Our philosophy

"We put ideas on stage"

is at the heart of speaker selection at TEDxEindhoven. A simple but powerful belief.

We are not looking for the most polished presenters, the most well-known profiles, or professional keynote speakers. Instead, we seek ideas worth sharing. Ideas that challenge perspectives, spark curiosity, and resonate beyond a single moment.

These ideas can come from anyone. From a researcher, an entrepreneur, a student, a maker, a community builder. Someone who has seen the world differently and found a story that matters. Through our coaching program we will help with the delivery.

What we look for

We curate our program around ideas first. This means we ask:

  • Is the idea fresh, surprising, or thought-provoking?
  • Does it offer a new way of seeing a problem or opportunity?
  • Can it inspire others beyond a specific field or niche?
  • Is the speaker deeply connected to the idea they want to share?

Speaking experience is not a requirement. Authenticity, clarity, and substance matter far more!

How speakers are selected

Our speaker journey is a combination of curation and discovery.

We actively search for ideas within our community, networks, and beyond. At the same time, we welcome individuals who feel they have an idea worth sharing to step forward and apply.
If you believe you have an idea that belongs on our stage, you can submit it through our application form.

What happens after you apply?

All submissions are carefully reviewed by our team.

We make sure that every applicant receives a response. You will always be informed whether you have been placed on the short list for upcoming pitch events, where selected ideas are explored further.

In some cases, when we see potential but feel the idea needs further exploration, we may reach out to schedule a conversation. This allows us to better understand your perspective and assess whether it could evolve into a strong talk.

Rather than selecting speakers directly from written applications alone, we invite a selection of applicants to participate in a pitch event. This is an opportunity to:

  • Share your idea in a raw, early form
  • Receive feedback
  • Explore whether your idea fits the overall program

Following this process, the talks of the winner(s) of the pitch events are selected and developed into full talks.

Beyond selection

Being selected is only the beginning.

We work closely with each speaker to:

  • Refine and sharpen the core idea
  • Shape the narrative into a compelling talk
  • Prepare for the stage with coaching and feedback

Our goal is not just to select speakers, but help ideas and speakers reach their full potential with support of our dedicated speaker coaches.

Our invitation

If you are driven by an idea (not just the desire to speak!) we encourage you to apply.

You don’t need to have it all figured out and you don’t need to be a professional speaker. It’s the story and perspective that matters.

Because in the end, it’s not about who is on stage. It’s about the idea that stays with the audience long after.

Please fill in your details to get access to the speaker application form.