Share your research with the world in 90 seconds

PitchFest is back! Elevate your storytelling skills and bring your research to life at PitchFest 2024.

Introduction

Applications open 1 December. 

Link to application portal.

What is PitchFest? 

PitchFest offers you, as a researcher associated with the Turing, an extraordinary platform to present your work on the largest stage of AI UK. Imagine standing in front of a live audience, along with expert judges from industry, academia, and the public sector, showcasing your research. 

You’ll have 90 seconds to make a lasting impression. Your pitch will be evaluated on four main criteria: creativity, engagement, accessibility, and real-world application.  

Pitches will be judged by two different groups: an expert panel of judges (who will also provide feedback for each presentation), and the live AI UK audience on the day. At the end of the event, we will crown a winner of the second edition of PitchFest! 

Following PitchFest, all finalists will have the opportunity to network with AI UK attendees at our dedicated PitchFest stand. Some of last year’s finalists were offered new research opportunities straight after the event! 

Participating in PitchFest is more than just a competition; it's a learning journey. You'll gain invaluable skills in communicating complex ideas to a diverse audience effectively and succinctly. Selected pitchers will be invited to a three-week pitch development programme, where they will receive personalised feedback from expert coaches and the RAM team at the Turing ahead of AI UK. This is your chance to refine your presentation skills and make your research resonate with a broader audience. 

Excited to participate this year? The application portal will open on December 1, so keep that date on your calendar! 

Who can take part? 

Any researcher associated with the Alan Turing Institute can apply, including any researchers working on a Turing project, Turing Fellows, and Enrichments Students. Researchers can apply either individually or as a project team. 

Finalists will need to be available to present in person at AI UK (March 19 -20 2024) if they reach the final. All finalists will receive a Speaker Pass to AI UK, providing them with access to the full two-day event. 

If you are doing research and are associated with Turing, we want you to apply! 

What is the application process?

Applications open on Friday 1 December. You can apply by recording a video of your pitch. The RAM team will go through an assessment process and choose the final pitches for the main event. 

Successful applicants will be invited to a three-week pitch development programme. During the programme, they will receive personalised feedback on content and presentation from expert coaches and the Turing RAM team to make their pitches shine in preparation for PitchFest on March 20! 

What is the application timeline?

  • December 1: Call for pitches opens. 
  • December 21: Submissions close. 
  • January 29: Finalists notified. 
  • February 19-March 15: Pitch development programme for finalists. 
  • March 20: PitchFest!

What are the judging criteria?

Creativity: Flex your creative muscles! To what extent do you present your research in an unconventional, unexpected, and surprising way? 

Engagement: 90 seconds is a short time to present your research! Do you have a good hook? Is your pitch thought-provoking? Does it spark curiosity? Does it leave the audience wanting more? 

Accessibility: The audience at AI UK is broad with a diverse range of attendees coming from various backgrounds. Is the pitch inclusive and accessible? Will a non-specialist audience be able to follow? 

Real-world Application: As the national institute for data science and AI, it’s crucial to ensure our research outputs are being applied to solve real-world problems. Does the pitch clearly lay out the motivations for the work and identify real-world applications?  

Who are the judges?

Judges for the 2024 edition of PitchFest will be announced soon! 

Previous judges have included: 

  • Anna Brailsford, CEO, Code First Girls
  • Esra Kasapoglu, Executive Director, Innovate
  • Jan Przydatek, Director of Technologies, Lloyd’s Register Foundation
  • Simon Reeve, Director of Innovation, The Alan Turing Institute
  • Gavin Stephenson, Managing Director at Accenture

The inaugural winner of PitchFest 2024 will win:

  • Marketing and Communication opportunities (including an announcement and blog post on the Alan Turing Institute’s website and social media channels) on your research.
  • A mentoring session with the RAM team exploring impact & engagement.
  • A Turing swag bag.

For any questions, please reach out to [email protected] 

 

You can find out more about the Research Application Managers here. For any questions please reach out to [email protected]