The FEED MKE Pilot Project, led by the City of Milwaukee’s Environmental Collaboration Office (ECO), is a two-year initiative launched in May 2024 to reduce food waste and improve community food security through dynamic public-private partnerships. Funded by a $400,000 USDA Composting and Food Waste Reduction grant, this project supports Milwaukee’s ambition to become a world-class eco-city—by advancing sustainable growth, strengthening the local economy, restoring ecosystems, and driving meaningful action across the food system.
Through strategic programming and coalition building, FEED MKE is redistributing surplus food, diverting waste through composting, and fostering systems-wide solutions to build a healthier, more resilient Milwaukee. 🔗 milwaukee.gov/feedmke
This Dev Sprint will provide participants with the opportunity to hear from partners in the process – including composters, food recovery organizations, food pantry operators, and private citizens – all of whom have challenges ripe for tech-focused interventions.
Important Notes:
The groups will convene at The Global Water Center at 4:30pm on Wednesday, October 15th, 2025.
Anyone interested in working on a challenge can self-assign to a specific challenge team.
Challenge groups will have have until Monday, December 15th, 2025 to submit their product pitch.
All pitches will be blind-reviewed by a panel of industry experts.
The top four pitches will be invited to present live at an event on Thursday, January 15th, 2026.
