UNWTO has launched a brand new Startup Competition to assist ladies tourism tech entrepreneurs and innovators throughout the Middle East.
Announced at Biban 2023, Saudi Arabia’s largest SME convention, the Women in Tech Startup Competition: Middle East, will additional advance UNWTO’s work to make tourism a pillar of girls’s empowerment. The initiative offers innovators the possibility to compete for enhanced capability constructing and visibility. Finalists in every class will be part of the UNWTO Innovation Network, giving them entry to the UNWTO Member States community, mentorship applications and to UNWTO scholarship alternatives.
Tourism startups are additionally main the best way in advancing ladies empowerment, within the Middle East and globally, and UNWTO is delighted to assist the area’s finest innovators and digital entrepreneurs
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, says: “Tourism startups have the power and agility to transform the sector in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. Tourism startups are also leading the way in advancing women empowerment, in the Middle East and globally, and UNWTO is delighted to support the region’s best innovators and digital entrepreneurs.”
Who can apply?
- Startups have to be led, owned or managed by ladies residing in any of the next nations: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen.
- Idea Stage, Early Stage or Series A startups with a minimal viable product or concept that is able to be developed and funded.
- Have a full-time staff, a examined pilot and marketing strategy.
- Be scalable with potential for worldwide development.
Startups should additionally belong to not less than one of many following classes:
- Social Impact: For startups that concentrate on know-how in wellness, well being, city growth, rural growth, sustainability, and training with cross-cutting advantages with tourism.
- Tourism and Travel Experience: Startups specializing in the meals and beverage, transportation and lodging, journey, and retail industries to take part.
- Future Tech: Startups that leverage fintech, AI, AR/VR, cryptocurrency, Internet of Things, blockchain know-how, digital twinning and the Metaverse.
- Events and Community: Startups targeted on social and messaging platforms, e-sports and gaming platforms, community-based purposes, events-related platforms, and training know-how.
Applications shut on the finish of July 2023 and the winners will probably be introduced on the Tourism Tech Adventure (TTA), to be held on World Tourism Day (27 September Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).
