Startups from all walks of technology fuel CEA and national innovation focus in Las Vegas and beyond.
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the preeminent trade association representing more than 2,000 technology companies, today launched a new membership category exclusively for startups. The special focus on startups is consistent with CEA’s commitment of fostering innovation as a national strategy and as part of its mission. CEA believes that innovation is critical to American global leadership and economic growth. CEA has taken several steps to help spread that message including: starting a grassroots campaign, the Innovation Movement, to educate lawmakers on the spirit of innovation; producing the International CES, the world’s largest innovation event; and launching a new magazine, It Is Innovation (i3).
“Startups are jumpstarting our economy and are paving the way for America’s future,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. “Creating a unique membership category for startups is another way we are pursuing our strategic goal of promoting innovation, the lifeblood of our industry. Many of the individuals behind startups have put all of their resources on the line to make sure their companies have the best chance of succeeding. Every bit of support we can offer as an organization is critical not only to advancing the consumer electronics industry but also to ensuring the world’s most cutting-edge technologies end up in consumers’ hands.”
CEA’s startup category will offer regular membership at a reduced rate of $95 per year. To qualify for this membership, companies must be in development of a technology product, service or app that has been introduced into the market within the last year or will be within the next year; have annual sales under $1 million; be located in North America; and not have been a CEA member within the past two years. Companies will receive regular CEA membership benefits at the reduced rate in the startup category for up to two consecutive years.
