Resource:How to inspire innovation using a TEDx event

Host a speaker or speakers
    •    Intro (short paragraph describing your event, host, topic, numbers, link)
    •    Need and goal (what you did to assess the need and how this would fill that need)
    •    Audience (the primary audience for the event)
    •    Speaker/s and content (how you determined who should speak, and what they should speak about)
    •    Format (the way the event is structured, length of the event, etc)
    •    Reaching out to potential speaker/s (how you found your speaker/s)
    •    Cost (all the elements that had to be paid for, and how they were paid for)
    •    Date (how you selected the day/time frame the event would be held)
    •    Fundraising and sponsorships (how you found the money and/or dealt with sponsors)
    •    Space (what elements you were looking for, the location, and how you found the right space)
    •    Branding (how you determined the name and overall message for the event)
    •    Promotion (how you invited participants and shared the details with your primary audience)
    •    Support (students, faculty, staff needed to facilitate prior to and during the event)
    •    Event logistics (what else needed to be done prior to and during the event)
    •    Media capture (how you arranged for photos or video to be captured)
    •    Evaluation (measuring impact and numbers of participants)
    •    Sustainability and planning for future events (elements necessary to ensure that the event would happen again if desired)
    •    Future leadership (how you figured out who would lead this event after you graduate)
    •    Lessons learned and tips for others (what worked and what didn’t, and your recommendations for others)

Intro: What is a TEDx Event?

TED stands for "Technology, Entertainment, Desighn." Founded in 1984, TED was a one time event that emphasized technology and design. The main annual TED conference begain in 1990 in Monterey, California. Owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, TED events involve live streaming of various talks. The slogan that the Sapling Foundation uses to describe TED sums up the purpose: "ideas worth spreading." Currently, TED events are held throughout the U.S. and in Europe and Asia, in which a wide range of topics are discussed within the research and practice of science and culture. These speakers giving the talks are innovative in their storytelling to engage the audience. 

TEDx began in 2009, when TED started granting liscenses to third-parties to organize independent TED-like events. These TEDx events can be themed in any manner, in which invited speakers can talk about differenent subjects that don't necessarily have to be about science and technology. TEDx events are prhobited from making profit , although individual admission fees or sponsorship can be collected to cover the running costs. Moreover, invited speakers are not paid and agree that TED has the right to edit and distribute their presentation under a Creative Commons liscense. In order to obtain a granting liscense from TED to host a TEDx event, one must submit an online applcation form at this website http://www.ted.com/pages/organize_tedx_event. TEDx events are extremely useful on Universities as wealth of knowledge can be shared. Thus, innovation knowledge can be discussed on campus through a popular TEDx event. 

Need and Goal

If one is interested to inspire innovation via a TEDx event at a University, one must assess the speakers involved in the event. It is important to understand what are the missing resources for innovation and invite speakers to elucidate those missing gaps. Overall, the goal out of the event can mostly be achieved from the speakers that can educate the audience on the topic of interest. Thus, it is important to invite the right speakers for the right type of TEDx event. 

Audience

The audience of the event is varied. The type of audience that shows up to the TEDx event depends on how the event is organized/themed. For an event on innovation, the audience will most likey be that of entrepreneurs and people with business or a science background. Moroever, the audience also depends on where the event is located. If the event is located at a University, then more students and professors interested in innovation will most likey attend. In all, the audience is dictated by the location of the TEDx event and its organization. 

Speaker/s and Content

Selecting the speakers for the TEDx event and what they should speak about is up to the person(s)/team running the event. The content of the event is open to any theme. For an innovation TEDx event, it would be benefeical to choose speakers that are entrepreneurs or experts in that field. 

Format

A TEDx event can be hours to a day long. However one wants the duration of the event to last probably depends on the amount of speakers and the allotted time they have to speak. Basically, the event is structured with speakers who can speak in front of an audience. Typically, the speaker is on stage facing the audience. Moroever, these events are traditionally filmed and streamed online. Thus, the speakers should not have a problem being filmed. 

Reaching out to potential speaker/s

Emailing speakers or asking recommendations for speakers specifically to dicsucss about innovation, can help in attaing them for the TEDx event. One should try to attain speakers who are local and also abroad to display an informative event. 

Cost

The cost depends on where and how the setup of the event takes place. If one wants to entice people to come for a long event, it might be wise to provide lunch for everyone involved. Also, getting a good camera crew to film the event can be costly. Typically, at a University one would want to raise thousands of dollars to secure the event and film it properly. Moreover, obtaining sposorships is a great way to get costs covered for the event.