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ESX 2026

TechVision Challenge

Shark Tank Style Head-to-Head Challenge
Do your products/services have what it takes to win?

Shark Tank-Style Product Pitch Competition Held LIVE at ESX 2026

Congratulations! As one of the top scoring Innovation Award entries you have been selected to compete in our ESX Innovation Awards TechVision Challenge Round — a Live “Shark Tank” Style Pitch Contest.

This finalist round will determine our 2026 Best in Show and Runner Up — recognizing outstanding products and services that drive the electronic security and life safety industry forward.

COMPLETE CONTESTANT AGREEMENT
https://esxweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/TECHVISION-CHALLENGE-LOGO.png

The Specifics

THE FORMAT

Each contestant will be given 7 minutes to present their product or service before our “industry sharks.” Following this, the judges will challenge each contestant to “defend” why their new product or service is deserving of the title Best of Show.
20 MIN — SET UP IN ROOM
2 MIN — OPENER TO THE SHARKS
5 MIN — PRODUCT/SERVICE PITCH
13 MIN — SHARK QUESTIONING

WHEN

Monday, June 1 | 12:00 – 3:30PM  | Irving Convention Center
Irving Convention Center (500 W Las Colinas Blvd., Irving, TX 75039

Your presentation will be recorded and will be available for attendees to view and vote for this year’s NEW ESX People’s Choice Award.
Presentations will take place in meeting rooms 5 and 6 of the Irving Convention Center. Each contestant’s presentation time and room will be assigned on Friday, May 15.
By 5:00PM on Monday, June 1, the two finalists will be notified (by phone to designated company representative)

NEW! THIS YEAR ALL PRESENTATIONS WILL BE RECORDED AND ATTENDEES WILL VOTE ON THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

Contestant Agreement

Official Rules

  1. Up to 8 selected entries from the Innovation Awards judging process will be invited to compete in the TechVision Challenge.
  2. The interactive judging panel will consist of a minimum of three (3) judges and no more than five (5) judges.
  3. This event is closed to the public. Only representatives who are employed by the contestant’s company, the judges and ESX staff will be present.
  4. The event will take place at ESX at the Irving Convention Center. Each invited contestant will be assigned a specific time slot that includes set-up and presentation time. Please note that presentations earlier in the day, judges’ breaks, etc., may cause schedule delays and impact your presentation start time.
  5. Two adjoining rooms will be utilized to manage the flow of the presentations. While one room is being used for a live presentation, the next company in line to present will be in the adjoining room setting up their product demos (20-minute set-up time) and preparing for their live presentation. Judges will move from room to room to accommodate the presentation process flow.
  6. Each company will be allowed five (5) minutes for their presentation. Contestants are encouraged to use a live demo of their product and may provide product literature for the judging process (use of A/V equipment can only be used to assist in a live demo of the product or service and A/V equipment is not supplied or paid for by ESX). Support people from that same company are welcome to participate in the presentation. The judges expect a live demonstration of the product or service.
  7. The panel of judges, our “industry sharks,” will be allowed up to thirteen (13) minutes per presentation to ask probing questions that will help them select the Best of Show product or service. In addition, a runner up will also be acknowledged.
  8. New in 2026, Your presentation will be recorded and will be available for attendees to view and vote for this year’s NEW ESX People’s Choice Award. It will also be hosted in the MyESX App and on the ESX website. 
  9. Presentations will be photographed and recorded. Each company and its representatives agree to be photographed and recorded for ESX promotional purposes.
  10. The winner will be announced on in the exhibit hall @ 2:15 PM on Tuesday, June 2. Judges will present the winner and runner up with awards. Highlights from the competition will be shared with the ESX audience during the Keynote Luncheon, prior to the expo opening.
  11. The entire TechVision Challenge event, as well as all of ESX, will be recorded and may be “aired” in the future for ESX promotional purposes, including the Best of Show presentation.
  12. All judges’ decisions are final. 

SELECTION OF THE WINNER WILL BE BASED ON JUDGING CRITERIA THAT INCLUDES (WHERE APPLICABLE):

  • Product Impact — Does this meaningfully solve a real problem — or better yet, prevent one — for dealers, integrators, monitoring centers, or end users?
  • Design & Differentiation — Is it innovative, well-designed, and intuitive and does it advance the industry beyond what already exists
  • Interoperability — Does it integrate seamlessly with existing platforms and workflows?
  • Business & Revenue Growth — Does this help dealers grow revenue, increase RMR, or build company value?
  • Customer Retention — Does this strengthen the end-user relationship and reduce attrition?
  • Improves Efficiency — Does this reduce manual work and help dealers, integrators, and monitoring centers scale?
  • Implementation — Can a dealer realistically deploy and support this with minimal friction and training?
  • Compliance & Standards Alignment — Does this meet or exceed applicable regulatory requirements, industry standards, and certifications?
  • Cybersecurity/Data Protection — Does this adequately protect systems and data across the entire ecosystem?
  • WOW Factor — Does this make you stop and think “the industry needs to see this?”

It will be up to each invited contestant to prepare their own presentation for the competition, addressing the judging criteria during the process. 

Note: Being chosen as an Innovation Award category winner does not guarantee entry into the TechVision Challenge as a finalist for Best of Show.