This Week In Legal Tech: A Competition To Join ABA TECHSHOW’s Inaugural ‘Startup Alley’
Are you an innovative legal startup looking to gain exposure? Then read on to learn about this first-of-its-kind opportunity.
Are you an innovative legal startup looking to gain exposure? Then read on to learn about a first-of-its-kind opportunity to be part of ABA TECHSHOW’s inaugural Startup Alley and a “Pitch Madness” startup face-off.
For the first time ever, ABA TECHSHOW this year (March 15-18 in Chicago) will reserve a portion of its exhibition hall to showcase 12 innovative legal startups. In addition, on TECHSHOW’s opening night, the 12 startups will face off in a bracketed pitch competition — judged by TECHSHOW attendees — to pick the most innovative startup.
Why am I writing about this here? Because I will be coordinating a competition to pick the 12 startups, with help from Evolve Law and Above the Law. Read on for full details.
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How Will the Startups Be Selected?
The competition starts today. Startups interested in participating should complete this application form. Applications must be received by Oct. 31, 2016.
From all applications received, a panel of judges from Evolve Law and Above the Law (including me) will select the 20 best. On Nov. 14, brief descriptions of each of the 20 will be posted here on Above the Law and readers will be invited to vote for their favorites. The 12 startups with the most votes will be selected for ABA TECHSHOW. Winners will be announced by Nov. 25.
What Are the Criteria for Applying?
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The competition is limited to startups that meet the following criteria:
- Your product or service is targeted to lawyers or legal professionals, not to consumers.
- Your company has never before exhibited at a national legal technology conference.
- Your company has achieved some demonstrable traction, either in users, revenue, or financing.
In addition, your company should be innovative, meaning that it addresses a need not met by other products or services currently on the market or that it does so in a way not currently done by others.
What Happens If I Am Selected?
In addition to the exposure on Above the Law, the winning startups will be provided space at a discounted cost to exhibit their product or service in a special Startup Alley located within TECHSHOW’s exhibit hall.
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- Each startup will be provided space in a uniform, pre-installed kiosk. You will not need (or be allowed) to bring a booth of your own.
- Each startup will be responsible for the display fee of $1,500. This is a significant reduction off the standard booth cost. You are welcome to seek sponsors to underwrite all or part of this cost.
- You will be responsible for your own travel to Chicago and hotel and related expenses.
In addition to display space, each startup will participate in a March Madness-themed bracketed face-off on TECHSHOW’s opening night. Startups will face off against each other in pairs, over three rounds, with audience votes determining who moves to the next round.
The winner of the face-off will receive $5,000 of advertising on Above the Law and a 50 percent discount on ATL’s startup package ($2,000 total and includes a sponsored post and 150,000 banner ads).
What Do I Get Out of This?
ABA TECHSHOW is one of the world’s preeminent legal technology conferences. Your company will gain exposure to a diverse audience of legal professionals, including practitioners, academics, consultants, and others. In addition, TECHSHOW’s audience includes legal journalists, bloggers, and industry analysts.
In short, your company will get precious time in the spotlight. Along with that will come invaluable opportunities for feedback about your product or service from TECHSHOW attendees, the competition’s judges, and your peers at other startups.
There is no cost to apply and the application form is relatively painless. We hope to hear from you and to see you in Chicago in March.
Robert Ambrogi is a Massachusetts lawyer and journalist who has been covering legal technology and the web for more than 20 years, primarily through his blog LawSites.com. Former editor-in-chief of several legal newspapers, he is a fellow of the College of Law Practice Management and an inaugural Fastcase 50 honoree. He can be reached by email at ambrogi@gmail.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@BobAmbrogi).
