The deadline is coming up soon for innovative technology companies to submit entries to the MITX Technology Awards. This is the 7th year running and every year we see some amazing new companies and products. Many entrants went on to much success; companies such as Visible Measures, EveryZing (now Ramp), WordStream and Ember Corporation, to name a few.

Ember Corporation had some amazing accomplishments after winning the 2009 Sector Impact Award:

• Ember achieved 27 percent revenue growth in 2009 and ended the year with their highest quarterly revenues ever
• Venture capital investors invested an additional $8 million into the company, bringing the total capital raised by Ember to $89 million
• They signed new sales channels in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India and Hong Kong which are emerging as key future markets for smart energy products.

Check out more past winners.

Tips for Winning

Of course it goes without saying you need to have an amazing technology company or product to win but the judges need to know just how amazing you are. That means having a well organized submission with links that work and a the ability to present to the judges effectively. Here’s some tips.

• Make the link to your product communicate what it does effectively. If your product isn’t easy to access, requires user names and passwords or the web content is complex create a new page for the competition. You can put some links or better yet create a screencast or slideshow. You can record what’s on your screen easily using ScreenToaster or Camtasia. You can use Scribd or Slideshare to display slides; you can even add your own voiceover.
• Be well prepared for the live demo. You’d think this goes without saying but after many years as a judge, start-up advisor and potential customer I’m always amazed by how unprepared presentations often are. Good advice not only for a judging panel but also for prospects, investors and employees is having a compelling presentation. I’d even suggest less than 10 minutes. When you take into consideration you have 20 minutes to present, there’s several minutes of introductions, setting up your computer, getting started. You want to keep the presentation concise not to dilute your key points. Consider internet entrepreneur Guy Kawasaki’s 10/20/30 rule of PowerPoint.

DEMO is a launch conference that features some of the most innovative companies and is always an amazing show. The rule for presenters are simple. You have six minutes to pitch your product – no PowerPoint allowed. For a great example of a pitch watch this one from Visible Measures from DEMO 08.

There are many more amazing presentations, check out all the DEMO Alumni for inspiration.

Awards competitions like the Tech Awards are not only opportunities for exposure that provide incentive to clarify message and improve the pitch. This helps not only from a sales and marketing perspective but the entire organization and everyone you collaborate with benefit from a clear message and vision of the companies core capabilities.

Good luck and if you haven’t already submit your entry today.