APPLY TO TALK AT TEDxTUM 2024

WHAT IS A TEDx TALK?

A TEDx talk is a short, intense talk, given live with no notes and no podium, that has a powerful idea at its core – an “idea worth spreading.” It is given at a TEDx event: a local, volunteer-run initiative that brings people together to share a TED-like experience. 

After it is delivered to the local community, a TEDx talk is featured on the TEDx YouTube channel, which has more than 23 million subscribers. This means each TEDx talk is not only seen by the local, live audience, but also brought to a global audience. In addition, some of these talks are selected by the TED team to be included in their community newsletters or featured on TED.com.

WHY SHOULD I SPEAK AT TEDxTUM?

At TEDxTUM, we believe in the impact of sharing powerful ideas and therefore provide the fertile ground for our community to grow new ones. Above there is a short video where you can get a sneak preview of what a TEDxTUM speaker experience is about.

WHAT MAKES AN IDEA WORTH SPREADING?

Do you have an idea you’d like to share on the TEDxTUM stage? Great ideas are not only worth sharing, but have the strength to create a lasting impact. They might alter the audience’s current perspective, or even open them up to a completely new way of thinking. We’ve provided a short list to give you a hint of which ideas are worth spreading and which may not fit our stage.

GOOD IDEAS FOR TEDxTUM

  • Groundbreaking and novel
  • Controversial, challenging and invites to rethink a common perspective
  • Backed by empirical evidence
  • Makes the complex comprehensible to a broader audience
  • Speaks of failure as well as success
  • Presented with authenticity by a genuine speaker who aims to give the talk of their life

NOT-SO-GOOD IDEAS FOR TEDxTUM

  • Ideas that have been covered many times before (especially on other TEDx stages)
  • Sales pitch of a company or product
  • Fundraising or crowdfunding pleas
  • Purely motivational talks
  • Has a person/the speaker at the center instead of an idea

Wrapping this idea into a talk

There is no set formula for a great talk which is also what makes every TEDx talk so unique. If you’re unsure how your idea could be wrapped into a talk, you can jump-start your creativity and fuel your inspiration with the types of talks below.

The BIG idea

These talks focus on one or two very strong points, which are central to the core of the message the speaker aims to convey.

Examples: Bryan Stevenson, Onora O’Neill, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The artist’s statement

In this style of talk, artists showcase their art and explain the meaning and process behind what they create.

Examples: Raghava KK, Liu Bolin, Aparna Rao

The small idea

These talks do not introduce a big, world-changing idea, but instead center around a very engaging take on an interesting topic.

Examples: Mary Roach, Joe Smith, Charlie Todd

The "dazzle with wonder"

These talks are mainly about the amazement of science and discovery in a way that’s engaging at every educational level.

Examples: Yoav Medan, Marcus Byrne, Janna Levin

The tech demo

Differing from the norm, these talks are an onstage look at a clever new invention that the speaker was a part of creating.

Examples: Tan Le, Markus Fischer, Raffaello D’Andrea

The "issue" talk

This type of talk takes a more compelling turn as the speaker works to expose the audience to an issue that they may not otherwise know much about.

Examples: Rodrigo Canales, Lawrence Lessig, Rose George

How to Apply and what happens afterwards

Send us your application

1. Complete the application form by 23:59 on April 20th 2024.

2. Our team will review the applications and if you catch our attention we will invite you for an audition. We will want to get to know you better and see a shortened, first-draft version of your talk.

3. By the end of May we will let you know if we want to develop the idea for the TEDxTUM 2024 stage.

4. Once the confirmation is made from our side and yours, your road to the red circle will start and we will help you prepare to deliver your talk on our TEDxTUM stage.

Apply Here!

WHAT IF I AM SELECTED AS A SPEAKER? “THE ROAD TO THE RED CIRCLE”

Even if you are an experienced speaker, a TEDx talk may be a new kind of challenge. But don’t worry, you are not on your own: our curation team will work closely with the chosen speakers and make sure they are ready. We prepare our speakers extensively, coach regularly, rehearse and refine so that when the day comes they are more than ready to deliver a powerful talk. Who knows? There might be a standing ovation at the end of this journey.

Below a small preview of how we will work together.

1. You develop your idea with our help until it takes on its most intense shape. This involves multiple discussions with our curation team and the iterative refinement of talk content and structure.

2. You design your talk and its supporting materials. After the core idea is there, we wrap it into a talk. We start working on supporting material (pictures, props, slides) only once the story is polished to make sure they don’t distract from the idea itself.

3. Practice makes perfect. You will have multiple rehearsals with our curation team so that you are prepared for anything. On the day of the event, you will be ready to give the best, most authentic talk of your life.