What is TEDx?

Why sponsor our event?

What is TEDx University of Pittsburgh?

TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for theguidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

In a similar fashion, the University of Pittsburgh’s independently organized TED talk event, with this year’s theme, “Reach,” hopes to parallel the TED mission and create a platform for University students and community members to engage in meaningful discussions with the speakers and other audience members. By bringing together a wide variety of speakers from various fields of work, we hope to give current university students an opportunity to expand their knowledge beyond their majors and degree concentrations and get an all-round, enriching view of the community they live in. This is the 3rd annual TEDxUniversityofPittsburgh event, and we hope to expandexpand on the successes in our past years in 2017. Last year, around 300 people attended the event, and we plan on doubling that number this year. While curating talks around the concept of “Reaching beyond oneself for something greater,” we hope to engage students and the city community, and facilitate meaningful discourse on the various topics.

TEDx University of Pittsburgh has, in its short history, attracted prolific personalities from a variety of backgrounds and careers, including educators, political leaders and medical professionals. In addition to representing the humanistic brand of the city and its institutions to educated and engaged youth, this event provides an opportunity for those very same institutions to interact with and shape the next generation of leaders through the power of ideas. Sponsoring a highly digital TEDx University of Pittsburgh event enables you to target your institution’s message to a captive live audience as well as an engaged digital one. We would really appreciate any contribution that is possible, so that we can host a supossible, so that we can host a successful event and continue the mission of sharing ideas.