POSSIBLE
Brand Challenge

Think your AI can stand out?

The Brand Challenge is a high-energy, two-day pitch competition spotlighting the most groundbreaking AI applications in digital marketing. Six finalists will take the Innovation Stage to showcase how their solutions reshape the way brands connect, measure, automate, and grow.  

Many will enter. Six will compete. But only one winner will be selected at POSSIBLE.

POSSIBLE
Brand Challenge

Think your AI can stand out?

The Brand Challenge is a high-energy, two-day pitch competition spotlighting the most groundbreaking AI applications in digital marketing. Six finalists will take the Innovation Stage to showcase how their solutions reshape the way brands connect, measure, automate, and grow.  

Many will enter. Six will compete. But only one winner will be selected at POSSIBLE.

Submission Requirements

To enter the Brand Challenge, each applicant must submit:

A Solution Overview that summarizes your product in either a slide deck of up to 10 slides or a written description of 1–2 pages.

A Case Study highlighting a real customer deployment (unnamed case studies are accepted). This should be presented in 2–3 slides or 1 written page and must include ROI metrics that demonstrate measurable business impact.

OPTIONAL: A Product Demo Video of 1–5 minutes that shows your solution in action and illustrates how AI is integrated into the experience.

Before submitting, applicants should review the FAQ for complete eligibility requirements, competition details, and official rules. 

Submission Requirements

To enter the Brand Challenge, each applicant must submit:

A Solution Overview that summarizes your product in either a slide deck of up to 10 slides or a written description of 1–2 pages.

A Case Study highlighting a real customer deployment (unnamed case studies are accepted). This should be presented in 2–3 slides or 1 written page and must include ROI metrics that demonstrate measurable business impact.

A Product Demo Video of 1–5 minutes that shows your solution in action and illustrates how AI is integrated into the experience.

Before submitting, applicants should review the FAQ for complete eligibility requirements, competition details, and official rules. 

The Timeline

January 12, 2025

Brand Challenge Applications Open

March 16, 2025

Applications Close

By March 22, 2026

Finalists Selected & Notified

April 27–29, 2026

Live Competition at POSSIBLE 2026

April 29, 2026

Winner Announced on the Innovation Stage

The Judges

Sam Bloom

Head of Partnerships, PMG

Sam's Bio

Sam Bloom is Head of Partnerships for PMG. Prior to this, Sam was the CEO of Dallas-based Camelot Strategic Marketing & Media, In Sam’s 20+ years at Camelot, he helped transition the agency from a traditional media shop into one of the leaders in integrated marketing and advanced analytics. Prior to Camelot, Sam was an executive at Blockbuster Video as well as several start-ups, including Broadcast.com. Sam was also a goalie for the University of Virginia’s National Championship soccer team and keeps his passion for soccer burning with regular visits to the UK to attend English Premier League matches. 

Andrew Covato

Founder & Managing Director, Growth by Science

Sam's Bio

Andrew has 15+ years of ad leadership experience at eBay, Google, Meta, Netflix, Snap, and startups. He helps Fortune 500 brands and SMBs drive incremental sales and revenue, and advises ad tech and martech firms on product strategy and growth. He has served on boards and working groups including the IAB, MMA, MRC, ARF, and WFA, and is a frequent speaker and author in the advertising industry. Andrew holds a Master’s in Finance from the Rotman School of Management and a Bachelor’s in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto. 

Corey Ferengul

Managing Partner, Aperiam

Corey's Bio

Corey Ferengul is a seasoned technology executive and investor with over 30 years of experience in enterprise software, SaaS, and digital media. He has served as CEO of multiple companies leading several to successful exits. He has served as an executive at public companies, including Rovi where he led a strategy that grew the company’s market cap 7x. 

Over the past 15 years, Corey has made more than 80 direct startup investments and participates in venture capital and private equity funds. He is a board member of Hyde Park Angels and a founding member of Spark Angels in Phoenix. He serves on the boards of several software companies.    In his current “day job” as Managing Partner at Aperiam Ventures, he advises multiple early-stage companies and evaluates how companies are using AI to change the advertising world. 

 

Mayuran Yogarajah

Head of IX Labs

Mayuran's Bio

Mayuran is a veteran of programmatic advertising and large-scale distributed systems, having been with Index Exchange and its predecessor, Casale Media, since their founding in 2003. He served as the company’s Chief Technology Officer for 16 years, helping scale Index to over 500B daily requests while driving innovations across AI, infrastructure, and the open internet. Mayuran now leads Index’s venture arm, IX Labs, where he oversees the company’s investment strategy and partners with the next generation of ad-tech founders building the future of programmatic media and the open internet. A University of Toronto alumnus based in Toronto, he also serves on the board of Mero Technologies, government grant review committees, and frequently speaks on AI, venture ecosystems, and the future of programmatic media. 

Compete to win industry-wide recognition, gain exclusive advisory access, and the chance to be promoted across POSSIBLE social channels.

FAQ

The Brand Challenge is open to companies with production-ready AI solutions that are actively used by a brand or agency. Your solution must demonstrate how AI is core to the product and how it improves upon the traditional way marketers previously solved the problem. You must also be able to provide a real customer case study—unnamed case studies are accepted—as evidence of measurable ROI.

We welcome solutions that apply AI creatively and meaningfully within digital marketing, including (but not limited to): 

  • Data and analytics 
  • Measurement and attribution 
  • Automation 
  • Creative optimization 
  • Media decisioning 
  • Any AI-driven innovation critical to modern marketers 

Your submission should clearly show how AI drives impact and differentiation.

Each applicant must submit: 

  • Solution Overview: A slide deck of up to 10 slides or a 1–2 page written summary. 
  • Case Study: A 2–3 slide or 1-page example of a real customer deployment, including ROI metrics. 
  • Optional Product Demo Video: A 1–5 minute video demonstrating your product in action and showcasing how AI powers the solution. 

Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

All submissions are evaluated using the following criteria, each scored on a 0–2 scale: 

  • Innovation for marketing 
  • Innovative use of AI 
  • Demonstrated ROI 
  • Production readiness 
  • Presentation quality 
  • Commercial viability 

Scoring key: 

0 = Did not demonstrate the criteria 

1 = Met the criteria 

2 = Excelled in the criteria 

The judges will select six finalists who will be invited to present onstage at POSSIBLE 2026. Each finalist receives one complimentary Startup Pass to attend the event, with the option to purchase additional passes for team members.

Each finalist will deliver a 5-minute, no-slide presentation at POSSIBLE 2026. Pitches must clearly address the judging criteria. Presentations will be cut off at exactly five minutes. 

Judges and/or the host may ask brief follow-up questions. 

After all six presentations, judges will deliberate and select two to three companies to advance to Day 2. 

Finalists return for a 10-minute mock sales pitch, followed by a 5-7 -minute live Q&A with the judges.  

Your pitch should simulate the final round of an RFP. You must: 

  • Describe your ideal customer profile (ICP), pretending the judge panel is your perfect ICP. 
  • Articulate the specific benefits your solution provides for this ICP, adding only details that are pertinent to the sale. 
  • Explain your competitive landscape and why your solution is the best choice. 
  • Present your anticipated ROI and how it will be assessed. 
  • Include any additional points needed to “close the deal”. 
  • Industry-wide recognition onstage at POSSIBLE
  • Exclusive advisory access from Aperiam and/or GBS
  • Promotion across POSSIBLE social channels
  • Brand Challenge Winner badge to showcase on website and marketing materials

Companies may only submit one entry to ensure fairness and consistent review.

Yes, international companies are eligible to apply as long as they are available to present live at POSSIBLE 2026 – April 28-29 in Miami Beach.

There is no cost to apply. Selected finalists receive one complimentary Startup Pass to attend POSSIBLE 2026, with the option to purchase additional passes for team members. Travel and lodging are not included.

Finalists will be notified by email by March 22nd, 2026.

Where is the
Brand Challenge?

Eden Roc • Outdoor Expo Garden • Innovation Stage

How to Get There

The Brand Challenge is held on the Innovation Stage at Eden Roc, nestled among lush palms between the Boardwalk and the Aquatica Pool & Bar, with the Innovation Stage prominently centered within the Innovation Village.

  • From the Eden Roc Main Lobby: Walk past the Lobby Bar and exit toward the main pool area. Follow the path toward the ocean, passing the Main Pool and Palladium Pool. Take the stairs down toward the Aquatica Pool (on your right)—you’ll find the Innovation Village just beyond, set within a beautiful garden environment.
  • From the Fontainebleau Outdoor Expo Area: Head toward the ocean and take a left onto the boardwalk. Walk about 2 minutes to the Eden Roc gate, then enter and continue a few steps—you’ll see the Innovation Village & Stage immediately on your left, directly across from the Aquatica Pool and Bar.

Explore the Stages and Experiences that Shape What’s POSSIBLE