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TDWI AI Impact Showcase & Awards

The AI Impact Awards don’t celebrate what AI could do — they honor what AI is doing right now, in real organizations, with real results.

The TDWI AI Impact Showcase & Awards is a regional event series spotlighting real-world AI projects that deliver measurable business outcomes. Selected organizations will present proven AI initiatives to an audience of senior data, AI, analytics, and business leaders, with top entries advancing to the TDWI AI Impact Awards at TDWI Transform in Anaheim.

If your team has deployed an AI initiative that utilizes your company data and has had a big impact, we want to hear from you.

mixed group of business professionals listening to an instructor

What We’re Looking For

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We are seeking AI initiatives (in production or late pilot) that show clear impact and practical lessons learned.

Ideal Submissions:

  • Tackle a defined business problem or need (e.g., revenue growth, cost reduction, risk mitigation, customer experience, operational efficiency).
  • Use AI or ML in a substantive way (models, automation, assistants, intelligent applications, agents, etc.).
  • Demonstrate measurable results and business adoption.
  • Offer candid insights into challenges, change management, and lessons learned.

We welcome submissions from end-user organizations only. Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of TDWI leadership, research analysts, and fellows based on business impact, innovation, story quality, and presentation readiness. Up to 5 presenters will be selected per location.

We respect your intellectual property. You will only be asked to share high-level architectures, business frameworks, and percentage-based outcomes, not proprietary code, sensitive algorithms, or raw data.

Important Dates and Deadlines (2026)

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Important dates and deadlines for the 2026 AI Impact Showcase and Awards
2026 AI Impact Showcase & Awards Timeline
AI Impact Showcase & Awards Locations Event Date Application Deadline
San Francisco June 4 April 23
New York June 11 April 30
Seattle June 25 May 14
Virtual AI Impact Showcase July 20 June 8
AI Impact Award Finals at TDWI Transform
(Anaheim, Disneyland area)
September 23 All finalists will be announced August 10

Regional AI Impact Showcase events will run in several major U.S. cities in June 2026, plus one virtual event in July. The national AI Impact Award finals will take place at TDWI Transform (Anaheim, Disneyland area) on September 23, 2026 (Wednesday evening during TDWI Transform which runs September 20 - 25).

Each regional event will feature up to 5 presentations per location, with 10- to 15-minute talks and live audience voting.

Awards and Recognition

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Regional Awards Events

At each regional event, attendees and TDWI leadership will vote live on which presentations demonstrate:

  • An innovative AI Initiative that utilizes your company data
  • Measurable business impact

Two Regional AI Impact Awards winners from each location will advance to compete at the TDWI Transform AI Impact Awards in Anaheim. Regional Winners will receive:

  • Complimentary 3-day TDWI Transform pass
  • Travel stipend
  • Featured finalist recognition on the TDWI website and event marketing
  • Regional Event Award Plaque
  • Optional editorial profile or case-study spotlight

National Awards Events

At TDWI Transform Anaheim on September 23rd up to eight final competitors will present on the main stage at the awards program. Two National Winners will be selected from the regional finalists. The winners will be evaluated and selected by a panel of TDWI leadership, research analysts and fellows at the TDWI Transform event.

There will be three National Winners:

  • TDWI AI Impact Award First Place
  • TDWI AI Impact Award Second Place
  • TDWI AI Impact Audience Choice Award

National Winners will receive:

  • AI Impact Awards Trophy
  • Recognition in TDWI press release about the TDWI AI Impact Awards
  • A TDWI Professional Membership for 5 team members featuring always-on access to TDWI’s online learning library (Receives 4.8 out of 5-star rating by customers)
  • Opportunity to speak at a TDWI conference or other events (at TDWI’s discretion)

Presenter and Organization Benefits of Participation

  • Visibility with a curated audience of senior data and AI leaders in your region.
  • Peer-led learning: share what is actually working in AI right now, not just theory.
  • Opportunity to be recognized on stage at TDWI Transform as an AI Impact Award finalist or winner.
  • Networking with peers, partners, and TDWI research and events leaders.

To apply, complete the AI Impact Showcase & Awards application form for your preferred location(s).

Eligibility Rules

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  • Entry must reflect a real deployed initiative that utilizes your company data, not a concept or roadmap.​

  • Minimum maturity threshold: either production or late-stage pilot with at least one defined business KPI measured over a meaningful period.

  • End-user organization required.

  • One presenter per submission. Must be employee of end-user organization.

  • One application per initiative per location, unless explicitly approved.

  • No purely product-demo submissions.

Apply Now Anchor Link

Apply Now

For more information about the TDWI AI Impact Showcase and Awards, please contact us at [email protected].

Sponsorship

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Organizations can partner with TDWI as the presenting sponsor of the AI Impact Awards at TDWI Transform, with brand visibility across the regional AI Impact Showcase series and the Transform conference.

Stacy Money

Stacy Money

VP Marketing Programs & Client Services, TDWI
VP Global Business Development & Sales, TDWI & AI Boardroom