How to Enter
Step One: Registration
Register your entry and pay the $150 Exhibitor Fee by March 15, 2018. The registration fee includes the SmartPrize competition, Get Smart at SmartPrize conference, and SmartPrize banquet. Do not reveal proprietary information or IP in your registration information or exhibit as this is a public event. See Official Rules for more information.
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Step Two: Connect with a Venue
Choose your own venue or let SmartPrize choose a venue for you. Venues must be located in the SmartPrize District, which includes Marquette’s Downtown District - Washington Street from Front to Lincoln, Third Street from Fair to Baraga, and adjacent streets. View a map of the SmartPrize district.
Connect with a Venue by March 15, 2018. Venues must pay a $100 participation fee by March 31, 2018.
Once the Registration Period ends, you will be unable to secure a Venue.
Step Three: Plan and construct your Exhibit
Exhibits are used to express a business or product idea to spectators, gain crowd favorite votes, and a chance to be in the 5X5 Pitch Competition.
Eligible Exhibits may:
Be the work of an individual innovator or a team; be any medium that can be exhibited in the space agreed upon with the hosting Venue; be any size, provided it fits in the space secured in the Venue
Eligible Exhibits must:
Be displayed at a registered SmartPrize Venue; be wholly owned by the Exhibitor or team of Exhibitors; not infringe on third party rights
Entry Categories:
Innovation– Still in the idea phase
Startup– In the process of becoming a reality
Expansion– An established business working toward an expansion
Tourism- An innovation or business clearly related to the tourism industry
The category determines the entry’s eligibility for prizes. Select the category that best describes your idea. SmartPrize may re-assign categories at its discretion to ensure consistency.
Need help designing your awesome Exhibit? Check out this list of resources.
Step Four: Discuss Details
Once an Exhibitor and Venue have connected, they must decide where the display will be installed within the venue, when it will arrive, who installs it.
SmartPrize recommends that the Venue and Exhibitor draft and sign a Hosting Agreement.
If you are registered for SmartPrize as a Venue, you may display your own Exhibit at your Venue provided you complete the standard registration process and pay all applicable fees.
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