Could the L2 Innovation Forum be Marketing’s New TED?

Tomorrow, a major social innovation conference kicks off in New York. Is L2 the new TED?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRkyZx1WzWo

Tomorrow, some of the most creative minds in business will gather in New York for the second annual L2 Innovation Forum. (See highlights from last year's in the video, above.) A partnership between branding think-tank L2 and New York University, the conference is being billed as the largest gathering of prestige professionals in North America. The innovation forum will feature never-before-seen research, provocative presentations, product demonstrations, and networking opportunities.

As I’ve said in the past, conferences like The Feast—which was held last month—are essentials for anyone interested in social innovation. They’re incomparable experiences designed to get you thinking about innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. But if you’re planning on starting a business, you’re also going to need to know how to sell people on your ideas, which is where marketing conferences come in. With this year’s interesting and diverse group of speakers at L2, there might not be a better chance to bone up on the importance of emerging technology, breakthrough marketing strategies, and dedicated customer service.

You’ll hear from Soraya Dorabi, the co-founder of Foodspotting and one of Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business” on how your company can leverage mobile location services. David McCandless, an author and data-journalist will discuss how design can impact our understanding of facts (he’s fantastic; watch his TED talk). Remember Wired’s innovative iPad App? You’ll meet the man behind it, Creative Director Scott Dadich. You’ll also have the chance to hear New York Times columnist Anand Giridharadas, whose work focuses on new ideas, global culture, and the social implications of technology.

Perhaps most interesting, Columbia University’s Sheena Iyengar—the world’s foremost expert on the science of choice—will discuss why we choose what we choose. Her insights into decision making are sure to be invaluable to anyone hoping to raise money, attract talent, gain mentors, or tackle any of the other innumerable challenges that go into launching a business.

It should also be mentioned that the conference, now in its second year, is getting progressively more exclusive. Last year, they sold out the Times Center. Based on that success, they’ve chosen the beautiful (but smaller) Morgan Library as their venue this year. Next year, the plan is for the event to be invite-only. So, unless you’re sure you’re going to be on that list, this might be your only chance to get in a room with the some of the world’s most innovative marketers.

Like most good conferences (TED, Poptech, etc.), it’s not cheap. But if you’re planning on springing (or getting your company to spring) for a conference this year, it’s definitely worth a look.

To learn more and to purchase tickets, visit the conference website.