Press release

GREAT partners competition to bring ‘Magic of Live Events’ online

Exhibition experts Prodigio and global creative media agency Crowd join forces to launch the Exhibition Futures Challenge.

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government
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As the events industry adapts to a new way of working in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Exhibition Futures Challenge is calling for innovative ideas to create an online environment that embodies the excitement of live events.

Every entry received by 1 July deadline will be published in a globally distributed white paper with the top 5 ideas presented to investors and industry leaders after a series of workshops. The overall winner will receive a cash prize of £5,000 together with a further investment to the value of £5,000, including the support of the GREAT Britain campaign and the Department for International Trade (DIT).

This competition, which gives start-ups the chance to put their ideas to industry experts and investors, was developed by creative media agency Crowd, with boutique exhibition experts, Prodigio, whose client list includes Visit California and Dolby. They saw it as a way to identify and support innovative solutions that could be quickly brought to market, making virtual events a better experience for exhibitors and visitors.

Prodigio’s Founding Director, Claude Pett said:

Like many other companies around the world, Prodigio is facing unprecedented challenges. We are already rolling out interactive virtual solutions for our clients. However, always keen to innovate, we want to explore what else may be possible.

The aim of the Exhibition Futures Challenge is to provide a collaborative opportunity for entrants to nurture their ideas with industry experts and international brands.

Combined with access to the funding on offer and support from the GREAT Britain campaign, we hope the challenge will provide a springboard, which could ultimately see the winning concept brought to market.

The GREAT Britain campaign and DIT are focused on finding, using and sharing the very best technologies, tools and practices to create digital events that help UK businesses reach the world with impact and effectiveness.

Crowd has experienced first-hand the benefits of working with DIT’s industry experts, who have been able to use their global network to assist the agency’s international expansion. Over the last two years, DIT arranged speaking opportunities for Crowd at SXSW USA 2019 and the Shanghai International Advertising Festival 2019, as well as local teams supporting Crowd’s offices in the US, Middle East and Asia.

The entire business world needs new and exciting ideas to reimagine the magic of exhibitions. All creative ideas for the Exhibition Futures Challenge must be submitted by the Wednesday 1 July 2020 deadline.

To enter the Exhibition Futures Challenge, click here

For images and videos about the Exhibition Futures Challenge 2020 click here.

Updates to this page

Published 12 June 2020