Calling all Charlotte tech innovators: Nominations for The Charlotte Area Technology Collabortive’s 2020 Blue Diamond Awards are open.
The awards look to celebrate area companies in a variety of verticals that use tech to innovate their business processes. The opportunity has garnered considerable participation and success from a number of notable ecosystem participants; last year, Blue Diamond winners included Charlotte startups like Stratifyd and CloudGenera.
The awards are just one way the CATC brings together businesses, thought leaders, educational communities, government and more to develop the area's local tech pipeline. It boasts local events and a partnership directory to foster connection among tech professionals.
As for its next Blue Diamond award ceremony, CATC will host the program on April 7, 2020 at Founder’s Hall in Uptown.
In the resource below, we'll highlight the nomination process and what the CATC is looking for from potential award winners.
What kinds of companies qualify for submission?
Nominations are open to companies that are either based in Charlotte or have a robust local focus or presence. Additionally, participants must fall within nine categories, such as "human capital", "student innovator" or "community outreach."
What are the judges looking for?
“We nominate companies, individuals and people who’ve made significant impacts with the use of technology,” said Nick Kantsios, managing partner at BlueDoor Sales Consulting and mentor at Innovate Charlotte, who presented at the BDA Kickoff at AvidXchange on Oct. 10. “The whole idea of the Blue Diamond Awards is to acknowledge those who take technology and really make some businesses out of it.”
He also said the businesses must be able to monetize these new technologies to solve problems.
What's the nomination process like?
Charlotte-based companies or innovators that fall within one of their aforementioned nine categories are invited to fill out a submission form on the CATC's website through early December. Selected finalists will then be invited to pitch their work during an hour-long session with judges.
What are the benefits of participating?
Past winners, like Chuck Morris of The Comdyn Group (which took home the Community Outreach award), say that the exposure they’ve received from BDA has benefitted them greatly.
“We can trace growth in our company and new business directly to these awards,” he said. “There is so much strength and talent in Charlotte. These awards are a great showcase for all the technology that’s being built and being used right here in our backyard."
