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More than 370 applications were received, over the weekend, from Nigerian startups applying to participate at the North Star Pitch Competition as part of GITEX holding in Dubai, UAE from 10-13 October 2022. Application deadline was originally 27 April but extended to 5 May.
Four slots are up grabs fully sponsored by the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The winners will be determined by juries in Abuja (Wednesday 11, 2022 May) and Lagos (Thursday 12, May 2022).
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About 40 startups have been shortlisted for the final selection process that will take place this week in Abuja and Lagos where juries will carry out the final shortlisting of four startups who will enjoy full sponsorship to participate in North Star and GITEX now touted as the second largest tech expo and gathering for more than 200, 000 people from over 140 countries.
GITEX is organised by the DWTC.
Nigerian startups had the option to apply through Abuja or Lagos for the final selection of four startups to represent the country at the GITEX Future Stars (GFS) now rebranded as North Star, the largest Pitch gathering for startups, mentors and innovation investors from over 120 countries.
Lagos recorded the highest number of applications from more than 200 startups while Abuja had above 160.
The successful four winners from Nigeria will join their peers from other parts of Africa to be spotlighted in front of global audiences at the world’s largest tech + startup event this October.
The Nigeria selection process is part of the GITEX Startup West Africa Roadshow in four cities namely Lagos, Abuja, Accra and Dakar. The GITEX East Africa roadshow was anchored in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. With four winning slots, Nigeria has the largest set aside for any country to underscore its importance as the continent’s leader in startup economy.
According to the DWTC, the roadshow “is designed to scout for and support promising entrepreneurial business startups in Africa.”
A DWTC team is in Nigeria, this week, and will be part of the selection formality in Lagos and Abuja.
The DWTC is partnering with the Nigerian government through the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); and other local partners including Lagos State government, Art of Technology, and Pinnacle International LLC for the Nigeria’s end of the initiative in West Africa.
