UAE-based telecom provider Etisalat has launched the second edition of Hello Business Pitch competition, designed to encourage entrepreneurs and home-grown Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) to build and grow their business.

Following the successful response to the competition in 2018, Etisalat has renewed its commitment towards empowering entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into real business ventures. Etisalat’s ‘Hello Business Pitch’ provides an opportunity for start-ups to pitch their business ideas in front of an expert panel of judges who will be assessing their business model through the strength of their pitch.

Esam Mahmoud, senior vice president, SMB, Etisalat, said: “The SMB sector plays an important role in the UAE economy, accounting for 86 percent of the total private sector workforce and more than 60 percent of the country’s current GDP. Today’s announcement is in line with Etisalat’s continuous efforts to support SMBs and start-ups in the UAE and position Etisalat as the preferred business partner of choice.

“Hello Business Pitch competition, now on its second year, aims to bring growth and innovation in the entrepreneurship and SMB sector. At Etisalat, we are driven by our service mantra ‘Your Business Grows with Us.”

A panel of judges, subject matter experts and partners will join hands to review all submissions and shortlist the top three winners who will be awarded prizes worth Dh350,000 ($95,260) to help grow their business. To be eligible, startup businesses need to be up to three years old. – TradeArabia News Service