The #OHIoT Reverse Pitch

Overview

This Must-Attend, in-person event, graciously hosted at MAGNET: The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network, will convene the best and brightest in the IoT field.

Attendees: IoT Engineers, IoT Architects, Investors, Entrepreneurs, Teachers/Professors, Students, Economic Development, and of course Incumbents.

The event will host 80-100 attendees and include a full day of activity, collaboration, and matchmaking between incumbents and solvers.

Executive Summary

"The #OHIoT Reverse Pitch" is a signature event of the #IoTinOhio Ecosystem designed to seed innovation between established incumbents and entrepreneurial, technical, and academic communities across Northeast Ohio, Ohio, and the greater Midwest. Each Reverse Pitch is a structured opportunity to connect with problem solvers across the ecosystem. The event will host 80-100 attendees and include a full day of activity, collaboration, and matchmaking between incumbents and solvers. The goal is to accelerate smart product innovation, bridge talent with opportunity, and position the region as a globally recognized hub for IoT design, development, and manufacturing.

Reverse Pitches flip the traditional model. Instead of startups pitching to investors, incumbents share real-world challenges they don’t currently have the bandwidth to address—but which, if solved, could create real business impact. These challenges often fall into the "mid-tier" category of priority, but many have game-changing potential.

Agenda

8-8:45am Doors open, Arrivals, Orientation

8:45-9 - One big group, Welcome, Instructions on Logistics

9-9:45 - Group 1, Pitch #1 - 30 minutes for the Pitch Overview, 15 minutes for Q&A

9:45-10 - Break, Rotate

10-10:45 - Group 1, Pitch #2 - 30 minutes for the Pitch Overview, 15 minutes for Q&A

10:45-11 - Break, Rotate

11-11:45 - Group 1, Pitch #3 - 30 minutes for the Pitch Overview, 15 minutes for Q&A

11:45-12 - Break

12-1pm - Lunch, Reset Pitch Rooms and Presenters

1-1:45 - Group 2, Pitch #1 - 30 minutes for the Pitch Overview, 15 minutes for Q&A

1:45-2 - Break, Rotate

2-2:45 - Group 2, Pitch #2 - 30 minutes for the Pitch Overview, 15 minutes for Q&A

2:45-3 - Break, Rotate

3-3:45 - Group 2, Pitch #3 - 30 minutes for the Pitch Overview, 15 minutes for Q&A

3:45-4 - Closing Keynote by the Event Sponsor

4-5:30pm - Cocktail reception

The goal is to have 4 Pitchers in each Group, one in each of 4 Break-out Rooms. In total, we will have 8 Pitchers, each Pitching 3 times. Attendees would have the chance to see 6 total pitches but interact with all 8. The goal is to have 80-100 total attendees throughout the day at any given time.

1. Process for Submission

Incumbents interested in submitting a Reverse Pitch must:

• Complete a Reverse Pitch Submission Form - email mwise@iotsandbox.org
• Submit three PowerPoint slides outlining the Problem Statement.
• Submit three PowerPoint slides outlining the Resolution Process.
• Confirm participation in the Pitch Event and agree to evaluation standards.

Deadline for Submissions: September 12, 2025

2. Process for Evaluation

All submissions will be reviewed by the Reverse Pitch Vetting Panel, composed of representatives from:

• IoT Sandbox
• Regional innovation organizations
• Independent technical advisors

Evaluation Criteria:

• Clarity and feasibility of the Problem Statement
• Availability of meaningful engagement opportunities for solvers
• Transparency of the payout structure and process

The weeks of September 15th and 22nd, the Reverse Pitch Vetting Panel will schedule two 90-minute recorded virtual meetings where Reverse Pitch candidates will present the Problem Statement and a 1-minute summary of the Problem Resolution Process of their Reverse Pitches. This will be done using a randomized process to show no favoritism. That said, the IoT Sandbox would like the final 8 Reverse Pitchers to comprise a diverse group of incumbents, both in size, industry, and Problem Statement.

Deadline for Acceptance Notifications: September 30, 2025