Applications are Open for Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Awards (Insider Tips!)
Summer is in full swing—and so are the award opportunities!
Last week, Fast Company announced it would be accepting applications for its coveted Most Innovative Companies awards.
Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company’s most iconic franchise and one of its most anticipated editorial efforts of the year. To determine honorees, Fast Company’s entire editorial team spends months evaluating companies that are driving progress around the world and across industries. The team tracks their businesses, weighs them against competitors, and considers them against larger industry and societal trends. They consider Most Innovative Companies the definitive guide to innovation today and a playbook for the future.
Fast Company Executive Editor Amy Farley put together some tips for the Meredith & The Media audience.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
What we’re looking for:
Fresh innovation: MIC is not a lifetime achievement award. We want to hear about new products, services, or strategies that a company has pioneered over the past year. We’re also happy to hear about upcoming launches. If the information is under embargo, please just note that in the application. This is a good opportunity to get something on our editors’ radars ahead of time.
Measurable impact: We need to know that the innovation has been successful. Whatever qualitative metrics a company uses internally to determine the success of a new product or initiative, that’s what we want to see. The most successful applications pull back the curtain and tell us about revenue, customer and user growth, impressions, and other such data. Again, if this information is confidential, let us know in the application.
The big picture: MIC identifies companies that are tackling big challenges, changing their industries, and shaping society and culture for the better. As much as possible, tell us how your innovation breaks new ground for your industry and explain how it connects to current events and larger issues.
Editorial insights: Every application is reviewed by the Fast Company editorial team, often by multiple people. We use these applications to not only create our Most Innovative Companies package, but also to inform our editorial coverage throughout the year. We often find that we assign additional stories around products and ideas that surface through the applicant pool. All that to say: This is a great way to introduce your company and tell your story—in your own words—to Fast Company editors and writers.“Keeping up with today’s breakneck pace of change isn’t easy, but the Most Innovative Companies are rising to the challenge, adapting swiftly and delivering inventive solutions to the world’s toughest problems. It’s an honor to be able to recognize this work and share it with our readers.”
“Keeping up with today’s breakneck pace of change isn’t easy, but the Most Innovative Companies are rising to the challenge, adapting swiftly and delivering inventive solutions to the world’s toughest problems. It’s an honor to be able to recognize this work and share it with our readers.” — Amy Farley, executive editor, Fast Company
Submit your brand or client directly here.
Additionally, the team welcomes suggested speakers for its upcoming Fast Company Innovation Festival taking place September 15-18 in NYC. Submit speakers here.