BBVA challenges developers to create the best apps based on transaction data from Mexico

MADRID, Nov. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- BBVA is launching InnovaChallenge MX, a new global challenge for developers that comes with a total of 60,000 euros in prize money for the applications that best add value to BBVA's data.* BBVA's second hackathon, InnovaChallenge MX gives developers access — through an API at bbvaopen4u.com — to data on store transactions made in Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara from Nov. 1, 2013, to April 30, 2014. The data is dissociated, making it impossible or identify anyone or any store.

BBVA, which takes great care to anonymize the data, is one of the few banks in the world to start opening its data to third parties through hackathons.

"InnovaChallenge MX is designed to help us envision ways to use our data, integrating and mixing it with external sources of information," said Gustavo Vinacua, head of BBVA's Innovation Centers and Open Innovation.

Vinacua said last year's hackathon, InnovaChallenge, generated more than 140 applications from 19 countries. He also noted that the amount of data made available to developers last year was significantly less than InnovaChallenge MX's data trove, which covers commercial activity in the three largest Mexican cities over a six-month period.

InnovaChallenge MX is now open for registration and APIs are available. The deadline to submit applications is December 1.

Awards and categories

InnovaChallenge MX is going to reward the most creative uses of BBVA's data and the ways in which they are combined with other sources of information. It has two award categories: applications for consumers and applications for businesses. Each category comes with three prizes: 15,000 euros for the winner; 10,000 euros for second place; and 5,000 euros for third place. 

InnovaChallenge MX is more than the contest: It also includes an agenda full of events, workshops and seminars, both in person in Spain, Mexico and the United States, and online to a global audience. More information about InnovaChallenge MX can be found on BBVA's webpage devoted to open innovation, bbvaopen4u.com.

U.S. events

Innova Challenge MX and Data.gov Webinar: Rebecca Williams, Data.gov

In this webinar, Rebecca Williams will discuss open data initiatives at Data.gov, home of the U.S. government's open data, which includes almost 98,000 datasets. Data.gov features federal, state and local data tools, and resources to conduct research, build apps, design data visualizations, and more. 

Webinar: November 4, 12 p.m. Eastern. Register here.

InnovaChallenge MX in New York and San Francisco: A discussion on geospatial analysis of financial data

BBVA teaming with CartoDB, Kimono Labs and Stamen to demonstrate innovative ways to collect, visualize and communicate location data.

New York: Tuesday, November 4, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Eastern, General Assembly, 4/F, 902, Broadway, NY 10010

San Francisco, Thursday, November 6, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Pacific, General Assembly, 501 Folsom, San Francisco, California 94105

InnovaChallenge MX Hackathon, Capital Factory Austin

Two intensive days to find creative ways to leverage the data opened in the InnovaChallengeMX competition.

November 14 and 15, 701 Brazos Street, Austin, Texas 78701

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY, contest ends December 1. Contest rules can be found here, under Legal Info tab at bottom of the page.

About BBVA 

BBVA is a customer-centric global financial services group founded in 1857. The Group has a solid position in Spain, it is the largest financial institution in Mexico and it has leading franchises in South America and the Sunbelt Region of the United States. Its diversified business is focused on high-growth markets and it relies on technology as a key sustainable competitive advantage. Corporate responsibility is at the core of its business model. BBVA fosters financial education and inclusion, and supports scientific research and culture. It operates with the highest integrity, a long-term vision and applies the best practices. The Group is present in the main sustainability indexes.

For more financial information about BBVA visit:
http://shareholdersandinvestors.bbva.com
For more BBVA news visit: http://press.bbva.com/

SOURCE BBVA