Global startups in focus at Gitex Technology Week

The Gitex Global Startup Movement will be held alongside Gitex Technology Week 2016 being held from October 16 to 20 in Dubai.

Dubai is gearing up to host the world's first, most global, week-long startup showcase at Gitex Technology Week.
Held in response to the need for an industry hub for investors, incubators, and accelerators to identify the world's next great startups and support youth empowerment, the new Gitex Global Startup Movement is a comprehensive and dynamic technology platform that will promote global knowledge exchange, foster economic growth and encourage startup investment in the region.
An early adopter of technology, with a 95 per cent household internet penetration, the UAE is a hotbed for technology innovation. The Gitex Global Startup Movement will be held alongside Gitex Technology Week being held from October 16 to 20.
"Dubai and the UAE are world-renowned hubs for digital economy innovation as well as the home of a youthful population that is steadfast in its drive to innovate. The Gitex Global Startup Movement will give more than one thousand of the brightest millennial entrepreneurs from the Middle East and around the world a chance to network with peers and gain insight from global technology companies. The Gitex Global Startup Movement offers many of the region's young founders a once in a lifetime opportunity to present their business concepts to some of the world's most illustrious investors, some whom have had a significant impact on the success of the likes of Careem, Spotify, Facebook and many more," said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre, organisers of Gitex Technology Week 2016.
Young entrepreneurs and startups have the potential to contribute significantly to employment opportunities for this class of fresh graduates. Digital entrepreneurs are expected to add $14 billion to the UAE's GDP, and $1.5 trillion to global GDP by 2020, according to recent reports from the consultancy Accenture.
Among the more than 400 startups from nearly 60 countries, more than half are making their global debut at the Gitex Global Startup Movement. The diversity of the Gitex Global Startup Movement - both in terms of its international attendance of and the industry and development of the startups - will be a key differentiator for the movement
In a unique demonstration of support for young innovators and the Gitex Global Startup Movement, governments from around the globe are sending delegations of some of their best young innovators to represent their nations at the event. Fourteen government-led startup contingents will attend the Gitex Global Startup movement, hailing from around the world including Russia, Poland, Holland, and the USA with first-time representation from Egypt, Hungary, Japan, Morocco, Oman.
Many innovative startups have already experienced success in the UAE including UAE-born ventures such as car booking service Careem, package delivery app Fetchr, and online shopping platform Souq.com.
"The UAE is the perfect place for technology-based startups to grow. At the Gitex Global Startup Movement, startups can benefit from fundraising from across emerging market investors who are eager for new innovations," said Mudasir Sheikha, Co-Founder of Careem.
Other innovative startups showcasing at the Gitex Global Startup Movement include Be Happy, Be Healthy from Germany, the energy medicine of the future; Bulbul, which is India's first travel app for children; and iCare from the UAE, which is the world's first blood bank mobile app; and JustPrice.pk, Pakistan's fastest-growing mobile retail platform.
Exhibiting startups will show down in a dramatic pitch competition - the Gitex 'Strut-Up' judged by investors and startup successes such as Keith Kaplan from the Tesla Foundation. The 'Strut-Up' will send startup hopefuls home with a total of $160,000, with prizes for Best Arab-Led Startup, Best Youth Startup, Best Woman-Led Startup, and Best Gitex Startup.
Startups with technology that improve business and productivity, education, finance and marketing are only some of the many popular sectors represented by startups at the Gitex Global Startup Movement. Startups looking to improve manufacturing, energy, consumer technology, logistics, healthcare, retail, cybersecurity and tourism will also showcase their ground-breaking innovations.
"The UAE is one of the world's most attractive startup destinations, thanks to strong government support, a culture of innovation, and a highly-educated population," said Jeffrey Paine, Managing Partner of the Singapore-based early stage investment fund Golden Gate Ventures in Singapore, who will be a featured speaker at the Gitex Global Startup Movement.
With the movement's bespoke matching service, angel investment groups such as 500 Startups from the US, Singapore's Jungle Ventures Group, India's GP Infinity Ventures, Lebanon's Middle East Venture Partners, and the UAE's own BECO Capital and Standard Chartered Private Equity will leverage unique networking opportunities to hear startup business plans from around the world.
Complementing the Gitex Global Startup Movement will be the Gitex Vertical Days, a platform with world-class speakers across the industry verticals that have the biggest digital transformation opportunity. Gitex Technology Week's Vertical Days Programme includes Marketing and Healthcare Monday, Finance and Intelligent Cities Tuesday, Retail and Education Wednesday and Energy Thursday. The Immersive Tech section will feature the latest innovations in augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence, drones, robotics, and 3D printing
Gitex Technology Week is one of the world's leading platforms for technology information exchange with 230 exceptional speakers, 65 industry-tailored sessions and a total of 130 conference hours throughout the week.
-business@khaleejtimes.com