People ages 13-25 living in the Richmond, Virginia metro region - both the city and the surrounding counties who have never given a TEDx talk before.

No! Our lineup of speakers reflects a diverse and metro-regional scope. We are committed to continuing this tradition of amplifying great ideas from speakers of all ages, found by our youth team. We directly nominate all of our speakers based on strong curatorial research which has yielded great results, but we're excited to give extra opportunities to youth speakers this year!

Here are the kinds of TEDx talk ideas that get considered:

1. Radically New: Fresh, groundbreaking ideas.

2. Fresh Approaches: New ways to solve old problems.

3. Challenging Possibilities: Ideas that make us rethink what's possible.

4. Cutting-Edge: Talks that introduce us to the latest research, technology, or design.

5. Redefining Human Experience: Ideas that reshape how we see life and the world.

TED is all about ideas, and each speaker should have a unique reason for sharing their idea. The talk should show why that speaker is the perfect person to present this idea.

TEDx talks are usually focused on specific topics. Here are some cool examples:

- Technology: "Why you should make useless things" by Simone Giertz

- Business: "The single biggest reason why startups succeed" by Bill Gross

- Entertainment: "The clues to a great story" by Andrew Stanton

- Design: "How giant websites design for you (and a billion others, too)" by Margaret Gould Stewart

- Science: "My simple invention, designed to keep my grandfather safe" by Kenneth Shinozuka

- Global Issues: "How to make peace? Get angry" by Kailash Satyarthi

And from younger speakers:

- Innovation: "A promising test for pancreatic cancer ... from a teenager" by Jack Andraka

- Environment: "An economic case for protecting the planet" by 18-year-old Gator Halpern

- Health: "The problem of teen mental illness and how to solve it" by Molly Wright

These categories show how TEDx talks dive deep into specific, interesting topics. Each talk should connect the idea with the speaker's unique experience or expertise.

When thinking about ideas for TEDx talks, here's what usually gets turned down:

1. Too Vague or Underdeveloped: Ideas that aren't clear or detailed enough.

2. Pseudoscience: Ideas based on unproven or non-specific data.

3. Just Personal Stories or Motivational: Talks that are purely personal or serve as motivational speeches without a broader message.

4. Common Topics: Ideas that everyone already knows about.

5. Overcoming Personal Challenges: Talks that focus only on personal struggles.

6. Pushing Agendas: Ideas driven by business, political, or religious motives.

Guidelines:

1. No Sales Pitches: You can talk about your work but don't use the stage to sell products, promote services, or ask for money. TEDx is not for professional motivational speakers.

2. No Political Rants: Avoid partisan politics, extreme views, or inflammatory talk. Focus on building consensus and nuanced discussions.

3. No Religious Preaching: Don't promote or criticize any religion or belief system, including new age ideas.

4. No Fake Science: Stick to credible scientific information and avoid unproven claims.

TEDx isn't the place for motivational speeches, book promotions, brand endorsements, or purely personal stories.

The evening of Saturday, November 8, 2025.

The deadline for this year has passed, but we may seek new ideas for 2026 starting in early summer 2026.

The event is held anually at The Hershey Center for the Arts at Collegiate School in the west end of Henrico County, Virginia, and is a Richmond community event.

1️⃣ Write Your Talk: Create a TEDx-style talk (500-750 words). Make sure it showcases your unique idea, insights, and perspective. This should be your own work.

2️⃣ Record a Video: Film yourself reading your talk. Ensure your video is clear and audible.

3️⃣ Prepare Your Files: Save your written talk as a Google Document and your video recording as a file or link to a video hosting service (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, but set as PRIVATE.) The video recording does not need to be memorized.

4️⃣ Upload All Materials Below:

- Upload your Google Document (make sure it has sharing permissions set to "Anyone with the link can view") and your recorded video

- Include the link to your video in your talk if your file is too large to diredctly upload the video file

5️⃣ Deadline: Ensure you send your application by September 15, 2025.

Our curation team will review all applications and notify applicants.

Good luck! We look forward to hearing your ideas!

Once you submit your application to TEDxRVA Youth:

1. Review Process: Our curation team, consisting of high school students and their TEDx mentors, will carefully review all submissions. We evaluate each application based on originality, insight, focus, relevance, and alignment with TEDx values.

2. Notification: By October 1, 2025, we will notify all applicants of their status. If you are selected to move forward, you will receive detailed information about the next steps, including potential interview dates and preparation guidelines. If you are not selected, you will also be notified by this date.

3. Preparation: Selected speakers will work closely with our team to refine and polish their talks. This process may involve rehearsals, feedback sessions, and additional support to ensure your talk is stage-ready.

4. Event Day: If selected, you'll present your talk at TEDxRVA Youth. It’s a fantastic opportunity to share your idea worth spreading with the community!

Thank you for your submission! We’re excited to hear your ideas and potentially work with you to bring them to the TEDx stage.