Abstract Submissions Now Open
The CSU Demo Day showcase embraces ideas with potential for commercialization at any stage. Share your insights on problem-solving solutions and innovative ideas for a chance to win cash prizes! Email charlotte.davis@colostate.edu for any questions.
Submissions are due by Sunday, March 2 at 11:59 p.m.
Presentation Content
We encourage presenters to address the following questions in their poster and pitch presentations to accurately reflect the judging rubric mentioned below. Requirements for the poster and pitch materials are below.
1. Problem: What is the problem?
2. Solution: How does your research solve the problem?
3. Innovation: What is different/innovative about your research/product/program that makes it better than other research/products/programs that are currently solving the problem?
4. Audience: Who is interested in your solution? For example, who would use your research/product/program, or who would purchase it if it was available commercially.
Please direct all questions to Charlotte Davis, Marketing Coordinator, Technology Transfer via email: charlotte.davis@colostate.edu
Submission Requirements
Demo Day 2025 will require a poster highlighting the four points for suggested poster content.
How to Communicate Your Research Lunch & Learn
Wednesday, March 26 at 12-1pm
Join CSU STRATA for a lunch & learn where we'll dive into effectively pitching your ideas at CSU Demo Day and essential insights for the symposium. Come grab lunch with us while Steve Foster, Director of Licensing, will share his expertise on crafting impactful presentations. Further details for the symposium will also be provided during this session.
How to Communicate Your Research - Virtual Session
Thursday, March 27 at 12-1pm
Poster Guidelines
We are not requiring you to use a specific poster template for Demo Day. However, please ensure that your poster is no larger than 48" x 36" (either portrait or landscape). Two posters will share one board.
Poster design should follow standard rules for in-person poster sessions; readable by viewers three feet away. Use large print. A minimum font size of 32 point and a maximum of 600 words are recommended. The message should be clear and understandable without oral explanation.
The best posters will be closer to an infographic than a traditional academic research poster. Several examples of infographics and a few of our previous winners' posters are included below. Additional infographic examples and templates may be sourced from the web, an example of a template service is https://www.visme.co/make-infographics/.
Product Demos and Prototypes
In addition to posters, product demos or prototypes are highly encouraged as part of participants' pitches. Demonstrating a working model or tangible representation of your innovation can significantly enhance the impact and clarity of your pitch.
Example rubric:
How well is the problem identified and explained?
How well is a novel, innovative solution identified?
Commercial application is explicitly discussed and target customer is identified/defined.
The presenter communicates their topic effectively.
The poster was easy to follow and understand.
Judging
Faculty, staff, alumni, industry professionals, and community members may be judges. All judges will use the same criteria to assess each poster within a given award category (see sample rubric below.) A minimum of two judges will score each poster. Scores for each poster will be averaged. The poster with the highest average in each applicable award category will win the award. Ties will be decided at the discretion of CSU STRATA staff based on judging comments. A poster may win only one award.
