, noting that “across governments, problems rhyme,” indicating a commonality in the challenges faced by various jurisdictions.
