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More than 500 applications were received in the early days following the call for application by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for startups to apply for full sponsorships to attend the 40th edition of GITEX Technology Week.
The global startup event is holding at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 3-10 December, 2020.
As the applications roll in, the NITDA has started the pre-selection process for the winning pitches through its subsidiary Office for ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIIE). Applications are expected to exceed several thousands.
All successful startups will be sponsored to attend the GITEX Future Stars (GFS), 6-9 December holding as part of GITEX Technology Week. But they will first have to undergo a boot camp by the OIIE.
Click HERE to apply.
Click HERE For “PITCH DECK SAMPLE”
In the last four years, The GFS has become a major feature of the GITEX Technology Week, one of the globe’s largest technology innovations and business gatherings in excess of 100, 000 from more than 140 countries.
Last year, Chiniki Guard had emerged winner in the GFS Supernova Challenge at GITEX 2019 in the AI category with the $10,000 Winning Prize while 247 Medic made the list as one of the global finalists of the more than 750 startups from about 90 countries that participated at the GITEX-GFS event. GITEX is the 3rd largest technology event in the world. Both startups were part of the over 10 startups sponsored by the NITDA.
The 40th edition of GITEX 2020 holds out as the only live event in 2020 following the COVID-19 pandemic that has erased major international meets, and impacted negatively on economies. GITEX 2020 celebrates 40 years with the theme: Inspiring The Next Decade of Breakthroughs.
Also, the GITEX Future Stars will be the only startup event in 2020 to go LIVE, IN-PERSON – with hundreds of startups taking part from over 40 countries, including over 400 local and international investors, corporate and government accelerators and incubators.
Applications from startups applying for the NITDA sponsorship should have solutions focusing on any of these areas:
1. 5G
2. AI & Augmented Analytics
3. Future Mobility (Transportation)
4. Digital Economies
5. Cyber Security and Resilience
6. Cloud and Edge Computing
7. Blockchain Technology
Expectations from applicants:
Applications will be considered and scored by a panel of judges from within the Nigerian technology startup ecosystem based on startup solution addressing any of the problems listed above.
Nigeria is fostering its participation at GITEX 2020 on promoting youth-led enterprises to showcase innovations coming from its tech startups community, and the strong policy-thrust on digital economy. The NITDA inaugurated the GITEX 2020 Local Organising Committee (LOC) last week to begin its preparations for the global event.
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