Creativity & Innovation

Challenge

We are seeking creative entrepreneurs and founders to submit their groundbreaking business ideas and solutions for the creative economy. Participants have the opportunity to showcase their concepts, tools, applications, resources, or services that empower emerging creatives and entrepreneurs to thrive in their businesses. IYTC is on a search for new business ideas that can enable economic development amongst the creative economy and/or benefit the creative community.

Challenge is now closed

about the challege

Making money as a creative (artist, musician, marketer— you name it.) is more accessible now than ever before. The rise of digital platforms and the internet has opened up a world of possibilities for creatives to make money on their own terms.

It’s Your Time Conference is designed to provide the whole creative community—from artists to entrepreneurs—with the latest information and trends in music and business, as well as the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals. This year’s conference theme is Making a Difference, so Benny Pough launched the IYTC Creativity & Innovation Challenge⸺a pitch competition for entrepreneurs and startups in the creative economy that are driving innovation and change.


Our inaugural IYTC Creativity & Innovation Challenge is a search for new business ideas that can enable economic development amongst the creative economy and/or benefit the creative community in the U.S. & Canada.

Target Populations:

Challenge Question

How can artists, and entrepreneurs at any stage of their careers leverage your new technology, product or service to impact the way they do business and maintain a more equitable stake in their career and economic future?

Challenge scope:

Concepts should offer a solution in the form of tools, applications, resources, and/or services that help emerging creatives and entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

Solutions may focus on a brand new single tool, resource, or service, or suggest a suite of tools. In addition, solutions may build off of existing technologies or an enhanced version(s).

Plans may leverage ideas from industries other than credit cards and finance. Strategic online and technical partnerships are allowed.

The primary focus of the plan should go beyond social networking and collective purchasing power.

Concept Criteria:

  • Concepts Originality
  • Value Proposition
  • Unique Competitive Advantage
  • Bottom Line Results
  • Feasibility
  • Team Presentation

Grand Prize:

The Grand Prize winner will walk away with:

  • $10,000

Companies and/or entrepreneurs we are considering should:

  • Have earned less than $100,000 in gross revenue in the last year.
  • Be founded in the last 5 years.
  • Be from U.S. and Canada
  • Be results focused
  • Be Accessible (equitable and universal)
  • Be high quality credentials at different levels
  • Be transparent and ethical

We are not considering:

  • Network marketing or multi-level marketing companies
  • Weapons and/or Firearms companies
  • Biotech and/or genetics companies
  • Companies that are not in good-standing w/IRS

STEP 1

Complete your CHALLENGE registration