Recently, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® introduced a new membership category to exclusively focus on startups. The CEA is currently the standards and trade association within the United States, promoting the $206 billion consumer electronics industry and representing more than 2,000 preeminent technology companies with public policy advocacy and holding shows such as the internationally renowned International CES ® (Consumer Electronics Show). Membership in the CEA provides benefits such as industry promotion, legislative advocacy, market research, standards development, technical training and education, and the fostering of business and strategic relationships.
This new specialization for ?startups? also includes a multifaceted marketing strategy including a grassroots campaign called the ?Innovation movement? which is meant to educate lawmakers on what they call the ?spirit of innovation?, along with launching a new magazine It Is Innovation (i3), as well as continuing to produce the International CES ®. These actions extend from the CEA?s drive to connect with startups in previous years, with the Eureka Park TechZone introduced at the 2012 CES also receiving an expansion for the 2013 event.
The new startup category will offer regular memberships to companies at a reduced rate of US$95 per year. To qualify for these benefits, the company must be in development of a technology product, service, or application that has been introduced into the market within the past year or will be within the next year; have no more than US $1 million in annual sales; be located in North America; and have not been a CEA member within the past two years. Companies being folded into the CEA via this new startup category will qualify for up to two consecutive years of membership.
By expanding membership opportunities to startup companies, CEA undoubtedly opens up new paths to innovation and fresh ideas in the tech world as well as providing excellent networking, business mentoring, industry information, and promotional opportunities previously unavailable to smaller companies.
Companies may begin signing up for this new membership category on January 3, 2013. Email membership@CE.org for more information, or visit the Experience CEA booth in the Grand Lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center onsite at CES to learn more.
