NC Tech Awards Submissions

Recognizes technology companies for innovation, excellence and growth.

Nominees/Applicants must be a technology company that is either headquartered in North Carolina or has a significant presence in the state.

• ^NEW Artificial Intelligence + Machine Learning: A technology company that has developed an AI/Machine Learning product or solution that adds increased efficiency or enhanced value to clients or customers.
  
  
• ^NEW Cyber Security: A technology company that has developed an innovative product or solution to detect, mitigate or contain cyber breaches or attacks. 

• Industry Driven: A technology company that has developed a product or solution for a specific industry (e.g. accounting, healthcare, real estate, retail, legal, etc.) and has made a notable impact to the betterment of that industry. 

• Public Company: A publicly traded technology company with outstanding performance in revenue, product innovation, market penetration, sales growth and employment expansion. 

• Private Company: A technology company that is not publicly traded with outstanding performance in revenue, product innovation, market penetration, sales growth and employment expansion.
  
  
• Software: A software technology company that has demonstrated strong performance and/or achieved a milestone of notable success over the past year (e.g. increased revenue, employee growth, product launch or recognition, etc.). 

• Top Ten (10) Startups to Watch: A technology startup founded in NC within the past four years that has demonstrated a foundation for success (e.g. funding, product development, customer acquisition, etc.).
  
  
• Best Tech Company to Work: A technology company with satisfied workers… AND solid values, great leadership, best perks, competitive salaries, community service and fabulous workspaces. 

Recognizes companies, organizations and institutions for their use of technology.

Nominees/Applicants are open to any company, organization or institution that is either headquartered in North Carolina or has a significant presence in the state. (Must clearly state the use of technology and provide insight on the impact.) 

• ^NEW Analytics/Big Data: A company, organization or institution that has utilized analytics and/or big data to significantly improve what they do and how they do it (e.g. internal operations, customer engagement, product development, etc.). 

• Innovative Product/Solution: A company, organization or institution that has developed or adapted a breakthrough solution that has or will have significant impact on customers and/or consumers. 

• ^NEW Tech for Good: A company, organization or institution that has utilized technology to help make the world a better place to live and learn (examples of impact can be broad or for a special population) and to improve quality of life for citizens. 

• ^NEW Digital Transformation: A company, organization or institution that has utilized technology to improve customer or employee engagement by adopting digital solutions and innovations to improve outcomes, efficiency and effectiveness. 

• ^NEW Public Sector Project: A government, education or public entity that has utilized technology tools to execute a project that delivers value, efficiency and ease of use for for students or citizens.

Recognizes executives and stakeholders for their accomplishments and/or impact in the tech sector.

Nominees must be based in and have made a positive impact in North Carolina.  Their employer should be headquartered or have a significant presence in the state. 

• Tech Executive of the Year:  Founder/CEO/Site Leader who has achieved a significant milestone within the past year (e.g. taken a company public/private, led a merger/acquisition, significantly boosted a company’s presence in the state, authored a book, etc.) 
  
• Private Sector CIO of the Year: A CIO or equivalent who has primary IT leadership responsibility within his/her organization in the private sector, and demonstrated leadership, driven innovation, and delivered value to their organization (e.g. revamped IT organization, contributed to employer’s mission/profit/efficiency in a major way, etc.) 
  
  
• Public Sector CIO of the Year: A CIO or equivalent who has primary IT leadership responsibility within his/her organization in the public sector, and who has demonstrated leadership, driven innovation, and delivered value to their organization (e.g. revamped IT organization, contributed to employer’s mission/profit/efficiency in a major way, etc.) 
  
  
• Chief Information Security Officer of the Year: A CISO or equivalent who has primary IT Security leadership responsibility within his/her organization and demonstrated leadership, driven innovation, and delivered value to their organization by establishing and maintaining the enterprise vision, strategy, and program to ensure information assets and technologies are adequately protected. 
  
  
• Tech Educator of the Year: An individual (e.g. teacher, administrator, counselor, etc.) that has demonstrated innovation and effectiveness in the use of technology to educate students, and/or has been effective in driving interest among students in pursuing technology fields. 
  
  
• Tech Woman of the Year: A woman in technology who has made increasingly significant contributions throughout her career to her company, industry and community (e.g. reached a professional pinnacle such as being named a CXO, demonstrated track record of being a ground-breaker or visionary, inspires and mentors others, etc.) 
  
  
• Public Leader of the Year: A public official who has provided leadership in the use of technology to advance North Carolina, and/or has supported the innovation economy through public policy efforts. 
  
  
• Beacon Award (Outstanding Achievement): An individual who over their career has helped advance the technology sector and has history of significant personal achievement.  (i.e. aimed at recognizing a leader with North Carolina ties whose achievements have been statewide, national, or global)