Disclaimer: Wise Whisper Agency is not affiliated with TED or TEDx. This article is for informational purposes based on information from the TED and TEDx websites.
TED is an acronym for Technology, Entertainment, Design, which its founders believed were the three fundamental subject areas shaping the world. TED evolved into a renowned stage for sharing research and ideas and exploring their interconnectedness.Â
Co-founded by Richard Saul Wurman and Harry Marks, the first TED event was held in 1984 in Monterey, California, as an exclusive, invitation-only event for speakers and attendees. But despite its lineup, the event lost money and was abandoned until 1990, when organizers revived it as a conference.Â
The conference remains somewhat exclusive, with a base ticket price of $12.5K and carefully curated attendees and speakers, cultivating a mix of industry leaders, influencers, and innovators. Collectively, TED speakers have won every major prize for excellence, including the Nobel, Pulitzer, Oscar, Grammy, and Emmy awards.
The history of TED talks and their evolution.
Over the last three decades, TED expanded to include TEDWomen, TEDGlobal, TEDSummit, and other TED events. Its flagship conference explores topics outside of technology, entertainment, and design to include science, business, arts, and global issues. Sprinkled throughout the multi-day conference are shorter presentations, music, performing arts, and comedy. And, of course, its signature workshops and activities, referred to as Discovery Sessions.Â
TEDWomen empowers women and girls to become change-makers. Since its debut, more than 500 TEDWomen talks have been recorded. TEDWomen is evolving into a new brand: TEDNext, which extends beyond gender. TEDx organizers continue to host TEDxWomen events worldwide.
TEDGlobal events are international events that cater to global speakers and performers. Lastly, TEDSummit is a five-day conference with the most engaged members of the TED community. Themes are future-focused and designed to inspire action.
The beginning of TEDx.
In 2009, TEDx launched to create a TED-like experience on the local level. These community events share the spirit of the TED mission: ideas worth spreading. Today, more than 3000 TEDx events are held in 170 countries. The TEDx YouTube channel has 41.1M subscribers, with 219K recorded TEDx talks and over a billion views.Â
TEDx includes speakers, demonstrations, and performances, usually based on a theme relevant to the community hosting the event. TEDx events foster learning and inspiration and get people talking. The TEDx venue is well-known for its networking opportunities, especially its ability to launch careers or, at the very least, change their trajectory. Â
TED vs TEDx: What’s the difference?
The primary difference between TED and TEDx talks is how the events are organized and run. TED is a global event held each year in Long Beach, California. Accordingly, it is run directly by TED and has a curated list of speakers and attendees.Â
TEDx is licensed under TED but run exclusively by volunteers within the community. TEDx aims to share local ideas in an accessible way. Many of the TEDx events are free or nearly free to attend and feature a strong networking component. Although TEDx events are regional, the talks are recorded and uploaded to the TEDx YouTube channel, providing a global reach.
What makes TED and TEDx stand out from other events?
The TED signature is its brevity. The founders set an 18-minute time limit to keep presentations engaging and concise. Often, speakers present for just 3, 5, or 9 minutes. Talks are described as powerful, innovative, and entertaining. Most importantly, through their global reach, TED talks create a sense of wonder and empowerment for the audience and the world.Â
The TED and TEDx brands complement each other. While TED offers a global stage with renowned speakers and groundbreaking ideas, TEDx provides a venue for emerging voices. Together, they enrich our understanding of the issues we face today.
