Congratulations! You’ve just been invited to potentially speak at this year’s TEDxAkron event! But now you might be asking: Oh no, what now?

Welcome! We’ve created this private page to help explain a bit more of what is required of a TED talk, a TEDx speaker, and a wealth of additional information. Please review this page in full for tips, tricks, examples of amazing talks, and what not to do or consider when thinking about becoming a potential TEDxAkron speaker!

2025 Theme

This year’s TEDxAkron event invites speakers who have questioned the status quo, redefined boundaries, or seen the world through a different lens. 2025’s “Shaking the Rules” isn’t just about rebellion—it’s about vision, exploration, and the courage to ask, What if? From bold innovations to quiet revolutions, from rethinking history to redesigning the future, our speakers will explore the gray spaces where transformation happens. Because sometimes, progress isn’t about breaking the rules—it’s about shaking them.

However, this theme is simply a tagline. It’s intentionally abstract, and open to a certain amount of interpretation – it’s centered on the spirit of seeing or doing things differently in life or in Akron, but designed to be broad enough to leave room for a wide range of topics and speakers. However, it’s not designed to be a forum for simply promoting your business or trying to sell anything - but your big ideas.

The best TED talks are about sharing BIG IDEAS

TEDx events are not typical. Sharing a big idea is about informing and inspiring an audience. It’s about creating surprise and delight. Your idea should be unique and have the potential to spark conversations and make a positive impact. TED’s mission is to “Discover and spread ideas that spark conversation, deepen understanding, and drive meaningful change.” This is about crafting something innovative, or a new take on a concept many people already understand, or a fresh or time-tested perspective on something that is known, or something completely innovative.

With this in mind, TEDxAkron is seeking amazing ideas, not necessarily the most amazing speakers. We will work with you to command the stage if you’re not someone who might already. But what we’re really excited about is your best ideas or innovation. This is a great way to decipher between a TEDx speaker, and an interesting or entertaining person with just an “okay” idea. What will the audience walk away knowing? What will make people think and become inspired or enlightened? This means…

  • We’re asking you for new ideas that originate in your community but are widely relatable.

  • We’re looking for ideas that need to be defended – not something self-evident, but an interesting argument, perhaps with an antagonist.

  • We’re seeking a speaker with an idea the TED world hasn't heard before. (In other words, please don’t try and copy a TED Talk you like!)

  • We’re hoping for ideas that change perceptions, challenge your industry, challenge other entrepreneurs, that might challenge and inspire Akron.

As a TEDxAkron speaker, you should inspire the audience to think big or take action, whether it's to make a change in their own lives or to contribute to a larger cause. This can be achieved by providing practical advice, sharing inspiring stories, or highlighting important issues that need to be addressed. When it’s a call to action, think about a big idea that’s clear and specific, making it easy for the audience to take action. When you’re sharing a big idea that challenges the norm or inspires someone to think differently, you want to embody your talk with stories, visuals, sounds, and experiences that is convincing and engaging. A great way to consider a good idea: can you describe the basic idea in about 6 words? If not, it might be hard to accomplish in 8-14 minutes on stage.

The TED and TEDx audience has high expectations of the speakers, but don’t worry, the TEDxAkron Speaker Team will work with you at all stages of your speech planning to help shape a presentation that will succeed on the TEDx stage. Because TEDxAkron is the place to give the talk of your life!

What a TEDx event is not:

  • A TEDx event isn’t an industry or marketing conference or showcase. It isn’t limited to one topic or field. It isn’t used to sell something. It isn’t used to promote your services or business.

  • A TEDx event cannot be used to raise money, not even for a charity. To raise awareness? Yes. But it cannot be a direct pitch for funding, clients, or customers.

  • A TEDx event is not a platform for professional or circuit speakers, such as motivational speakers and professional life coaches. Its purpose is to give a platform to those who often do not have one.

  • A TEDx event is not focused solely on what it means to be an entrepreneur or run a business or create a product or technology. Diversity of ideas and topics is key!

Why You? Why Now?

You were hand-picked this year by the co-organizers because you applied or were recommended by someone in the community, or maybe we know of your work, we’ve seen your history, legacy, or engagement. No matter how you got here to this stage of being considered, you are an important part of Akron. We feel you might have an amazing TED talk in you, and one that is worthy of showcasing and celebrating at this year’s relaunch and theme. We believe in you! And we’re here to help as much as possible in your pitch—and if you’re chosen to speak this year—your prep, planning, and TEDxAkron talk.

But if you don’t think this is the right time, stage, or moment for you to consider speaking, we understand! Just let us know and we’ll let you off the hook. But if you are still on the fence, reach out to us. We’re happy to talk with you about ideas, our belief in you, and why we feel 2025 is your year to do something amazing with TEDxAkron!

We’re so excited to extend this opportunity to you!

Deadlines for a final pitch (or set of pitches) is May 5th, 2025. And we will have decisions made to everyone by mid-May.

If you still have questions, needs or concerns, please reach out to us directly!

Alexis & Ben
TEDxAkron Co-Organizers

Need some inspiration?!

We’ve complied a few links to some amazing TED and TEDx talks we love that are here to inspire and educate you on spreading a big idea!

Other important information:

  • If you’re looking for more information about TEDx and speaking at at TEDx event, make sure to visit this page.

  • All chosen speakers will be required to attend a number of in-person speaker workshops in June, July, August, and early September. TEDx Talks take work and practice. We don’t just invite you up on stage. We offer structured TEDxAkron leaders and Speaker Coaches to aid you in planning, crafting, and perfecting your talk. Think of it as a bonus to this experience - you get support to do one of the coolest and biggest things you have likely ever done on stage.

  • All chosen TEDxAkron speakers for 2025 are required to attend the entire TEDxAkron event on The Knight Stage on Saturday, September 13th, 2025. While doors open at 1pm, you will need to be at the venue in the morning and stay through the afterparty.

  • All chosen TEDxAkron speakers for 2025 are also required and asked to speak or provide content for some or all promotional needs and opportunities. This may include photography, video, interviews, and other media efforts. We will do our best to work with everyone on their availability for all required events.

  • All chosen speakers will be required to sign an official TEDx speaker release form, provide or be available for promotional photography, submit a speaker bio, as well as having their talk professionally video taped live during the event. As per TED and TEDx rules, all talks are filmed and edited and then hosted on the TEDxAkron and TEDx YouTube channels and/or website.

  • PLEASE NOTE: Your invitation to pitch to speak is not an invitation to represent TEDxAkron, it’s leadership, sponors, or marketing. Currently we are in the midst of a massive set of plans for future marketing, programming, partnerships and more. We ask you not tell people about this invitation at this stage, invite other people to be considered, or promoting anything TEDxAkron — JUST YET. Because there will be a day soon when we’ll be dancing and singing from the rooftops and will be inviting you to help spread the word. Just not yet. But soon, we promise!