Engadget Announces Ultimate “For the Fans” Gadget Show: Engadget Expand

Inaugural event showcases Engadget’s expertise up-close, in-person and hands-on

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Engadget, the site dedicated to obsessive coverage of cutting-edge gadgets and consumer electronics, will welcome more than 2,000 technology fans to a brand new event, Engadget Expand, in March of next year.

“We wanted to create a consumer electronics show that’s not just an insider trade show, but is actually welcoming to gadget lovers”

Created for technology enthusiasts and the site’s gadget-loving readers, Engadget Expand gives attendees access usually reserved for industry insiders by connecting them with consumer electronics luminaries, Engadget’s editors and the hottest new gadgets exhibiting on the show floor.

The first-ever Engadget Expand will take place at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco from March 16 to 17, 2013, and will feature:

• An inventor competition: Engadget’s Insert Coin franchise comes to life when editors host a new product competition for independent inventors. The Engadget editors will choose a slate of semi-finalists for readers to vote on before the event, and a select number of finalists will be chosen to attend the event and show off their inventions to attendees and a panel of expert judges. Finalists must have a working prototype to demo for the first time at the show, and attendees, judges and readers will pick the winners to receive a cash prize and guaranteed review on Engadget.
• Marquee speakers: Engadget editors will lead panel discussions and fireside chats with product experts from major consumer enterprise brands and other areas of science and technology.
• Showfloor exhibitions: The exhibition hall will be a rare opportunity to get the inside story on the best new devices from the very people who brought them to life.
• Giveaways: In keeping with the tradition of Engadget’s meetups, guests are entered to win new products – usually the same ones being discussed on stage.

“We wanted to create a consumer electronics show that’s not just an insider trade show, but is actually welcoming to gadget lovers,” said Barb Dybwad, newly named director of new business development, Engadget. “Our site has always been a place for our readers to connect and engage with one another, and now we’re bringing that online interaction into the physical world with Expand.”

"Our readers are the center of everything we do at Engadget and they're incredibly savvy. They like to have the latest gadgets first and they want to know everything about them," said Tim Stevens, Engadget editor in chief. "So we're giving them the chance to hear the stories behind the products they love right from the source."

Footage from both days of the event, including exclusive backstage interviews with speakers, will be streamed live on Engadget. And once the first day’s events are finished, a nearby after-party gives attendees the opportunity to meet and mingle with Engadget editors and special guests.

Unlike many industry events, ticket prices will be kept consumer-friendly to ensure as many fans have the ability to attend.

About Engadget Expand

Engadget Expand is a brand new event designed to connect consumer electronics enthusiasts with the products and people they care most about. The inaugural event in San Francisco features an inventor competition, engaging speaker sessions and showfloor exhibits of the latest gadgets to hit the market specifically catered to Engadget’s gadget-loving readers. The event will take place March 16-17, 2013, at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco.

For the latest information about speakers, exhibitors, and event news please stay tuned to the Engadget Expand hub. Interested sponsors should contact [e-mail] for more information about being a part of this inaugural event. Members of the media who wish to cover the show should inquire with [e-mail].