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Extreme Tech Challenge Semi-Finals to be Held at 2015 International CES
[December 18, 2014]

Extreme Tech Challenge Semi-Finals to be Held at 2015 International CES


The Consumer Electronics Association (News - Alert) (CEA)® today announced that MaiTai Global Inc. will hold the semi-finals of the Extreme Tech Challenge at the 2015 International CES®. The Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) brings together targeted resources and world-class advisors to help high-energy entrepreneurs execute their ideas. Owned and produced by CEA, the 2015 CES (News - Alert), the world's gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies, will run January 6-9 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The XTC semi-finals will take place 2-3:30 PM Thursday January 8 at The Venetian. The top 10 XTC semi-finalists will be invited to the event and asked to present to the XTC Judges Circle. The event will be broadcast live and three finalists will be selected and invited to the finals to be held on Necker Island on February 6, 2015, with Sir Richard Branson as the special guest judge.

"I think to encourage people to push themselves to the limit…or to the limits…that's even better, is admirable, and I'm delighted to be involved as a judge," said Branson.

"We are thrilled that a global competition focused on supporting entrepreneurs has chosen the 2015 CES as the venue to hold their semi-finals," said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, International CES and corporate business strategy, CEA. "Adding this exciting competition to our line-up of events dedicated to the future of technology is part of our continuing commitment to providing opportunities for startups and entrepreneurs at CES."

Bill Tai, co-founder, MaiTai Global/XTC added, "CES is the ultimate event to showcase our Top 10 finalists. These innovative and disruptive companies were picked from a field of 1,800 applicants and the quality of their products is very deserving of the massive exposure that CES can bring with its more than 150,000 attendees and more than 5,000 media attending."



The Extreme Tech Challenge was developed to provide exposure and capital to accelerate product development by providing free infrastructure and other start-up boosters from world class vendors. The final pitch and feedback session are held at Necker Island in February. Top contestants, semi-finalists and finalists are awarded startup assistance including: access to funding, free infrastructure (web services and hosting), distribution support, donated office space, free investment banking consultation and donated legal and tax advice.

Additional details about the Extreme Tech Challenge competition are available at extremetechchallenge.com. A video about the competition is available here.


The 2015 CES will feature more than 3,500 exhibitors unveiling the latest consumer technology products and services across the entire ecosystem of consumer technologies. Twenty category-specific marketplaces highlighting innovation across diverse product areas will also be featured at the 2015 show. Visit CESweb.org for more information on the 2015 CES.

Note to Editors: The official name of the global technology event is "International CES®." Subsequent references to the event can be shortened to "CES."

About CES:

The International CES is the world's gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for more than 40 years-the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace. As the largest hands-on event of its kind, CES features all aspects of the industry. And because it is owned and produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the technology trade association representing the $211 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry, it attracts the world's business leaders and pioneering thinkers to a forum where the industry's most relevant issues are addressed. Follow CES online at www.CESweb.org and through social media: http://www.cesweb.org/social.

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • CES Unveiled Las Vegas
    January 4, 2015, Las Vegas, NV
  • 2015 International CES
    January 6-9, 2015, Las Vegas, NV
  • CES Unveiled Tokyo
    February 18, 2015, Tokyo, Japan
  • CEA Winter Break
    March 5-8, 2015, Snowmass Village, CO
  • 2015 International CES Asia
    May 25-27, 2015, Shanghai, China


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