The search is on: 2026 Joseph C. Belden Innovation Award nominations are open

Nominations for the 2026 Joseph C.

Belden Innovation Award are officially open, inviting groundbreaking technologies and solutions to step into the spotlight and be recognized for driving meaningful impact across connected industries. Named in honor of Joseph C. Belden, a visionary who helped shape early telecommunications and connectivity, this award celebrates innovations that push boundaries and power the future. With more than 120 years of legacy behind it, the program highlights breakthrough technologies across sectors, including manufacturing, energy, healthcare, telecommunications, and more. Learn more and start your submission here. What’s new in 2026? This year’s award has an expanded focus on IT/OT convergence, recognizing solutions that bridge the gap between information technology and operational systems — a critical frontier in modern industrial and enterprise innovation. Finalists and winners will receive visibility with industry leaders, networking opportunities, and tailored co-marketing support to elevate their solutions’ profiles. Previous honorees have included companies delivering fault-tolerant computing and agentic AI platforms that transform operations at scale. Image Credits:Foundry Who’s eligible To be eligible, nominees should be from small- or medium-sized companies (under $500 million in revenue) with products launched after July 1, 2024, and with at least one customer deployment. Submissions are reviewed by a panel of industry expert judges, and finalists will be announced in April. Deadline hits in a couple of days The nomination deadline is February 13 — don’t miss this chance to shine a spotlight on the innovations shaping what’s next. Learn more and submit your nomination on the official award portal. Techcrunch event TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026: Tickets Live On June 23 in Boston, more than 1,100 founders come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediatelySave up to $300 on your pass or save up to 30% with group tickets for teams of four or more. TechCrunch Founder Summit: Tickets Live On June 23 in Boston, more than 1,100 founders come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediatelySave up to $300 on your pass or save up to 30% with group tickets for teams of four or more. Boston, MA | June 23, 2026 REGISTER NOW Image Credits:Foundry Topics Joseph Belden, Startups TechCrunch Events View Bio October 13-15 San Francisco, CA Tickets are live at the lowest rates of the year. Save up to $680 on your pass now.Meet investors. Discover your next portfolio company. Hear from 250+ tech leaders, dive into 200+ sessions, and explore 300+ startups building what’s next. Don’t miss these one-time savings. REGISTER NOW Most Popular The first signs of burnout are coming from the people who embrace AI the most Connie Loizos MrBeast’s company buys Gen Z-focused fintech app Step Amanda Silberling YouTube TV introduces cheaper bundles, including a $65/month sports package Sarah Perez Discord to roll out age verification next month Aisha Malik The backlash over OpenAI’s decision to retire GPT-4o shows how dangerous AI companions can be Amanda Silberling OpenAI launches new agentic coding model only minutes after Anthropic drops its own Lucas Ropek Anthropic releases Opus 4.6 with new ‘agent teams’ Lucas Ropek