Entries are open for the inaugural Safe Tech Virtual Pitch Competition, scheduled for Nov. 17, 2020, from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., CST.
When Make Safe Tech, Inc. opened its doors in early 2020, our plan was to roll-out the #SafeTechRoadShow at South by Southwest (SXSW) to bring technologies benefitting first responders and the armed forces directly to end-users. How quickly things changed. I’ll never forget the planning meeting when my astute friend and Associate Marketing Director Jordan Kuecker, looked at the group and said, “They will cancel it.”
If not for COVID-19, the #SafeTechRoadShow would have traveled thousands of miles and attended at least six major events. Determined to move forward, our founder Caleb Holt decided to host a national virtual pitch competition – the Safe Tech Pitch.
We’ve asked the Safe Tech National Advisory Council (NAC) to help us find products and technologies to compete for over $35,000 in awarded business and development support. With the help of our sponsors, including the Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation, and the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station’s (TEES) New Ventures Competition, we’ve planned an exciting, half-day event to bring products, technologies, and end-users together.
To be clear about this event, it is not an ideas competition. We’re looking for 20 competitors who have developed a prototype for a product or technology that enhances first responders or the armed forces. Competitors must provide information about their technology or product and upload specification sheets or marketing materials and a 100-second pitch video. The Safe Tech NAC will review the entries and select 20 finalists, and we are lining up subject matter experts to serve as judges.
Here’s the most important point I’ll make, and the real purpose of the competition. Make Safe Tech founder Caleb Holt’s goal is to bring products and technologies together with the developers, investors, and end-users required to get these products and technologies into the field, where they will save lives. Before, during, and after the competition, we’re going to schedule private, virtual meetings with the competitors and those developers, investors, and end-users that Make Safe Tech.
If you have a product or technology that we are looking for, you can apply for the competition, either through one of our NAC members or directly through the Safe Tech Pitch website. Note: all entries must be received by midnight on Oct. 18, 2020.
If you’re interested in sponsoring this or any other Safe Tech competition or the coming #SafeTechRoadShow, please visit the Safe Tech Pitch sponsor page.
The Safe Tech team is excited to move forward virtually. That said, when COVID guidelines make it possible, our #SafeTechRoadShow conference rigs will be on the road, making new contacts and friends, and bringing together those who Make Safe Tech.
For more information, visit SafeTechPitch.info.
For information on Make Safe Tech Inc., visit MakeSafeTech.org.
For any questions, send a message to info@safetechpitch.info, call 970-977-5490, or feel free to contact me directly at sam.white@makesafetech.org.
