Muscat – The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has launched a new startup competition to support women tourism tech entrepreneurs and innovators across the Middle East.
The Women in Tech Startup Competition: Middle East will further advance UNWTO’s work to make tourism a pillar of women’s empowerment, stated the UN body.
The initiative gives innovators the chance to compete for enhanced capacity building and visibility. Finalists in each category will join the UNWTO Innovation Network, giving them access to the UNWTO Member States network, mentorship programmes and to UNWTO scholarship opportunities.
“Tourism startups have the power and agility to transform the sector in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. Tourism startups are also leading the way in advancing women empowerment, in the Middle East and globally, and UNWTO is delighted to support the region’s best innovators and digital entrepreneurs,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.
Elaborating on the conditions for this competition, the UN body stated that the startups must be led, owned or managed by women residing in any of the following countries: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen.
A startup could be at an ‘Idea Stage’ or at an ‘Early Stage’, or a ‘Series A’ startup with a minimum viable product or idea that is ready to be developed and funded.
An applicant (startup) must have a full-time team, a tested pilot and business plan; and should be scalable with potential for international growth.
Startups must also belong to at least one of the following categories:
Social Impact: For startups that focus on technology in wellness, health, urban development, rural development, sustainability, and education with cross-cutting benefits with tourism.
Tourism and Travel Experience: Startups focusing on the food and beverage, transportation and accommodation, travel, and retail industries to participate.
Future Tech: Startups that leverage fintech, AI, AR/VR, cryptocurrency, Internet of Things, blockchain technology, digital twinning and the Metaverse.
Events and Community: Startups focused on social and messaging platforms, e-sports and gaming platforms, community-based applications, events-related platforms, and education technology.
Submission for this competition will close by the end of July and the winners will be announced at the Tourism Tech Adventure (TTA) forum to be held on the World Tourism Day (September 27) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.