Bubl doesn’t really exist yet. The camera that takes 360-degree images and video is still just a series of prototypes and a big idea. That makes it a perfect fit for the Innovation Lions contest at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
Having earned more than $300,000 in Kickstarter funding (exceeded its goal of $100,000) Toronto-based Bubl is among 30 finalists who must pitch their idea to a 10-person jury for a shot at one of the ad industry’s most sought-after trophies.
Now in its second year, the Innovation competition is designed to let the technical side of marketing (software coding, hardware development and the like) get its moment in the spotlight alongside beautiful print ads and cinema-quality TV spots.
Canada earned a shortlist position in the inaugural 2013 Innovation Lions when Teehan + Lax‘ Google Streetview Hyperlapse brought agency partner Jon Lax to France to make his presentation – a rapid-fire Q&A with judges that he found quite stressful.
“There was more pressure,” he said. “Obviously, the jury is very esteemed. You’re operating on a stage that’s a global stage… And I only had 10 minutes. I had to find a narrative, a line through the story that would hold together over 10 minutes that hit the points I thought were important, things you wouldn’t necessarily understand when you experience [the product].”
Innovation Lions winners will be announced at an award gala on June 21.
Want the latest news and winners from the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity? Visit Marketing @ Cannes.