TEDIndia dates have been announced (Nov 4th – 7th @ Mysore) and the registration costs a whopping $2,400.
Conference agenda includes mulling over following questions (detail here):
- Which local innovations are destined for global impact?
- Who are the young thinkers and doers capable of shaping the future?
- Can a pluralistic democracy survive in the face of rising fundamentalism?
- Can we make money and be good? Really?
- What should we learn – or fear? — from China’s investment in Africa?
- Do we have enough water for everyone?
- Is there wisdom to be found in traditional medicine??
- Which other ancient traditions can illuminate modern life?
My 2 cents to TED team – while it’s good to keep the premium-ness of the event (i.e. typical crowd will consist of corp execs etc), it would have been great if they kept it lot more affordable (a normal TED conference costs $6,000, so $2,400 is @60% discount – but we are talking about $-INR conversion!).
There are ‘Ideas worth spreading’, but there are ‘people worth knowing/interacting whose ideas are worth spreading’ and TED does provide the platform – but the pricing will deter them to be meaningful to the younger generation (that’s what India populace is all about).
Yeah, one can always watch the videos online – but the experience of being there and meeting some of the great minds is something else.
What’s your opinion? How much are you willing to pay to attend TED conference?
PS: The cheeky title is meant to compare the two spectrum of innovation – one that talks about innovation (i.e. TED) and one that is an innovation (Nano) – Ironically, they cost the same (almost) ! !
Credit: title inspired by this tweet
I dont know what is their definition of “Young”
And what about poor indian entrepreneurs (as compared to the highly funded US counterparts) who it seems as per them have no contribution to the future (why the high reg fees then) and the issues they plan to discuss.
very true – by young, that’s what I meant – ppl with fresh ideas. Typical corp execs will attend these events, and will literally give back nothing much to the society. I beleive, TED needs to have a firm strategy for non-US locations, where entrepreneurship is still in it’s infancy stage.
That’s why platforms such as Proto.in play such an integral role in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
You cant compare the two – TED is much much awesome than such events!
I agree – this is something really weired to price tag of $2400 – Failed globalization.
That’s the challenge with TED’s model – if it has to go beyond US, it has to reach out to youth, innovators.
Hi Manish,
I greatly appreciate everything you’ve said in your post, and those of the other commentors on here. Believe me when I say that for several years, my US-based salary was less than $2000 a month!! I had the good fortune of attending the annual TED conference in February. Its been a dream of mine since I first started following their talks online as a graduate student. Keep in mind that the $6000+ pricetag is FAR beyond what most Americans or Europeans can afford as well, including my own. I can’t even afford the India pricetag.
I can say this much for TED, their events and the quality of all their products are unparalleled. I’ve been told that the costs are so high first to pay for the quality of the event that they have (which is understandable once you attend it), but more importantly, to help subsidize the many other things that the organization does, including the TED prizes, their book club, and putting the talks online (which is a very expensive endeavor). TED is a non-profit organization.
If you are wondering how I went, it was through one of their new ventures (also subsidized by the paying attendees), called the TEDFellows program (http://www.ted.com/fellows). I applied and was curiously accepted. The experience was so amazing that I’m now helping them recruit 100 Fellows from across South Asia for the TEDIndia program. Please apply, and encourage any outstanding, innovative young visionaries to apply to the program. It will change their lives.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me. I look forward to hearing from you.
thanks!
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Manish,
You certainly had one of the most awesome blog post headlines ever.
To clarify pricing:
There are three price points:
1. $2000 plus $400 for housing or $2400 (applications open now)
2. NGO pricing of $1000 plus $400 for housing or $1400 (applications open in April)
3. $0 plus $0 housing for 100 TEDIndia Fellows (applications open April 20th)
information at http://www.ted.com/fellows
We are well aware about the pricing being difficult for many people that would benefit from and contribute greatly to the conference. Hopefully, options 2 and 3 offer good ways for people to apply to participate.
We are lucky to have TED2009 Fellow Pragnya Alekal working with us on our TEDIndia Fellows program. Feel free to email either of us with any questions.
Sincerely,
Tom Rielly
Community Director
TED INDIA FELLOWS PROGRAM:
For those of you who want to be a part of the TED fellows program, do send in your applications, as among other things, Fellows get to attend a specially formulated pre-conference, an all-expenses paid pass to TEDIndia, transportation to/from the conference site in India, + room/board for the duration.
Apply soon. TEDIndia Fellows applications close June 15th, 2009. All the information is available at http://www.ted.com/fellows.
We look forward to hearing from you!
fellows AT ted DOT com