Sponsors
We couldn't put this Celebration on without the following sponsor businesses
Supporting Organizations
We couldn't put this Celebration on without the following sponsor businesses
Platinum Sponsors
We couldn't put this Celebration on without the following sponsor businesses
Gold Sponsors
We couldn't put this Celebration on without the following sponsor businesses
Silver Sponsors
We couldn't put this Celebration on without the following sponsor businesses
Dominion Energy
JLL
Meet the 2020 Winners & Finalists
Our judges watched many, many exciting videos before choosing these finalists. We'll watch all of the finalist videos at the awards show where you can help us choose the People's Choice winner!
The 2020 Innovations Awards Winners are:
Innovator of the Year
Micronic Technologies, Inc.
People’s Choice Winner
MPower Me
Innovation Award for BioTech
Micronic Technologies, Inc.
Innovation Award for Hospitality
HUNGRY
Innovation Award for HealthTech
VideoKall, Inc.
Innovation Award for Social Impact
MPower Me
Innovation Award for Higher Education
Northern Virginia Community College
All 2020 Finalists
Micronic Technologies, Inc.
Community Data Platforms
ThreatQuotient
Marymount University
Northern Virginia Community College
Sunny Day Fund
MPower Me
VideoKall, Inc
HUNGRY
LiveSafe
Sestra Systems
Entry Rules
The application period is now closed but you can still enjoy reading the details below.
You may be asking yourself, how will I know if my business is an Innovator? We are glad you asked because in our eyes, “innovations" can be almost anything. It could be a cutting-edge product that solved a business need. Or maybe it is your cool new reward and recognition program to improve employee morale. Or it could be anything in between! We welcome the ingeniously simple as well as the staggeringly complex. The answer is we’re looking for any and all innovations that have made a positive business impact.
Application Video
You have 1 minute to tell us what your innovation is and why it should be celebrated. Don’t forget to include your CEO’s spot (required), and answer the following (if applicable):
- How does your innovation / innovative practice impact your company or the greater business marketplace?
- Does your innovation have disruptive potential?
- Are you disrupting an existing process or industry?
- Are you creatively competing with yourself?
- Do you have a culture of innovation or a corporate strategy of innovation?
- Do you have an R&D budget, a Chief Innovation Officer, or other demonstrable way of showing your innovation strategy?
- Is your CEO at the forefront of your industry or sector? How?
- Do you have a culture of continual improvement?
- How do you "sharpen the saw" / seek continuous improvement?
- How else are you innovative?
- The CEO of your company must be included / appear in your submission video in some capacity.
- NOVA Chamber membership is not required to apply or win.
Commitment to Attend
It goes without saying that you will want to be at this event, but to make sure your company won’t miss a moment of the fun, at least one representative of your company must attend the Innovation Showcase and the Greater Washington Innovation Celebration.
Application includes admission for one person to attend both events. (Additional tickets are available for purchase.)
Meet the Judges
An impressive evening deserves an equally impressive judging panel.
To help us name the Greater Washington Innovator of the year, we've enlisted the help of our business dream team. Each brings his or her own expertise and more importantly an innovator's mindset to our judging panel.
Applying businesses will meet our judges at our Innovation Showcase and then watch them work (along with everyone else) when they judge the finalists during our Innovation Celebration.
Innovative Events Schedule
For a Celebration this special we'll need two events!
Once all applications have been received, the real fun begins with not one, but TWO madcap celebrations (more details to come):
Innovation Showcase, September 16th
Innovation Celebration, October 8th
Join us on October 8th for the party of all parties, the Greater Washington Innovation Celebration. We’ll gather to watch the finalist videos together and applaud their work before we announce, at long last, the 2020 Greater Washington Innovator.
Open to the public, this event has an emphasis on fun. We encourage entrants to wear costumes. Bonus points for outfitting your entire team thematically!
Don’t forget to buy your tickets early as we’re expecting this Celebration to sell out.
Submit Your Application
The application period is now closed
How can you submit a Washington Innovator application?
Step 1: Create an account. Click on the link below to be taking to our application portal.
(Note: This is different from your Chamber membership account.) Membership in the Chamber is not required to apply for (or win) an award.
Step 2: Submit your application. Use the guidelines mentioned on this page and below to create your application video:
All you have to do is submit a 1-minute video showcasing your innovation. Don’t worry, video production quality will not be a judging criterion—use your phone if that’s easiest. Finalist videos will be played for everyone’s enjoyment at our Greater Washington Innovator Celebration.