JIMSO Awards: Rules Summary
JIMSO is an independent, global awards program that recognises exceptional digital and software products. We run four seasonal cycles each year (Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn), plus the Annual JIMSO Awards in late January.
This is a plain-English summary of how the program works. It is here to help you understand the rules quickly. It does not replace the official JIMSO Terms and Rules, which are the binding version. Where this summary and the official Terms differ, the official Terms apply.
Eligibility
To enter, your product must meet all of the following by the season's deadline:
- It is publicly available, in paid beta, or demonstrably deployed with real users.
- You own the product or are authorised to submit it.
- Every claim you make in your submission is accurate and can be supported with evidence if we ask.
Products that are sanctioned, illegal, or deceptive may be rejected or removed at any point.
Categories and limits
Categories are configurable and may change from season to season. At launch, the categories are Best B2B Software Product, Best AI Product, and Best New Product.
- A product may enter up to 2 categories per season.
- A seasonal winner cannot re-enter the same category for 12 months, unless a materially new version is released and approved by JIMSO.
- Products that were not selected may re-enter a later season with an updated submission. When you re-enter, you must disclose the product's prior status.
Entry and payment
You submit your product through the entry form and pay the entry fee.
- An entry is judged only after all required fields are complete and payment is confirmed through our verified payment webhook.
- Paying the entry fee confirms that your product will be reviewed. It does not buy, imply, or guarantee any recognition, finalist place, or award.
How judging works
- Each entry is reviewed by at least 2 independent jurors.
- Jurors score entries on a weighted scale from 0 to 100.
- Any juror with a conflict of interest must declare it and is blocked from scoring that entry.
- JIMSO may decline to name a winner in any category (see below).
Finalists and winners (and the right to name no winner)
- Up to 5 finalists may be named per category per season.
- A product needs a score of at least 75 to be a finalist.
- A product needs a score of at least 82 to win.
- There is one winner per category per season, at most.
- If no entry meets the standard, JIMSO may name no winner in that category. Meeting the finalist threshold does not entitle a product to a win.
Annual qualification and annual-only entries
- Seasonal finalists automatically qualify for the Annual JIMSO Awards at no extra cost.
- Entries submitted directly to the Annual Awards (without coming through a season) are capped at no more than 30 percent of the annual shortlist.
Edits, corrections, and withdrawal
- You may correct or update your submission until the season's deadline.
- If you find an error in your entry, tell us and we will work with you to fix the record where possible.
- You may withdraw an entry. See Refunds below for how fees are handled.
Refunds
- Entry fees are normally non-refundable once you submit.
- Exceptions are handled by JIMSO administrators and include duplicate payments, platform or processing errors, and refunds required by law.
Integrity, accuracy, and authority to enter
- You confirm that you own the product or are authorised to submit it.
- All statements and claims in your submission must be accurate and supportable.
- Material misrepresentation or fraud can lead to rejection, removal, or revocation of any recognition (see Revocation).
Confidentiality
- Jurors and staff review submissions in confidence and use non-public material only to assess entries.
- Conflicts of interest are declared and handled internally.
- Public recognition (finalist and winner announcements) is not confidential and may be published by JIMSO.
Revocation
- JIMSO may revoke or annotate any recognition if we find fraud or material misrepresentation, including issues discovered after an award is given.
This summary is provided for convenience and does not replace the official JIMSO Terms and Rules, which govern all entries and decisions.