## Notes from 02 May 2025 [[2025-05-01|← Previous note]] ┃ [[2025-05-03|Next note →]] Learned about this initiative called [Pilot Pitchfest](https://www.pilotpitchfest.org/) through [[Cara Eckholm]] and found it genuinely inspiring. It’s a matchmaking event where NYC public agencies pitch short, two-minute ideas for real-world projects that could benefit from outside help, either through research collaborations (with small funding) or through skilled volunteers offering technical assistance. The goal is to bridge the gap between city staff and the wealth of academic and technical talent in the region. I’d love to see something like this in Brazil, where public institutions often lack accessible ways to bring in external expertise. What also struck me is how the process starts with the agencies themselves expressing what they need, whereas in Brazil, these partnerships often end up being shaped by the agendas of the NGOs or funders offering support, which don’t always align with government priorities. This approach flips that dynamic and reminds me how important [[U.S. Learning Agendas|learning agendas]] are: governments need to know what they need to learn.