Every year since 2010, Telecom Council members select a Class of exceptional young communications and networking companies who represent the future of the communications industry.

The annual Innovation Showcase competition is open to startups and scaleups on the cutting edge of communications and networking. Companies selected for the Class of 2023 will be introduced to the network operator, telecom vendor, and communications investor community in a full day of presentations, MatchMaking, and networking. These telecom giants are looking for new innovation and technology partners that they can work with to expand into new markets, improve their current products and services, grow customer satisfaction, and in some cases, invest.

Applications extended to June 6th


Class of 2023 winners are rewarded with:

Private Introductions to telcos covering North America, Europe, and Asia who are actively looking for new technologies to buy, sell, integrate, and invest in.

Speaker & Demo Opportunities at Demo Day with pitches, exhibits, and our proven MatchMaker Meeting Service.

Business-Tangible Meetings that open doors to future customers, partners, and investors. 

Recognition & Validation with carriers, vendors, and VCs that your solution meets the market and potential customers are ready to take the first step with you.

Feedback & Insight from the telecom community gives you valuable insight on how, when, and with whom you can succeed in the market.

Thanks to this year's Innovation Showcase Judges. Judging will take place in June.


13th Annual Demo Day on Sept 22 at SK Telecom in Silicon Valley

Join Telecom Council members, telco tech scouts, strategy executives from telecom vendors, and communications investors to meet the Class of 2023 over a full day of presentations, introductions, demos and private MatchMaker Meetings. 

Up to 15 companies will be selected for the Class of 2023. The Class of 2023 companies along with Innovation Showcase Alumni from previous classes are invited to Demo Day on September 22nd to take advantage of a private audience with our telco tech scouts. 

Participating companies can take advantage of Telecom Council's private, in-person MatchMaker Meeting Service for pre-arranged 1:1 introductory meetings with telcos, vendors, and investors with matching business interests.  For participating companies, extra MatchMaker meetings will also available online after Demo Day.

The agenda for Demo Day includes:

  • Presentations: A packed morning of in-person presentations to an audience of telecom tech scouts and communications investors who will have questions and feedback.
  • Demo/Meeting Tables: In-room meeting tables give attendees and members an option to connect with the presenters for demos, follow up, and private conversations
  • Private Introductions: Pre-scheduled MatchMaker Meetings are included for all Class of 2023 winners and Telecom Council members. The MatchMaker is available for other attendees to arrange private meetings between you and matching BD, tech, strategy, and VC representatives arranged by our MatchMaker Meeting Service

Speed Dating For Telcos, Vendors, Investors and Startups

Telecom Council's MatchMaker Meeting Service is a high paced, high value, speed dating opportunity for companies looking to engage with our telco community. During the Innovation Showcase, our MatchMaker facilitates hundreds of private discussions between companies with mutual interest.

Companies create their own profiles and reach out for meetings in the 2 weeks prior to the event with guidance and assistance from the Telecom Council team throughout the process, managing feedback and follow up to meeting requests, to smooth the way for companies to best fill their schedule.

On the 22nd, these pre-arranged, 15-minute meetings follow the startup presentations at dedicated tables and may continue in live video calls on the 25th. After the event, our team continues to work with the telcos and MatchMaker participants to help with rescheduling missed meetings and making future introductions on behalf of our members.

13th Annual Innovation Showcase

Sept 22, 2023 in Silicon Valley, CA

Save the Date to review the Class of 2023, watch their pitches live on Demo Day, and set aside time to meet the telco tech scouts, vendor partners, and communications industry investors who are committed to discovering the next set of innovation partners for the telecom industry.

Innovation Showcase Class of 2022 represented 10 countries and a multitude of technologies. Selected by our panel of global Telecom Council members, themselves representing 5 continents, the Class of 2022 began over 100 new business and strategy focused discussions each starting with a 15-minute, private, MatchMaker Meeting Service at Demo Day 2022.

Demo Day 2022 also included updates from several Innovation Showcase alumni who returned to use the MatchMaker Meeting Service again, a discussion with the telcos and vendors about their innovation and investment priorities, and an afternoon of demos.