SPECIALTY CATEGORIES
CATEGORY FOR DEVELOPERS:
Marketing & Sales driven technological solutions developed by startups, programmers, businesses, or brands to address specific business challenges or consumer needs. Eligible innovations include advancements in solutions, consumer experiences, data technologies, platforms, tools, models, programs, hardware, or software. Must have been developed during the last 18 months and results must comply by awards eligibility period criteria of January to December 2025. Evaluated and selected by Local & International Jury.
A minimum of 3 Key Performance Indicators aligned with the objectives are required, for example:
Adoption Rate Customer Engagement Lift Conversion Rate / Lift User Experience Improvement / Customer Satisfaction Lift Return on Investment (ROI) Efficiency Improvement
CATEGORY FOR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS:
Category exclusive for local media outlets (e.g., press, TV, radio, OOH, online media) to recognize achievements in digital innovation, including the adoption of new technologies, interactive experiences, innovative social media strategies, generation of original content, and new solutions for digital news or entertainment consumption. It focuses on how these strategies shape trends and contribute to progress in the digital landscape. A local jury panel will evaluate this category and select the winners.
A minimum of 3 Key Performance Indicators aligned with the objectives are required, for example:
Adoption Rate of New Content Formats Audience Sentiment Improvement Average Time Spent on Interactive Content Conversion Rate Lift Interaction Frequency Reach and Engagement Metrics (Quantify reach, engagement, and conversion rates from social media campaigns or posts such as likes, shares, reach -paid & organic-, engagement, CTR) Traffic, Downloads, New users
CATEGORY FOR STARTUPS AND GROWING VENTURES:
This category recognizes early-stage businesses and growing ventures that have achieved meaningful impact through smart, innovative, and resourceful use of digital marketing. It celebrates start-ups and scale-ups that, despite limited budgets, have leveraged digital tools, creative strategies, platform features, or emerging technologies to accelerate growth, strengthen customer relationships, and build brand momentum. Entries should demonstrate how digital thinking, agility, and ingenuity allowed the business to achieve measurable results, overcome constraints, or unlock new opportunities in the market.
To support continued growth and digital transformation, this category awards a $5,000 seed funding grant to the gold winning entry. A local jury panel will evaluate this category and select the winner.
This category is exclusively for startups and scale-ups that meet the following SMB criteria:
- Generate an average sales volume of $3,000,000 or less during the previous three fiscal years
- Employ 25 or fewer full-time employees (or equivalent)
- Sales volume and employee count must be documented in the nomination to qualify.
A minimum of 3 Key Performance Indicators aligned with the objectives are required, for example:
- Revenue Growth / Sales Lift
- Lead Generation / Qualified Leads
- Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)
- Return on Ad Spend (ROAS)
- Conversion Rate / Conversion Lift
CATEGORY FOR CONTENT CREATORS:
This category recognizes individual creators or creative collectives whose original and organic digital content demonstrates exceptional creativity, storytelling, and measurable impact across any platform or format. The focus is on the creator’s craft, consistency, and ability to build genuine audience connection- not on a specific brand collaboration or campaign.
For creators with large, established audiences of 100,00 followers or more whose content demonstrates widespread influence, high reach, and consistent engagement at scale.
Entries may include social, digital, or hybrid content (video, podcast, short-form, interactive executions, etc.) that showcases innovation, originality, and sustained audience resonance. Also, the nomination must include:
Creator Profile and Authenticity Statement: Include a brief biography of the creator or creative team, along with an authenticity statement confirming that the submitted content is real, published work and has not been fabricated, simulated, or manipulated for award purposes. Collaborations and Roles: In the case of collaborative entries, clearly specify the roles, responsibilities, and contributions of each individual or entity involved in the creation and execution of the content.
A Local Jury Panel will evaluate all entries within this category and select one winner per distinction. A minimum of 3 Key Performance Indicators aligned with the objectives are required, for example:
Audience Growth (Followers, Subscribers, or Reach Increase) Engagement Rate (Organic based on Likes, Comments, Shares, or Interactions per post) Average Watch Time or Listen Time / Completion Rate Community Interaction Quality (Comment Sentiment, UGC Inspired, or Discussion Threads) Earned Media Value or Organic Reach Amplification
This category recognizes individual creators or creative collectives whose original and organic digital content demonstrates exceptional creativity, storytelling, and measurable impact across any platform or format. The focus is on the creator’s craft, consistency, and ability to build genuine audience connection- not on a specific brand collaboration or campaign.
For emerging or niche creators whose content demonstrates strong community connection, authenticity, and meaningful engagement relative to their audience size of 1,000 to 99,999 followers.
Entries may include social, digital, or hybrid content (video, podcast, short-form, interactive executions, etc.) that showcases innovation, originality, and sustained audience resonance. Also, the nomination must include:
Creator Profile and Authenticity Statement: Include a brief biography of the creator or creative team, along with an authenticity statement confirming that the submitted content is real, published work and has not been fabricated, simulated, or manipulated for award purposes. Collaborations and Roles: In the case of collaborative entries, clearly specify the roles, responsibilities, and contributions of each individual or entity involved in the creation and execution of the content.
A Local Jury Panel will evaluate all entries within this category and select one winner per distinction. A minimum of 3 Key Performance Indicators aligned with the objectives are required, for example:
Audience Growth (Followers, Subscribers, or Reach Increase) Engagement Rate (Organic based on Likes, Comments, Shares, or Interactions per post) Average Watch Time or Listen Time / Completion Rate Community Interaction Quality (Comment Sentiment, UGC Inspired, or Discussion Threads) Earned Media Value or Organic Reach Amplification
