There are only a few sure-fire ways to get your newest genius product noticed. Maybe the A-list will start writing about you. Get a front page story in the New York Times.
Or you can get a free booth at the Consumer Eletronics Show, the largest new technology convention on earth. We’ve already submitted Sentimine, our unique sentiment tagging system, to the contest.
I recently had the opportunity to ask Joseph Gizzi at CEA about their i-Stage contest, what it’s about, and how the prizes work. Click through for the full interview.
Jason: i-Stage seems geared towards products that haven’t yet been launched. Is the competition open to anything that has already been seen by the public?
Joseph: CEA’s i-stage event is designed to showcase the world’s coolest tech products, whether they be from an entrepreneur in a college dorm, a university lab or an established company. If any person or company has something cool and new to show, they are welcome to show it to the world via i-stage. Greater weight in the judging area will be given to those products that have not been demonstrated anywhere else due to us truly wanting the the cool and new products.
Jason: The deadline for i-stage is August 15. How many submissions have you seen so far? Do you have a limit to how many companies can enter?
Joseph: I can tell you that we have met our goals for submissions and with a few weeks to go expect to surpass expectations. The field of submissions is really strong, which should make for amazing presentations Oct. 20 in Las Vegas.
Jason: The winner at i-stage is going to get a “turnkey exhibit” at CES. Will CES work with the winner to set up a booth and signage with some custom branding? What does a turnkey exhibit entail?
Joseph: Yes, the CES team will work with the company to promote them as the i-stage winner at the 2009 International CES. The CES turnkey exhibit will have all necessary details taken care of (carpeting, lighting, signage, furniture, etc.) to make it as easy as possible for the winning company just to show up, with their product, and dazzle the industry. Branding of the event and the winner will be key because we want it to become THE major awards competition for cool new products in the industry.
Jason: Winning at i-stage is also about getting funding for your product. The top prize gets $50,000 “to develop your product.” Does that come with any strings attached?
Joseph: Unlike other awards programs where you have to PAY $50,000 just to enter, the CEA i-stage awards pay you $50,000 when you win, with no strings attached. The only requirement is that you take advantage of the free booth to showcase your winning product at the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, the 2009 International CES, which draws more than 130,000 industry professionals from around the world!
What are you waiting for? Sign up by August 15th to get your product in the running.
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