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Speaking at TEDxStuttgart

Eine Speakerin auf der Bühne beim TEDxStuttgart 2023. Das Bild ist mit Spiegel-Effekten etwas verfremdet.
Photo by Hannah Elizabeth Tilt

At TEDxStuttgart, we are looking for speakers from the greater Stuttgart region, to give local speakers a chance to present a topic that they deeply care about to an open-minded audience. We also see TEDxStuttgart as a way to bring a little of that TED feeling to Stuttgart, so we are also interested in bringing speakers from other parts of Germany or from abroad to Stuttgart, to introduce them to a new audience. We would also be happy to give novice and younger speakers a chance to present their topic to a wider audience. Last but not least, we welcome suggestions for and submissions from female speakers.

Let’s start with 3 simple questions:

  1. Who are you?
  2. What is your idea worth spreading?
  3. Why do you want to speak at TEDxStuttgart, specifically?

Before you answer those questions, let’s look at the “idea worth spreading” in more detail, since it is at the heart of every TED and TEDx talk. Please understand that there is a difference between a topic and an idea.

A topic is the high level – the general direction you want to take the talk. Example: We need to fix the opioid crisis.

An idea is a specific angle that stems from the topic – a unique message, solution, or insight that only you can share. Example: In the opioid crisis, here’s what it takes to save a life.

So what is a great, well-formed idea? It can actually be one of two things:

  • Something that’s new and surprising; an idea or invention that our audience has never heard about.
  • A great basic idea (that our audience may already have heard) with a compelling new argument behind it that challenges beliefs and perspectives.

In other words, an idea isn’t just a story or a list of facts. A good idea takes certain evidence or observations and draws a larger conclusion.

Here’s a checklist for your idea:

  • Does your idea worth spreading offer the audience a unique insight?
  • Will our audience learn something brand new? Something they’ve never heard before?
  • Will our audience learn about a new solution to a problem?
  • TEDx is not a platform for product pitches. Do you feel confident that your idea is not a product pitch?
  • Did you check our library of past talks? Are you sure we don’t already have a talk about your idea?

Still here? Great! Please send your answers to the above 3 simple questions, including your idea, to the following address (in English or in German, both are fine):

speaker@tedxstuttgart.com

Our Speaker Team will take it from there. Thank you.