The Synergies Work
EDDIE Awards
Entrepreneurs Dedicated to Diverse and Inclusive Excellence
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Synergies Work is proud to announce the inaugural EDDIE Awards – the first awards in the United States spotlighting entrepreneurs with disabilities. There is no doubt that entrepreneurs with disabilities are innovators, and creators. They have the innate ability to problem solve and transform the world with their distinct experience and skillset.
Through these awards, Synergies Work is celebrating the innovative and ambitious business leaders within the disability community who are helping build a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and inspiring the next generation of people with disabilities across the world.
What are the EDDIE Awards?
Over the past six years, Synergies Work has helped support 200+ entrepreneurs and launched 70+ businesses. Throughout our work, we’ve always believed in celebrating the achivements of entrepreneurs with disabilities! Through the EDDIE Awards, we now want to help entrepreneurs across the country join the celebration and be recognized for their passion, their creativity, and their impact.
These individuals not only make an economic impact in the lives of those around them, but they also inspire the millions of individuals with disabilities across the country to explore entreperneurship – an avenue that might have previously seemed inaccessible.
This year, Synergies Work committed to the goal of supporting 1 million new entrepreneurs with disabilities by 2027. As we build towards this goal, the EDDIE Awards are an important way for us to celebrate, inspire, and recognize the entrepreneurial movement within the community.
2022 Award Categories
The Entrepreneur of the Year
The Entrepreneur of the Year award recognizes an ambitious, innovative entrepreneur who is leading the way forward for both their industry and the disability community by building an equitable, sustainable business. This individual dares to dream and is striving to make their dream come true. They are a visionary and on a journey to build a better world.
The Award Winner will:
- Be invited to the EDDIE Awards ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia. Travel and lodging included for them and one guest.
- Be a featured guest at our pre-awards cocktail reception featuring leaders from the business and disability community
- Receive individual and group coaching from experienced business coaches to help guide and grow their business
- Receive a complimentary brand assessment by a partner marketing agency
The Peoples' Favorite Award
The People’s Favorite award recognizes an entrepreneur who not only excels in their business but also is a favorite among peers and partners. Their joy and enthusiasm touches everyone they encounter. Applications for the Peoples’ Favorite Award will open in January 2023!
The Award Winner will:
- Be invited to the EDDIE Awards ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia. Travel and lodging included for them and one guest.
- Be a featured guest at our pre-awards cocktail reception featuring leaders from the business and disability community
- Receive group coaching from experienced business coaches to help guide and grow their business
The Newcomer Award
The Newcomer Award recognizes an entrepreneur who has launched their business within the last 12-months and is providing an innovative solution within their industry. Their free spirit and fresh perspective is disrupting the traditional assumptions around their product, their customers, or their community.
The Award Winner will:
- Be invited to the EDDIE Awards ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia. Travel and lodging included for them and one guest.
- Be a featured guest at our pre-awards cocktail reception featuring leaders from the business and disability community
- Receive group coaching from experienced business coaches to help guide and grow their business
The Creativity Award
The Creativity Award recognizes an entreperneur whose purpose lies at the intersection of creative expression and entrepreneurship. They tap into their creativity to have an economic, social, and cultural impact on the world through any form of creative media including art, music, fashion, film, writing, etc. Their imagination is the only limit to what they can achieve in the future.
The Award Winner will:
- Be invited to the EDDIE Awards ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia. Travel and lodging included for them and one guest.
- Be a featured guest at our pre-awards cocktail reception featuring leaders from the business and disability community
- Receive group coaching from experienced business coaches to help guide and grow their business
The Social Impact Award
The Social Impact Award recognizes a leader on a mission to change their community and the larger world that we live in. Their business is not only there to have an economic impact but to solve inequities, address systemic problems, and help build a better world for everyone. They are a beacon of hope, a leader to a better tomorrow.
The Award Winner will:
- Be invited to the EDDIE Awards ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia. Travel and lodging included for them and one guest.
- Be a featured guest at our pre-awards cocktail reception featuring leaders from the business and disability community
- Receive group coaching from experienced business coaches to help guide and grow their business
The Techpreneur Award
The Techpreneur Award recognizes an entrepeneur who is tapping into technology to innovate, change, and expand the realm of possibility for their industry. They may be creating something brand new or using something in a completely different way than what was done before. They are challenging us to see problems and solutions through a whole new lens.
The Award Winner will:
- Be invited to the EDDIE Awards ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia. Travel and lodging included for them and one guest.
- Be a featured guest at our pre-awards cocktail reception featuring leaders from the business and disability community
- Receive group coaching from experienced business coaches to help guide and grow their business
Application Requirements
- Must be 18-years or older to apply
- Must reside within the United States
- Must self-identify as disabled
- Must be the majority owner of your business
- Must have an active business
How to Apply & Timeline
For the Entrepreneur of the Year, Newcomer, the Creativity, the Techpreneur, and the Social Impact Awards.
Applications will be open fron November 1st to January 6th. After January 6th, the EDDIE Awards Committee will review applications and select 5 finalists for each award. These finalists will be asked to submit a video about themselves, their business, and why they are the best fit for the award. Our Committee will then review the videos and select the winner who will be announced at the EDDIE Awards Ceremony in March 2023.
For the People’s Choice Award.
Applications for the People’s Choice Award will open on January 9th. Entrepreneurs will be able to submit their application along with a short 60-second video on their business. These applications can be voted on by the public. Each entrepreneur will be able to share their link to receive votes and Synergies Work will also promote the voting.
Click the button below to be taken to the application for the Entrepreneur of the Year, Newcomer, the Creativity, the Techpreneur, and the Social Impact Awards
Questions?
If you have questions about what we do, feel free to explore our website or contact us at synergies@synergieswork.org. Thank you for helping us empower individuals with disabilities!