JIMSO Awards — Frequently Asked Questions

JIMSO is an independent, global awards program for exceptional digital and software products. Entries are judged on evidence by independent jurors. This page answers the practical, commercial, and fairness questions we hear most often. If something isn't covered here, contact us before you enter.

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Entering and eligibility

Who can enter?

Any team, company, or individual behind a digital or software product can enter — startups, established companies, agencies, and independent makers. There are no size, revenue, or geographic restrictions. What matters is the product and the evidence you can provide for it.

What kinds of products qualify?

Software and digital products: SaaS and B2B platforms, AI products, consumer apps, developer tools, and similar. Our launch categories are Best B2B Software Product, Best AI Product, and Best New Product. Categories are reviewed each cycle, so check the current list before entering.

How do I enter?

Create an account, choose your season and category, and complete the entry form with your product details and supporting evidence. Once you've reviewed everything and paid the entry fee, you submit for independent review. You'll receive confirmation by email.

How does sign-in work?

JIMSO uses passwordless, magic-link sign-in. Enter your email and we send you a one-time link that signs you in — there's no password to create or remember. The link is time-limited and tied to your email, so keep access to your inbox secure. If a link expires, simply request a new one.

What are the current deadlines?

We run four seasonal cycles a year. The current cycle is the Autumn Awards, with an entry deadline of 15 September 2026. The Annual JIMSO Awards take place in late January. Deadlines are firm; pricing tiers change as the deadline approaches (see pricing below), so entering earlier costs less.

How many categories can I enter?

A product can be entered in up to two categories per season. Each category is judged separately on its own evidence. Entering a second category costs less than the first (see additional-category pricing).

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Your entry and evidence

What evidence do I need to provide?

Judging is evidence-based, so your entry should show what the product does and what it has achieved — not just describe it. Useful evidence includes a clear product summary, a demo or walkthrough, screenshots, measurable outcomes or results, customer or usage signals where available, and anything that substantiates your claims. Specific, verifiable evidence carries more weight than adjectives.

What are the file and link requirements?

You can include links (for example, to a live product, demo video, or documentation) and upload supporting files such as screenshots or a slide summary. Make sure links are publicly reachable or accessible with the access details you provide, and that they'll remain live through the judging period. Broken or gated links that jurors can't open can't be counted as evidence.

Can I edit my entry after submitting?

You can update and refine your entry up until the entry deadline for that cycle. After the deadline, entries are locked so jurors review a stable submission. If you spot a genuine error after the deadline, contact us and we'll help where we reasonably can.

Can I withdraw my entry?

Yes. You can withdraw an entry before judging concludes by contacting us. Note that withdrawing doesn't automatically create a refund — refunds follow the policy below.

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Cost and what you receive

What does it cost?

Launch pricing for a seasonal entry is tiered by how early you enter:

• Early: $149
• Standard: $199
• Late: $249

A second category for the same product is $99. Annual-only entries (for products that weren't seasonal finalists) are $249 or $299 depending on timing. Prices are per entry and shown clearly before you pay.

What does the fee cover?

The fee covers independent review of your entry — the work of at least two jurors assessing it against the category on the evidence you provide. It pays for the judging process, not for a result. Paying to enter does not buy recognition, a finalist place, or a win.

Do you offer refunds?

Entry fees are normally non-refundable once you've submitted, because the review work begins from your submission. Exceptions are handled by our admin team: duplicate payments, genuine platform errors, and cases where a refund is legally required. If one of those applies to you, contact us.

What do finalists and winners receive?

Recognition that is verifiable and usable, including:

• A public profile for the recognized product
• A verifiable award page that anyone can check
• A qualified badge to display
• Editorial exposure through JIMSO
• For seasonal finalists, automatic qualification into the Annual JIMSO Awards
• The right to reference the recognition in your sales and employer-brand materials

We're deliberate about what we don't promise: JIMSO does not guarantee press coverage, leads, customers, or investment. What you receive is credible, checkable recognition — what you do with it is up to you.

Can agencies submit on behalf of clients?

Yes. Agencies and partners can enter on behalf of the product they represent. Make sure you have the client's permission to enter and to share the evidence you submit, and that recognition is attributed to the product and its owner. If you'd like the client to hold the account, they can sign in by magic link and you can manage the entry together.

How does additional-category pricing work?

The first category for a product is charged at the standard seasonal tier for the date you enter. A second category for that same product is $99. A product can be entered in at most two categories per season.

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Fairness, independence, and trust

Is this pay-to-win?

No. Your fee pays for independent review, not for recognition. Jurors assess entries on evidence, and there is no path to buy a finalist place or a win. An entry can be reviewed and not recognized — that's the point of a selective program.

How is judging independent?

Each entry is assessed by at least two independent jurors against the category criteria, based on the evidence submitted. Jurors evaluate the product on its merits; commercial factors such as who paid or how much play no part in the assessment.

How are conflicts of interest handled?

Jurors declare relationships that could compromise their objectivity and are recused from entries where a conflict exists — for example, involvement with the product or its direct competitors. The aim is simple: no juror scores an entry they have a stake in.

Can you decline to name a winner?

Yes. If no entry in a category meets the standard, we can name fewer finalists or no winner at all. Up to five finalists and one winner are possible per category — but they are outcomes, not quotas. Withholding an award protects the meaning of the ones we do give.

How is my confidential information handled?

Evidence you submit is used for judging and is seen by the jurors and staff involved in reviewing your entry. If your entry includes non-public material, mark it clearly. We don't publish your confidential details; the public profile and award page show what's needed to present and verify the recognition, not your private evidence.

How do you keep the award credible?

Credibility comes from selectivity, evidence-based judging, independent jurors, and the willingness to give no award when the standard isn't met. Every recognition has a verifiable award page, so claims can be checked rather than taken on trust. We'd rather recognize fewer products well than dilute what a JIMSO award means.

How does annual qualification work?

Products named as finalists in a seasonal cycle are automatically qualified for the Annual JIMSO Awards in late January, at no additional cost. The annual round also accepts a limited number of annual-only entries (capped at no more than 30% of the field) so it stays anchored in seasonal results. From there, category winners are selected, and one is named Product of the Year.

How do people verify a winner?

Every finalist and winner has a verifiable award page hosted by JIMSO. Anyone — a customer, a buyer, a candidate — can open that page to confirm the recognition, the category, and the cycle. The qualified badge links back to it, so a claim can always be traced to its source.