In June 2015, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), debuted its Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) innovation pitch competition for hospitality technology startups at HITEC – the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference.
NB This is a viewpoint by Jessica Blankenship, public relations manager for HFTP.
E20X was an instant success, and this year HFTP launched the feature in Europe at HITEC Amsterdam in March. It will also be a part of HITEC Toronto in June.
E20X allows ambitious unfunded entrepreneurs to present their business to HITEC attendees as well as a panel of expert judges comprising hospitality CIOs, angel investors, serial entrepreneurs and industry insiders.
The selected startups then compete for two awards: the E20X Judges Award and the E20X People's Startup Award.
The E20X Judges Award, or grand prize, is determined immediately following the competition by the judge's panel; the startup deemed "most innovative" takes home a trophy and $5,000.
The E20X People's Startup Award, or crowd favorite, is selected by conference attendees via the HITEC 2017 app.
At the Amsterdam event, Canada-based event staffing startup Hyre won both awards. Its CEO Eropa Stein, said: "It was such an honor to win both awards. The E20X Judge's Award, in a way, validated our business model while The People's Startup Award proved customers wanted our solution and accepted our product. We are very much looking forward to HITEC Toronto – our home base."
Hyre will be joined in Toronto by an impressive roster of startups, highlighting tech-based innovations for guestrooms bookings, meetings, mobile, security and much more.
Stein and other previous E20X award winners – 2016 E20X People's Startup Award winner Alex Cammarano, CEO and co-founder at Daylighted, and 2016 E20X Judge's Award winner David Temple, CEO and co-founder at Hello Scout – reflected on their E20X experience, as well as shared thoughts and advice on the overall event in an interview with HFTP.
What was the biggest obstacle you faced in the time between concept and E20X?
What was the overall experience like for you and your company?
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