In the modern Startup Renaissance we're witnessing here in Greater Boston, there are lots of opportunities for startups to showcase their projects. But for the first time in recent memory, a major tech event is letting the crowd decide who'll be heard.
Future Forward, an annual gathering of top CTOs, CIOs and investors, is in it's 10th year of existence. It's an exclusive thing. You have to request tickets and be approved to get a seat. (Plus, we hear they cost a pretty penny.) But if you'd like to present or know someone who you think should, all you have to do is ask. That's right, Future Forward is letting the crowd pick a presenter with it's new CrowdCampaign site. The organization is calling this crowdsourced competition the GameChanger Award. All it takes to nominate someone is a quick Twitter OAuth sign-in and a few words about why you think the company you're nominating deserves the spotlight.
But you better hurry; nominations and voting are only going on through the end of September.
The top vote-getter in the GameChanger will get a spot in the November 4 Future Forward Executive Retreat, and bragging rights -- that team will be named Game Changer 2010 by Future Forward.
"Part of the conference will include a five-company Demo session where New England-based companies can showcase their newest innovations," wrote a PR rep in an email to BostInnovation. "To help uncover some of the area’s most exciting new innovations, we’re leveraging the power of the 'crowd' in hopes of finding the area’s newest 'GameChanger.' The winner will receive one of five coveted slots to present in front of New England’s top technology influencers at the Future Forward Executive Retreat in Wellesley, Mass."
Startupers can participate on the GameChanger voting site by either nominating a company or voting for companies already nominated. Competitors are being encouraged to spread the word about their candidacy on social media.
"Future Forward has always been about identifying and nurturing the innovative technologies born here in New England," said Shayne Gilbert, president of Future Forward in a press release. "The Game Changer award gives us an opportunity to open up our process, invite anyone with a great idea to participate and use social media to bring that idea to the forefront. It seems fitting to mark the start of the next decade of Future Forward events with this inaugural competition."
This year's Future Forward Executive Retreat is scheduled to include some really quality programming that we're excited about here at BostInno, mostly because many of the personalities showcased don't make too many public appearances. Rob Go of the newly-formed NextView Ventures is slotted to sit on a panel interviewed by serial entrepreneur David Cancel, Founder of Performable. Niraj Hah and Steve Conine of CSN Stores -- one of the biggest self-funded "startups" in Boston -- will be interviewed by Highland Capital's Bob Davis. Yankee Group CEO and friend of BostInno Emily Green is also tabbed to speak. Plus, Katie Rae and Reed Sturtevant of the brand new Project 11 Ventures will also share some insights.
Do your friends a favor and nominate them today. But just a warning: Future Forward is expecting nominees to have products that launched recently.
What do you think about Future Forward's Executive Retreat? Are exclusive tech events a good counterbalance to the free ones that populate the startuper calendar or are they just another excuse for old school big-dogging? What do you think about this crowdsourced award? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
