What would you do with a spare $1000?
The 10th annual Awesome Shit Club is returning next month, and it wants to fund that great idea that's been lingering in the back of your mind.
The event describes itself as "a mini Dragon’s Den style event" where "awesomers," i.e. community members with an idea they could use some extra cash to fund submit those ideas (also known as awesome shit) in writing to a panel of "awesomites," i.e. the people who donate their hard-earned cash in exchange for a vote and a spot on the event's judging panel. "Awesomeites" must put $50 into the pot in order to earn a vote.
The top 10 idea submissions earn a spot at a "pitch night," where each presenter has five minutes to convince the judging panel to fund their idea. The event guarantees a minimum of $500 to the top idea, but the prize can grow much larger, depending on the amount of "awesomites" willing to dole out their hard-earned cash. One "awesomer" will win the event, earning all of the cash in the pot, no strings attached.
Over the past decade, the Vancouver-based initiative has "given away thousands and thousands of dollars, with no strings attached, to encourage people to get off their asses and make their awesome shit happen," according to its website.
Need some inspiration? Ideas can range between anything from wanting to write a screenplay or wanting to feed the homeless to even wanting "to buy a goat to pull a sleigh."
"But really, submit anything you think is awesome," the event's website urges.
"What really matters when you submit your awesome shit, is that it sounds exciting." Those submitting an idea are also encouraged to mention how the cash would be used, if their idea is selected.
While organizers had planned to hold the club's 2020 event back in April, the event was understandably cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, this year's pitch night will take place virtually, on Friday, July 3. The benefit of moving the event online? Attendees no longer need to be based in Vancouver, meaning anyone around the world is invited to throw their hat into the virtual ring.
The window for submissions is open for just over one more week, until June 20. The top 10 "awesomers" will be notified on June 25 that they've earned a spot on pitch night, set to kick off at 6 p.m. PT on July 3.
Check out the Awesome Shit Club's website for more info, or to submit your idea for consideration.
