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 taking place on April 27th, 2022. 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.
Who Can Apply?
All disabled entrepreneurs are welcome to apply to the EDDIE Awards. Whether you run an experienced entreprise or a fresh startup, we want to celebrate your achievements and showcase the incredible potential and breadth of our community. If you have any questions about applying or meeting the requirements, reach out to us at synergies@synergieswork.org
- 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
2022 Award Categories
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 entrepreneur 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 Techpreneur Award
The Techpreneur Award recognizes an entrepreneur 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
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 Entrepreneur of the Year
Winner receives $10,000 towards growing their business
From the four awards above, one entrepreneur will be chosen as the Synergies Work Entrepreneur of the Year.
This 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.
This award winner will be announced during the EDDIE Awards Ceremony on April 27th in Atlanta.
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
How to Apply & Timeline
Applications will be open from November 1st to Mar 1st. After 1st, 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 on April 27th, 2023.
Click the button below to be taken to the application for the EDDIE 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!