The AWS ISV Innovation cup is a unique opportunity for independent software vendors (ISVs) to build an innovative solution that meets their everyday customer needs, with technical support from AWS. As part of the challenge, participating ISVs must define a real-world customer requirement or identify a product improvement area in their current offerings and propose an innovative solution that also leverages AWS Machine Learning (ML) services. The three best innovative ideas will be rewarded, and AWS will continue to support the ISVs in making the idea a reality through technical mentoring and architecture review during the prototype build stage, and joint go-to-market (GTM) activities to launch the product in the market. Top 3 winners of the challenge will be announced at the Amazon AI Conclave in January 2021.
JURY
TBD
Why should I apply?
Gain access to AWS architects and a free ML Bootcamp for resource upskilling
Receive architecture reviews and tech guidance from AWS ML experts
Get ideas validated through industry experts
Top 3 winners to receive AWS credits, GTM support, and recognition through AWS social media handles
Top 3 winners get technical guidance to build ideas into minimum viable products (MVPs) that can be launched
Evangelize your ideas through media coverage
Timeline
Oct 9 - Oct 23
Register for ISV Innovation Cup
Oct 23 - Nov 20
Submit problem statement and idea solution + ML workshops by AWS
Nov 20 - Nov 27
Shortlist finalists
Nov 30 - Dec 11
Finalists’ presentation for jury evaluation
Dec 15
Winner announcement at the Amazon AI Conclave
Jan - Apr 2021
MVP Build Mentoring
How it works?
Post registrations ISVs will have time till January 10 to ideate, define their solution architecture, and send their final submission to AWS. During the ideation phase AWS will organize a free ML workshop and provide guidance on the architecture and design. AWS will review the idea submission and shortlist the top six ideas (finalists) for the jury evaluation stage. The finalists will pitch their ideas to a jury of industry experts through a virtual meeting. The jury will then identify the top 3 winners of the AWS ISV Innovation Cup based on - innovation (30%), solution architecture (40%), GTM business plan (20%), and prototype which is optional as part of the submission (10%). Top 3 winners will be announced at the Amazon AI Conclave in January 2021, after which AWS will mentor and guide the top 3 winners to build the ideas into minimum viable products that can be taken to market.
Jury
Ajeya Motaganahalli
Chief Technology Officer, Honeywell SPS India
Avnish Sabharwal
Managing Director, Accenture Ventures & Open Innovation
Manish Singhal
Partner, Pi Ventures
Sanket Dhurandhar
India Head - AI & Machine Learning, Amazon Internet Services Pvt. Ltd.
Winners
Winner
First Runner Up
Second Runner Up
FAQs
Q. What is the eligibility criteria to register for the ISV Innovation Cup?
Any company that offers B2B solutions for commercial use through a SaaS offering, leverages one or more AWS services, and is a registered AWS Technology Partner (Select or Advance Tier) with at least 250 employees in India, can register for this challenge.
Q. What are the AWS ML services which can be considered for the idea and solution architecture as part of the submission?
You can leverage any of the AWS ML services listed under “Machine Learning” on the web page https://aws.amazon.com/ to build the solution architecture for your idea submission.
Q. I have registered for the ISV Innovation Cup. What next?
Congratulations on registering! You will receive an email with a sample submission template which you can leverage to build your idea and solution architecture. Once you submit your idea, it will be evaluated and the 6 finalists shortlisted will present their solution ideas in front of a jury of industry experts to identify the top 3 winners.
Q. When will the free ML workshops by AWS be conducted?
AWS will organize free ML workshops and provide guidance on the architecture and design, during the Ideation phase from 1 Nov to 5 Jan.
Q. What is the judging criteria?
The finalists will pitch their ideas to a jury of industry experts through a virtual meeting. The jury will then identify the top 3 winners of the AWS ISV Innovation Cup based on - innovation (30%), solution architecture (40%), Go-To-Marketing Plans (20%), and optional prototype (10%).
Q. When will the top 3 winners be announced? How long will it take to go to the market with a live model?
Winners will be announced at the Amazon AI Conclave in Jan’21, after which AWS will mentor and guide the winners (Jan’21 - Apr’21) to build the ideas into minimum viable products that can be taken to market.
