More than 400 start-ups from 60 countries and over 1,000 entrepreneurs will gather in Dubai, UAE next week to sell and learn in world’s most global start-up showcase at the Gitex Technology Week, a major technology exchange and marketplace.

Gitex has created the Gitex Global Start-up Movement - although only in its first year of inception it is already the largest start-up event in the wider region.

While the UAE will be represented with 85 start-ups, 79 per cent of start-ups will hail from the rest of the world.

Over 200 investors and influential tech investment executives from Silicon Valley, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, including SoftBank Group International, 500 Start-ups, Accel Partners, Golden Gate Ventures, Middle East Venture Partners amongst others will arrive in Dubai to explore, discover, evaluate and potentially fund some of the most promising start-ups with a particular eye on regional talent. The illustrious funding ventures of these investors include global giants Facebook, Dropbox and Spotify among others.

“Through Gitex we want to create the life-changing opportunity for start-ups to meet face-to-face with legendary investors and accelerator firms, be it for funding support or advisory guidance that shall help them breakthrough in their ventures,” said Trixie LohMirmand, senior vice president, Dubai World Trade Centre, organisers of Gitex Technology Week 2016 running from October 16 to 20.

“There is great aspiration and ambition amongst these young creative Arab minds to change the world with their imagination. By bringing them closer to their fellow start-up peers from other countries, some of which are successful references, this valuable sharing experience built through mutual respect and admiration shall inspire their growth and infuse their innovation. Gitex is privileged to be an enabler to create these life-changing opportunities in their entrepreneurship journeys,” she added.

The UAE’s support for entrepreneurs is the top in the Mena region, and 19th in the world.  Each new start-up can increase GDP by $1.2 million, according to the US-based economic policy think tank the Pacific Research Institute.

AstroLabs Dubai is the only Google-partnered Tech Hub in the Mena region and Muhammed Meki, co-founder of AstroLabs will also be one of the judges for the ‘Strut-Up’ Pitch competition. Muhammed will be sharing his experiences as a successful entrepreneur through mentorship sessions at the Gitex Global Start-up Movement.

“The Gitex Global Start-up Movement is unprecedented in its focus on attracting start-ups from around the world to Dubai, an ideal hub for them to reach emerging markets from Africa to Asia. As an enabler of the regional start-up ecosystem, AstroLabs is partnering with Gitex to support these entrepreneurs on their growth journey and we look forward to meeting them during the event," said Zaen Hamid, head of Operations, AstroLabs.

Fourteen government-led start-up delegations will attend the Gitex Global Start-up Movement, including the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, and United States. Egypt, Hungary, Japan, Morocco, and Oman will bring start-up delegations to the GCC for the first time.

In the dramatic Gitex “Strut-Up” Pitch Competition, start-ups will go head-to-head to take home $160,000 in prize money across categories including Best Gitex Start-up, Best Arab-Led Start-up, the Best Women-Led Start-up and the Best Youth Start Up.

Inspiring and empowering entrepreneurs, the Out-Talk Conference will host keynotes from start-up experts such as media mogul Troy Carter, who catapulted pop icon Lady Gaga and John Legend to global fame, now Global Head of Creator Services for digital music service Spotify; Evan Burfield, Co-Founder of start-up incubator and seed fund 1776; and venture investor Christopher Schroeder who recently wrote “Start-up Rising: The Entrepreneurial Revolution Remaking the Middle East”.

The largest-ever Gitex Technology Week is primed to drive the world’s smart digital transformation, support young entrepreneurs, and enhance Dubai and the UAE’s standing as one of the foremost capitals of innovation.  

Across its largest-ever space of over one million square feet, organisers of Gitex expect over 100,000 visitors from 150 countries. Held under the theme “Re-Imagining Realities,” Gitex will host 4,000 exhibiting companies and showcase 230 speakers, provide visitors with 130 conference hours. – TradeArabia News Service