|
|
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the application deadline? The award runs through December 31, 2012, but we name multiple award recipients throughout the year, so applications are always being accepted. We review submissions about once a month.
How will I know if my idea is chosen as an award recipient? Don’t worry, either way, recipient or not, we’ll send you a letter with our decision as soon as we’ve made it.
How many award recipients will you choose? It’s hard to say. We don’t know when or how many ideas we’ll get that knock our socks off. But we’ll name recipients throughout the year, shortly after we make their parts.
What kind of 3D CAD file formats do you accept? We can accept IGES (.igs), STEP (.stp), SolidWorks (.sldprt), ProE (.prt), Parasolid (.x_t and .x_b), ACIS (.sat), AutoCAD (.dwg, 3D only), Autodesk Inventor (.ipt). Compressed folders (.ZIP) can contain any combination of the above model file types.
What kind of things are you looking for? We look for anything that would make life a little better, easier, safer, healthier, less frustrating, more fun—if it’s cool and it involves parts that Proto Labs can make, it’s fair game. Take a look at our previous award recipients.
What is the judging based on? It’s based on originality, feasibility, potential benefit to end users and innate coolness.
Are you going to take ownership of my idea if you choose it as a recipient? No, as cool as we think your idea is, we’re not interested in that. Your idea is yours and yours to keep. We’ll stick to what we do best—getting you real parts, really fast.
Will you market my product for me if my idea is chosen as an award recipient? We send out a press release announcing that your idea has been chosen as a Cool Idea! Award recipient, and where applicable, publish it on our Twitter and Facebook pages and write a case study about it where people can read about it on our website and in our Proto Labs Journal. Beyond that, the actual marketing of your product is yours to manage.
I thought I saw a couple Honorable Mention recipients in 2011. Are you doing that again? Yep, if an idea that we aren’t naming as a Cool Idea! Award recipient is Honorable Mention-worthy, we’ll call that out. You’ll receive 25% off your order (up to a US$40,000 order, so up to US$10,000 off). Like Cool Idea! Award recipients, you’ll get promotional media exposure where applicable.
|