The Twilio + Infochimps developer contest is a special event where developers are encouraged to create interesting applications using a wide range of datasets available on the Infochimps platform. The contest aims to promote creativity and innovation in data-driven projects, leveraging Twilio's cloud communications capabilities. By participating, developers can showcase their skills and potentially win prizes such as $200 in credits, books from renowned author Edward Tufte, and swag. The contest is open to developers of all backgrounds, and resources are available to help participants get started, including forums, tutorials, and sample apps.