Five “enlightening” projects, and five “innovative” concepts, will be presented in competitive form in a fast-pitch event called Ignite Columbus.
Returning after a four-year hiatus, Ignite Columbus will feature 10 finalists chosen from 30 applicants to make fast and informative presentations during the competition. The event will be 5 to 8 p.m. April 12 at The Republic Building, 333 Second St., which is the home of Indiana University’s new J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program.
Each finalist has been asked to create 20 slides as visual aides for their presentation. However, each slide only stays up for 15 seconds, which limits the entire presentation to just five minutes, according to the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Sometimes, the slide gets ahead of the presenter,” chamber president Cindy Frey said. “But it’s meant to be fun to watch, as well as playful and lighthearted.”
Ignite presentations have also benefited the Columbus community. Competitions held in 2014 and 2015 promoted early concepts for Exhibit Columbus, Columbus Craft Beer Fest, digital services for the Bartholomew County Public Library and ColumBike, according to chamber officials.
The titles of this year’s presentations in the “innovative” category range from Urban Landscapes and Natural Ecosystems to the Love Campaign, while those in the “enlightening: category cover topics from rock climbing to historic connections between Columbus and Korea.
By requiring competitors to play their own unique version of “Beat The Clock,” Frey said the fast-paced format teaches the presenters valuable lessons.
Each must practice extensively in order to master pacing and timing, the chamber president said.
And since time is limited, there are no long and drawn-out explanations. Instead, the speaker relies on their passion for the subject matter, as well as their communication skills, to create an informative and compelling presentation, Frey said.
Time limits also force presenters to take risks and move out of their comfort zone, which Frey said are two traits required of many entrepreneurs.
“In the work of venture capital, you no longer present a long business plan,” Frey said. “You present a pitch.”
When the presenter only has a good idea, instead of a whole concept, he or she needs to use their presentation to convince the audience they are the person who can take an idea and make it real, Frey said.
There will be $2,500 in cash prizes awarded during “Ignite Columbus.” In addition to awards for giving the most enlightening and most innovative presentation, a People’s Choice Award will be given to the audience favorite.
The free event is open to the public. Those planning to attend can register online at columbusfishtank.com. Appetizers and a cash bar will be provided.
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Ignite Columbus will be held 5 to 8 p.m. April 12 at the Republic Building, 333 Second St., home of the Indiana University School of Architecture. It’s free and open to the public.
The following 10 individuals will compete in two different categories:
Enlightening
Joyce Lucke – "The Great Race"
Jacob Gaylord – "How Rock Climbing in Columbus Changed My Life"
Kenneth Shim – "Connecting Columbus and Korea through History"
Ant Blair – "Raising the Bar in Beer Tasting"
Ethan Crough – "Differences, Dwarfism"
Innovative
Andrew Davis – "LED Light Innovation"
Ganesh Gandheiswaran – "Conversight.ai"
Rachel Kavathe – "Urban Landscapes + Natural Ecosystems in Columbus"
Shorf Afza – "Walls Don’t Keep People Out, It Fences You In."
Cristina Villani – "The Love Campaign"
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