New York City is challenging you to create new physical products that have commercial potential, and to become one of New York’s Next Top Makers. Your new product can be in any of the following product categories: consumer products, equipment, furniture and lighting, soft goods, packaging, interaction, transportation, DIY (kits) or something else, provided it meets the eligibility requirements listed in the Official Rules.

To get started check out the requirement (for complete information see the Official Rules):

• Eligibility Summary (NYC residents and NYC-based organizations with <10 employees) 
• Product Categories 
• Required Submission Questions

Judges will select their top 5 new products and the public will vote to determine their favorite. All six finalists will receive assistance on the path to commercialization during a five-month Studio Phase. Assistance will include studio space from sponsor NYDesigns, business support, and mentorship from industry experts such as Adafruit Industries, Honeybee Robotics and Shapeways. After the Studio phase, finalists will publically showcase their progress and their prototypes. Judges will then select one Grand Prize winner from the six finalists to receive an $11,000 cash prize.

The goal of the challenge is to support design-driven production, promote a culture of innovation and commercialization, and to foster the development of new businesses within New York City’s industrial business, design and engineering communities.

$11,000 in prizes

1. Create an account on or log in with an existing ChallengePost account.
2. On NextTopMakers.com click the "Accept this challenge" button to register your interest in participating. This step ensures that you will receive important challenge updates.
3. Complete all of the required fields on the submission form, and submit your product design by including the following information:
   1. a submission name;
   2. a video (5 minutes or less) describing the product’s design, functionality and use scenarios;
   3. one or more images depicting the product, product design, or a physical prototype;
   4. a brief text description of the product’s functionality and use (for public display);
   5. an uploaded PDF file, no longer than 5 pages, which addresses the required questions listed on the “Required Submission Questions" page;
   6. the submitter type (individual, team, organization);
   7. the product category (consumer products, equipment, furniture and lighting, soft goods, packaging, interaction, transportation, DIY (kits), Other);
   8. phone number;
   9. Acknowledgement that 1-3 team members will be able to participate in the 5-month Studio Phase;
   10. Agreement to the Official Rules;
   11. And all other required fields

• Quality of the idea
  Including originality and creativity and whether the new product design is substantially different from current market offerings.
• Quality of the product design
  Including thoroughness of product design documentation submitted; the degree to which the product’s visual appeal and user experience are demonstrated; and the inclusion and quality of a physical prototype, if appropriate.
• Commercial potential
  Including feasibility of production, material and production costs, scalability, and potential demand.
• Potential impact on NYC
  Including business ecosystem fit, whether part of the production value chain could exist locally, and potential for local product adoption.
• Potential to benefit from Studio Phase
  Including how a submitter/team plans to use the Studio Phase to move their product forward in a way that could not be achieved without assistance.
• Quality of Team
  Including prior successes and experience of team members and capacity of the team to execute and bring a product to market.
• Grand Prize Criteria: Progress During Studio Phase
  Including the relative progress made developing a prototype and bringing a product to market, and the team’s success in executing on their goals.
• Grand Prize Criteria: Business Promise
  Including commercial potential of the product and the team’s potential for success after the Studio Phase.