Lightning Talk Competition: submissions for Business of Software 2013. Deadline 7th August.

The Lightning Talk Competition is always one of the highlights of the Business of Software Conference programme and last year’s speakers did us proud – the highest quality set of talks overall we have ever had. We had over 50 video submissions to speak so picking the presenters wasn’t easy even if it was entertaining. This year, we want to make them even better so if you want an opportunity to speak at Business of Software Conference, please consider sharing something you are passionate about with a great group of software people.

They follow a simple format – every speaker gets 15 slides and 30 seconds per slide to talk about a subject of their choice. The slides advance automatically. Warning, they are a challenge!

Patrick McKenzie, winner of the Lightning Talk Competition in 2010 (‘Hello Ladies’) and a speaker the following year (Engineering your marketing outcomes) was very clear when we spoke that he found the Lightning Talk to be the most challenging, (I think he said in fact, “terrifying”), by far.  It is a challenge worth rising to though and Lightning Talk speakers over the years have told us that doing a Lightning Talk has been of real value to them – not least because those talks have often been a platform to a lot of other speaking opportunities.

The Lighting Talk Competition entrants receive a free pass to the Business of Software Conference where they will speak, the chance to share an idea they care about with a live audience of 400 (as well as the 3,000 or so viewers of the Business of Software livestream), and the respect of their peers. Don’t underestimate the last one.

If you would like to submit a Lightning Talk, here is what to do before Midnight PST, Wednesday August 7th:

Send an email to Hermione and enclose:

• Your name
• The title and description of the talk you propose
• A link to a video of you speaking – ideally about what you want to do a Lightning Talk about.

We will review all of the submissions, and pick what we feel will be the most appropriate ones, to talk live at BoS 2012.

Remember to submit by August 7th.

(Please note submissions from third parties including marketing departments, speaking agents etc will be ignored – we don’t have the time – please see below). We only want submissions from people that care enough to do their own stuff. This is a chance to stand up in front of a bunch of people and share an idea you love.

To get your creative juices flowing, here are the previous winners:

• All of the Business of Software Lightning Talks from 2012.
• Business of Software 2011. Justin Goeres, ‘Getting to Nowhere‘ (You can also see all last year’s talks here too).
• Business of Software 2010. Patrick McKenzie, ‘Hello Ladies’
• Business of Software 2009. Mark Stephens, ‘Are you a large lizard or small and furry?’
• Business of Software 2008. Alex Ohanian, ‘Keeping it Real’

Even if you don’t submit an idea, why not think about what you would talk about in 7.5 minutes? Strange as this might sound, lots of our attendees do, even if they have no interest in standing on stage. Thinking about the essence of what you are passionate about can be a very good way of helping you work out what is important to you.

Remember to submit your application to Hermione by 7th August:

• Your name
• The title and description of the talk you propose
• A link to a video of you speaking – ideally about what you want to do a Lightning Talk about.

Good luck!