The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) has launched its 2025 edition of the “Coolest Thing Made in California” contest, spotlighting the innovation-driven manufacturing economy of the world’s fifth-largest economy. The announcement comes amid rising onshoring momentum and renewed state-level support for advanced manufacturing technologies. With over 30,000 manufacturers employing more than 1.3 million people and contributing $310 billion to California’s GDP, the contest aims to elevate public awareness of California-made products and the sector’s role in global supply chain resilience.
Why is CMTA running the Coolest Thing Made in California contest?
According to Lance Hastings, President and CEO of CMTA, the initiative is designed to celebrate the creativity, technological innovation, and economic impact of California’s manufacturing sector. “Manufacturing is the backbone of California’s economy,” Hastings said. “The industry drives innovation, creates high-wage jobs, and produces the essential goods that support our everyday lives.”
The annual competition serves as a public-facing campaign to showcase the wide range of products designed and produced in the state, from high-performance aerospace components to sustainability-oriented consumer goods. The bracket-style format allows the general public to nominate and vote, giving a grassroots-level amplification to industry innovation.
In 2024, the award was won by Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) for developing the world’s fastest microchip, highlighting the state’s continued leadership in defense and semiconductor technologies. The 2024 edition received over 246,000 votes and reached a combined audience of 34 million through social and broadcast media, marking it as one of CMTA’s most visible and successful public campaigns to date.
What are the key dates and how does the voting process work?
The 2025 competition follows a multi-phase bracket-style format, beginning with the nomination period, which runs from now through August 29, 2025. During this time, anyone can submit a nomination for a product made in California by visiting the official contest portal at coolestthingcalifornia.com. To ensure fresh competition, products that reached the Top 4 round in 2024 are ineligible for re-entry.
The public voting stage kicks off on September 8 and concludes on October 3, featuring four rounds of weekly eliminations. The first round, known as the Popular Round, takes place from September 8 to September 11. This is followed by the Top 16 round, which will run from September 15 to September 18. The Top 8 round is scheduled for September 22 to September 25, and the final Top 4 round will be held from September 29 to October 3.
After the bracket rounds are completed, the winner will be officially announced at the Coolest Thing Made in California Celebration, a live event to be held on October 22, 2025, at The Citizen Hotel in Sacramento. This final event not only recognizes the winning product but also serves as a celebration of the entire California manufacturing ecosystem.
What types of products are typically nominated?
Past nominations have ranged from consumer goods and food innovations to highly complex technologies. The 2024 finalists included a spectrum of California ingenuity—from edible drinking cups to personal air taxis—emphasizing the diversity of the state’s industrial base.
Northrop Grumman’s win in 2024 underscores how even highly specialized defense-sector products can resonate with the public when effectively framed. The campaign’s structure allows entries from both small startups and global enterprises, leveling the playing field through public voting rather than expert panel selection.
This democratized approach has been praised by industry groups and economic development agencies for spotlighting lesser-known manufacturers who would otherwise remain under the radar.
California manufacturing in a reshoring world
The contest is launching at a time when reshoring and domestic supply chain security have become top policy priorities in both Sacramento and Washington, D.C. As federal incentives through the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act redirect capital into U.S. manufacturing, California’s unique blend of talent, innovation infrastructure, and proximity to Pacific trade routes positions it as a global production hub.
CMTA’s campaign reinforces that narrative, anchoring it in storytelling that resonates beyond policy circles. The manufacturing sector in California includes players across verticals such as aerospace (Lockheed Martin, Rocket Lab), semiconductors (Intel, Broadcom), electric vehicles (Tesla, Lucid Motors), and sustainable packaging.
CMTA’s own outreach efforts have evolved to meet this moment. The 2025 contest includes an extended nomination period, enhanced social media integration, and strategic collaborations with chambers of commerce and trade associations to drive local participation. This is intended to increase geographic and demographic diversity in both nominations and votes.
How is the contest impacting brand visibility and investor sentiment?
While the contest itself is not a direct indicator of financial performance, finalists from previous years have experienced measurable upticks in brand recognition and media visibility. For example, several 2023 and 2024 finalists reported post-contest growth in sales, expanded supplier partnerships, or increased inbound investor interest.
Industry analysts suggest that while CMTA’s contest may not directly influence institutional investor behavior, it contributes to a broader positive sentiment around California-made innovation. It also adds a consumer engagement layer that can support demand-side interest, particularly for hardware startups or industrial design firms looking to scale.
Public relations teams from past nominees have used their rankings in the contest to build trade show materials, digital campaigns, and even business development pitches—signaling the brand equity value generated by public-facing competitions of this nature.
What role does CMTA play in California’s broader manufacturing ecosystem?
The California Manufacturers & Technology Association represents a significant advocacy force for the manufacturing sector in the state. Beyond hosting the “Coolest Thing” contest, the association has historically been involved in workforce training policy, regulatory reform, and the advancement of technology adoption in manufacturing processes.
CMTA is also a vocal supporter of state-level policy frameworks that reduce regulatory complexity and enhance California’s competitiveness as a manufacturing hub. As the organization continues to evolve its public engagement tools, it is increasingly aligning with digital-first strategies to mobilize younger demographics and expand beyond traditional B2B channels.
In recent years, CMTA has also increased its focus on advanced manufacturing—including 3D printing, automation, and low-emission process engineering—as California firms transition from labor-intensive to technology-intensive models. The “Coolest Thing Made in California” contest serves as both a recognition platform and a recruitment tool to inspire future workers and entrepreneurs.
What’s next for CMTA’s manufacturing visibility campaign?
With the 2025 competition already underway, CMTA is poised to drive even broader participation and engagement than previous years. The organization is reportedly exploring partnerships with educational institutions, local makerspaces, and innovation accelerators to further diversify the nomination base and encourage high school and college-level innovators to engage with the sector.
Analysts suggest that this year’s campaign could become one of the most closely watched editions yet, particularly in light of ongoing economic policy debates around reshoring, job creation, and green manufacturing.
Looking ahead, CMTA is expected to continue leveraging the momentum of this campaign into larger public policy conversations and sector marketing initiatives. If the contest continues its growth trajectory—both in voter participation and media reach—it may evolve into a nationally recognized brand platform for West Coast industrial innovation.
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