Maximum Exposure to Multitude of Inventors in Minimal Time
Thursday and Friday, Nov. 21-22, 8am-10pm (meeting space, contacts, meals, Pub Night and TAGIE Awards)
Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 23-24, 8am - 6pm (meeting space, contacts)
This track of the Innovation Conferences is an exclusive by invitation only for inventor relations and product acquisition executives looking to collaborate and discover new ideas from around the world. Schedule your own meetings with professional inventors (we give you contacts) and be a part of the new inventor and design student speed pitch. Speakers explore topics that inspire and broaden our industry.
Includes private meeting space for 4 days, multiple tracks and meals for 2 days, Irish Pub Night, Toy & Game Innovation Awards (TAGIEs) and Chicago Toy & Game Fair. If you are not receiving our invitations, apply now!
Why You Need to Attend!
"Thank you Mary! You’ve built something incredible for us all to come together. I’ll be back!" -Trina McFarland, tinkertini, representing Alpha, Jada, SkyRocket, Wicked Cool Toys
"ChiTAG has become one of the most important events of the year for me in the toy and game industry. The intimate setting and well organized format of the workshops promote a sense of community not found at other toy fairs and I have connected with many new toy companies and peers that have become invaluable to my network. " -Dan Klitsner, KID Interactive
"ChiTAG is “THE” event for Inventors and Manufacturers within the Toy Industry, it is a who’s who of Toy & Game Inventors and Toy & Game Companies. The Conferences, Gala and Fair are unmatched for Educating, Celebrating and Playing in our industry. I’m very excited for this year’s event - it is timed perfectly for seeing the best of the best toys and games right in the heart of our biggest selling season!" -Gary Swisher, EVP Design, Spin Master
"ChiTAG is a high point of the year as I am able to meet and speak with inventors from around the globe in an amazing, innovative and supportive environment. It is the only toy and game fair that offers this combination of new and experienced inventors, learning and networking opportunities, and an event that is literally and figuratively built around an open-to-the-public Toy Fair set on Chicago’s historic Navy Pier. It is a great place for me to experience every part of the toy industry, from the inventors, colleagues, and business partners, to watching the children’s reactions to the toys and games on the show floor to wrap up the week. To experience all of this against the backdrop of the great city of Chicago makes this a much anticipated week on my calendar!” -Rich Mazel, Hasbro, Inc.
Conference Schedule
The Product Acquisition Executive Conference Track is a 4 day event filled with presentations, workshops, private meetings and networking opportunities. Your registration includes all of the following:
DAYS 1 & 2 (Thursday and Friday):
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Schedule Meetings in private meeting spaces with Product Acquisition Execs - contact information of registered inventors and product acquisition execs will be provided in advance to schedule meetings.
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Full access to New Inventor Track Sessions
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Networking Breakfasts, Lunches, Coffee Breaks and Dinners
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Irish Pub Night - We take over an entire pub to enjoy great food, great ambiance and networking. (Thursday evening)
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New Inventor Speed Pitching Session - This is your chance to discover an unknown inventor and/or idea.
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The Toy & Game Innovation Awards (TAGIEs) - An elegant, celebratory dinner gala event honoring the people worldwide behind the innovative and hot products of the year. (Friday evening)
DAYS 3 & 4 (Saturday and Sunday):
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Scheduled meetings in private spaces between professional inventors and product acquisition execs continues.
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Full admission to the Chicago Toy & Game Fair. You and your family/colleagues are invited to enjoy the many activities available during the Fair. The Fair is the largest public toy and game fair in North America. Exhibitors promote, sell and focus-test new products to over 30,000 attendees. Positioned right before Black Friday, the Fair attracts hundreds of media guests and social influencers to discover what's hot for the holidays.
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You can mentor/judge in the Young Inventor Challenge. (Saturday morning)
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You can visit the Design Student Sunday Showcase. These students are looking for internships, jobs and have toy and game ideas to show! (Sunday all day - visit anytime)
More Reasons to Attend!
“Looking forward to Chicago Toy & Game Week again this year. Wouldn’t miss it! We picked up 2 great concepts last year at the Inventor Conferences that will be launched this Fall! The Chicago Toy & Game Week is the very best occasion for game publishers, companies and inventors to come together. The meetings and presentations are very well organized. People from all over the world play, laugh, have fun and share valuable information. It's a great network event, and for us meeting with inventors, toy and games developers, is an important part of the realization of our yearly collection. We won't miss any edition of the event!"— Emile Kalis, Identity Games International BV, The Netherlands
"The Innovation Conferences are a must for anyone - inventors or company people - in the toy and game industry. The information you'll learn, the pitching and the networking is incredible. Mary and her team are to be congratulated; there is nothing else like it in the world!" - Tanya Thompson, Hasbro
"CHITAG meet my expectations very well. The conference was helpful and gave me a lot of inspiration. You created a unique event that does not exist in Europe at all. I will definitely attend next year again." -Peter W. Gygax, Carletto, Switzerland
"I found two items for our 2019 product line during my meetings last year - the event was very successful for us. We will be back!" - Laura J. Pecci, Winning Moves
"As the head of product design at Buffalo Games it's always important to speak to the gamers, inventors, and professionals in our industry – whether it's to get feedback, share ideas, or simply having fun playing games! I love spending time with fresh inventors, and giving feedback in a venue that allows them to ask questions that help shape their ideas. Buffalo Games looks forward to being part of the speaker panels as well as the Ask the Experts in the Inventor and Industry Programs. Thanks, again, for a fantastic event!" - John Bell, Buffalo Games, Inc.
"Mary, you and your team throw one heck of an inventor/innovation conference! Thanks so much for all that you and your team do/did to make CHITAG events such a success. It was a fantastic experience with a great group of people in the inventor community from around the world who are so clearly passionate about what they do, and collaborative in spirit. Great keynotes/speakers, too!" - Patty Sullivan, Highlights
I had an amazing time, I've been working for Identity Games for almost 10 years but I felt like a rookie being surrounded by the greats in our industry. I learned so much, met amazing people and got even more inspired. I love our industry and know how lucky I am to be a part of it, but with the ChiTAG you managed to increase my passion, I didn't think that was possible. Thank you very much! I can't wait til next year! Jan-Maurits Duparc, Identity Games International BV, The Netherlands
"Best toy show I have been to yet. Hands down! Great job for bringing innovators together to invent the future of play and celebrate their accomplishments. The collision of people and ideas at this show is unmatched." -Krissa Watry, Dynepic, Inc.
Thank you for creating a platform that celebrates innovators creating the future of play. I have been fortunate to connect and collaborate with the brightest minds in toy and games community because of your outstanding event. -Valerie Vacante, Collabsco