The annual Council event recognizes innovative products from past year
The New Hampshire High Tech Council (Council) is seeking applications for its 13th annual Product of the Year (POY) award – a prestigious, annual award that showcases New Hampshire’s most innovative products developed within the past year. POY provides a platform for entrepreneurs to receive free advice, product promotion and podium time in front of hundreds of tech leaders. Finalists will present their innovations to a live audience on Wednesday, October 10 at the Manchester Country Club in Bedford where the audience will help name the winner through a real-time vote.
“We’re excited to shine the spotlight on the incredible innovation taking place right here in the Granite State at our Product of the Year award celebration,” said Lisa King, POY committee chair. “This is an unprecedented opportunity not only for inventors to make important new connections, but to increase the visibility of their companies and products right before a prestigious group of NH entrepreneurs.”
The application period for 2018 is now open and the application can be found here. Any company with a headquarters, subsidiary or division based in New Hampshire may apply. Products must have been released or significantly updated within 12 months prior to September 3, 2018 and must meet the broad categorization of high technology and/or advanced manufacturing. Additional information on eligibility guidelines can be found here. There is an application fee of $200 for Council members and $350 for non-members.
In mid-September after the application deadline closes, up to five finalists will be selected by a panel of esteemed judges with entrepreneurial and investing experience, as well as some past winners. They will then present their products at the October POY event through a series of seven-minute presentations before a live audience.
After the presentations, audience members vote for their favorite product. When calculating the votes, the initial judges’ vote counts for 50 percent of the final tabulation with the real-time audience vote comprising the remaining 50 percent. The Product of the Year will be announced at the end of the event.
“One of the hallmarks of Product of the Year is the unique element of audience engagement,” said Matt Cookson, New Hampshire High Tech Council executive director. “Along with the interactive displays and presentations, the audience has a direct hand in crowning the winner through the real-time voting process. The excitement is palpable.”
POY is one of New Hampshire’s largest business events and offers finalists and winners significant visibility through the judging process and product demonstrations, both at the event and in overall promotions. Each winner is showcased at the Council’s display and engraved on a crystal trophy at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in Manchester. Past POY winners include iCAD, Inc., Wilcox Industries, Plexxi, Prosenex, Single Digits, Nanocomp Technologies, UltraVision, InsightTech Gear, Holase Incorporated, Sky-Skan, Foss Manufacturing and Therma-HEXX.
The deadline for 2018 Product of the Year applications is Friday, September 7, 2018.
POY 2018 is sponsored by Hanover Insurance, Eversource, Single Digits, Consolidated Communications, TD Bank and Newforma. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting [email protected] or calling 603.935.8951.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
