Arizona-based Crowd Mics, an application that turns smartphones into event microphones was crowned the winner of EventMB’s inaugural Event Technology of the Year Award.

Presented at the Palazzo in Las Vegas during IMEX America, the platform that turns smartphones into wireless microphones for the audience to interact in a conference environment, won against strong competition with the other finalists: Catchbox, DoubleDutch, Glisser and Social Tables Mobile.

Julius Solaris, editor of EventMB and founder of the award said: “The award has been a great success and celebrated the most innovative platforms on the market. The event industry is being profoundly changed by the contribution and innovation these companies are bringing along. Media, event professionals and venture capitalists are starting to realise that.”

Industry professionals including Kevin Jackson, vice president of George P Johnson EMEA; Dave Lutz, managing director of Velvet Chainsaw Consulting; Marja Verbon, associate at Piton Capital; Sue Pelletier, editor of Meetingsnet; Adam Parry, editor of Event Industry News and Annie Byrne, editor of EN, completed the judging panel, pioneered by EventMB’s Solaris.

“It is one of the most exciting times to be involved in the event industry and the attention the award has received confirms how technology is changing perceptions and experiences,” Solaris added.

Tim Holladay, CEO and co­founder of Crowd Mics said: “W hat an honour to be named Event Tech of the Year! It was a win for Crowd Mics to share the stage with amazing companies who are leading the industry. We are especially grateful to Julius and EventMB for getting behind us. We have built a technology to solve a common problem in event and meeting everywhere. Our vision is to give a voice to the audience.”

Crowd Mics received prizes valued at $15,000. The award, although in its first year, gathered 30 submissions.