Below you’ll find answers to many of the questions asked by TED and TEDx newbies. Click on each question to reveal the respective answer.

What is the difference between TED and TEDx?

TED conferences are organized and run directly by TED. TEDx events are fully planned and
coordinated independently, on a community-by-community basis. The goal of TEDx is to inspire
a passion for spreading ideas in local communities from within.

What is the difference between TEDxPortofSpain and TEDxPortofSpainSalon?

TEDxPortofSpain is a local, independently organized TED event in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad,
that strives bring a TED-like experience to the city of Port-of-Spain. Our aim is to provide a
platform where thinkers and change makers co-inspire to question the way we think.
TEDxPortofSpainSalon is a small recurring event that keeps the community engaged between
yearly conferences.

Are you employed by TED?

No. While we operate under a license from TED, TEDxPortofSpain is a volunteer-based
organization. The organizers and other volunteers donate their time to bring TEDxPortofSpain
events to our community.

How do I attend a TEDxPortofSpain event?

We usually ask attendees to request a ticket for our main events. The best way to stay
connected with TEDxPortofSpain is to join our mailing list.

How can I become a TEDxPortofSpain volunteer?

Volunteers are the backbone of any community based event. Volunteers tend to be people
who are as passionate as we are about ideas worth spreading. We are always looking for
enthusiastic volunteers to help bring TEDxPortofSpain to life. If you’re interested in helping out,
we’d love to hear from you. Click here if you would like to volunteer.

Why should I “request an invitation”?

TEDx events are generally oversubscribed. We carefully curate our audience so that the
audience is a diverse, creative mix of leading thinkers and doers in our community. We are
looking for remarkable people with great stories and ideas worth sharing.

We have adopted some of TED’s practices—like their practice of requesting an invitation. When
a delegate takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete the application, it creates a common threshold
for everyone entering the event. This practice helps to ensure that our limited seats go to people
who are committed to being there. We have no VIP’s nor will we ever have VIP delegates. Only
those who apply can attend.

How can I “request an invitation”?

In an effort to find a fair way to issue tickets, we ask attendees to request an invitation, using
our online form which is usually posted on our website.

Why is there a cost to attend the conference?

We posted a blog about why we charge for our event. To find out more please see our blog
entry.

Does TEDxPortofSpain offer bursaries/scholarships to attend the conference?
Yes we do. When you request a ticket from us there is an option to apply for a bursary.

How do you decide who qualifies for a bursary or scholarship?

We do not have strict criteria for granting scholarships, but primarily, we look at indicators,
like estimated income based on profession, age, etc … This means that the priority goes to people
with low estimated levels of income, young people and students.