Zazzle Announces a Million-Dollar Innovation Challenge to Search for America's Next Great Ecommerce Customization Product

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Dec. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The search is on for the world's next big customizable product. Zazzle, in association with MIT's Smart Customization Group and UC Berkeley's Center for Open Innovation, today announced the "Million-Dollar Innovation Challenge" to launch the development of the next, most innovative customization product or company.

The winner will gain access to Zazzle's world-class engineering team, which will write software to enable a full online customization experience, using its proprietary design tools and 3-D product visualization technologies. Additionally, Zazzle will fund the project with resources to develop a global product-marketing plan and launch the product to a worldwide audience of tens of millions of potential consumers. The winner will also receive mentorship from a veteran panel of potential investors and industry leaders, in addition to introductions to Zazzle's many brands and partners.

"It's essential that we encourage and incentivize entrepreneurs to think creatively about customization and take advantage of the ecommerce industry's rapid growth – this Challenge is designed to spur America's entrepreneurial spirit for innovation," said Jeff Beaver, co-founder of Zazzle. "This is an opportunity of a lifetime whereby the winner will receive all of the technologies and resources necessary to turn an idea into a real business."

About the contest:

The Million-Dollar Innovation Challenge and prize is open to any person or company with an idea for a customizable product. Applicants must create a one-minute video, describing their product and explaining why their innovative concept is special and will contribute to the growing movement of mass customization. Applicants will be judged on innovation and economic viability.

Zazzle, the world's largest online customization company, will announce five semi-finalists on February 24, 2012. Academic experts, industry executives and active investors will help refine the concepts and plans for final evaluation and judge the presentations. The winner will be distributed via Zazzle's website, have access to world-class online design tools, and gain access to a licensing platform for all graphics and artwork.

For more information, including objectives, application, rules and prize details, visit www.Zazzle.com/challenge.

About Zazzle

Zazzle is the world's leading platform for quality custom products. Zazzle's proprietary technology enables individuals, professional artists, and major brands, including Disney and Hallmark, to create and offer billions of unique products for customers worldwide. Zazzle's rapidly expanding product base covers every topic imaginable and includes t-shirts, business cards, invitations, in addition to a variety of custom gifts. Upon creation, products are instantly and accurately visualized on the site and offered in the Zazzle marketplace. When ordered, each product is made on-demand, typically within 24 hours. Launched in 2005 and based in Redwood City, California, Zazzle's vision is to redefine commerce, powered by the world's imagination.