Carla Clark | For The Republic Cindy Frey, at left, Amanda Cox winner of the Popular/Audience Favorite Award and $500.00 for her presentation Inclusivity - Better Business for the World and Better for Business, and Phil Luzius at Ignite Columbus held at the Helen Haddad Hall, Wednesday, April 27, 2022.
Cash prizes totalling $2,000 were awarded as part of a local fast pitch competition, with the awards going to speakers who presented on diversity, inclusive business practices, and how to manage high school transfers.
Ignite Columbus was held Wednesday at Helen Haddad Hall. Speakers presented presentations of 20 slides each, with only 15 seconds allowed per slide — giving each individual “five minutes of fame,” according to organizers. More than 100 people attended the pitch presentation. Ten presentations were given, and the award winners were as follows:
Most Enlightening ($750): Deepti Vijaykumar, “How to Prevent Inclusion and Destroy Diversity”
Most Innovative ($750): Kilah Dickey, “Online Transcript System for High Schools”
People’s Choice ($500): Amanda Cox, “Inclusivity – Better for the World and Better for Business”
Vijaykumar encouraged the audience to “use all five senses to perceive and embrace new people and new experiences wholeheartedly,” said Chamber President Cindy Frey.
Dickey showed a problem with the existing system for high school transcript transfers and presented a possible solution.
And the audience favorite, Cox, asserted that businesses should “better reflect and provide products for the full range of body types and sizes in their business operations,” Frey said.
Some of the night’s other presentations included talks on homelessness, healthcare and “mommy wine culture.”
Presenters competed in two judged categories. Participants competing for “Most Innovative” were asked to pitch creative projects that would benefit Columbus.
On the other hand, those seeking the “Most Enlightening” award were told to teach the audience something, and the category wasn’t tied to projects. Instead, the presentations were meant to be “fun, educational, or entertaining.”
Organizers said Ignite is a fast pitch competition that originated in Seattle in 2006 “but has since become an international phenomenon.”
Ignite Columbus was last held in 2019. The local event is meant to “spark innovation and risk-taking in Columbus.”
Wednesday’s competition was organized by the chamber, with financial support from Velocities and German American Bank. QMix, Korn and Mojo radio stations were also sponsors.
Frey said it was “thrilling” to see the competition’s return.
“It was great to see 100 people gathered in a beautiful space, celebrating innovation and sparking discussion about topics that are enlightening,” she said.
