High-tech goes Hollywood next month in a unique showdown that mimics today's popular talent shows.

In March, tech executives will converge on the Corel Centre to participate in Technology Idol at the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation's technology showcase.

Similar to the popular talent search TV shows American Idol and spinoff Canadian Idol, Technology Idol's contestants will go before a panel of judges and cameras to strut their stuff.

But these Ottawa contestants won't be belting out any off-tune ditties. Rather, their task is to make a verbal elevator pitch to judges, espousing the virtues of their companies in 30 seconds or less. Judges will pick five finalists, whose video clips will be compressed and streamed from the web site www.faq.tv, enabling online voters to decide the winner.

FAQ.TV Inc., a marketing firm that uses video over the Internet to promote companies, has partnered with OCRI to deliver the event.

As of last Thursday, 15 companies had registered, said Randy Burgess, FAQ.TV's vice-president.

"Hopefully that will triple over the next few weeks," said Burgess, who describes the event as an opportunity for companies to develop their sales appeal by developing a 30-second message that's compelling to potential investors.

After all, that could be the length of time entrepreneurs have to convince investors of their company's worth.

Last week, Rainer Paduch, a local angel investor, told the Ottawa Business Journal entrepreneurs should sell their business ideas face-to-face with a simple presentation.

Denzil Doyle, chairman of Capital Alliance Ventures Inc., also said he wants to quickly see what the business is, how much money is needed and how much investors will make from the venture.

While it is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to brush up their pitch, Burgess also intends Technology Idol to be a fun, light-hearted event.

"It's an opportunity for marketing departments to refine and focus their core value propositions, for sales staffs to practise delivering it and for everybody else in their companies to shake-off the doldrums of the last three-years and ... cheer on or heckle their colleagues," he said.

Technology Idol will take place March 25. The winner will be crowned at the OCRI Awards dinner, April 7 at the Westin Hotel. Finalists will win a studio-produced version of their elevator pitch to stream from their company website, and the winner will receive a package of web-ready streaming videos. Those who wish to participate can register for free at www.faq.tv/idol