UAE Pitch Challenge Gaza Startup Winners
Gaza City, Palestine, January 26, 2019 – MENACatalyst launched the first installment of the UAE Pitch Challenge at Gaza Sky Geeks in Gaza city. Follow-up to the successful Pitch Challenge series, the UAE Pitch Challenge will take the most competitive Palestinian-based startups to the UAE to participate in a range of organized events. These events include ambassador pitching sessions, one-on-one and group meetings with high profile business professionals and investors, and networking events with high-profile diaspora business leaders and game-changers.
The UAE Pitch Challenge kicked off with opening remarks delivered by MENACatalyst’s Gaza representative, who welcomed all the participants and commended local startups for their innovative efforts to build a new future for Palestinians worldwide. From the multitude of applicants based out of Gaza, only eight of the most competitive startups were chosen to compete as semi-finalists.
Semi-finalists then took the stage and pitched their startups to a panel of judges. Pitches were accompanied by feedback from the panel of judges, to help startups further refine their pitching techniques, but most importantly to develop viable business strategies capable of tapping into regional and international markets.
The passion of the startups was undeniable as they pitched for the opportunity to travel to the UAE and meet with some of the most prominent business enablers, impact investors and philanthropists emerging from the Palestinian diaspora. Only four startups were selected as finalists for the UAE Pitch Challenge to take part in accompanying Demo events.
All MENACatalyst organized Pitch Challenges and Demo Events are jointly supported and funded by Taawon (Welfare Association) and KOICA (Korean International Cooperation Agency).
MENACatalyst is proud to announce the finalists of the UAE Pitch Challenge, from Gaza:
- Car Cleaner: https://carcleaner.co
- Kids Mobile: https://kidsmobileapp.com
- TebFact: https://www.tebfact.com
- MeetScholars: http://meetscholars.net/en
However, competing in the Pitch Challenge and showcasing their passion, talents, and skills was only half the battle. Selected finalists now have to face an even more difficult task, that of securing the right to travel amidst a landscape that is surrounded by barriers, both in their physical manifestations, as well as in the severe restrictions imposed on over 1.9 million Palestinians residing there. With estimates that put the youth population in Gaza at 29.5%, opportunities to expand the capacity of this population becomes even more pressing. MENACatalyst understands these concerns and strives to create inclusive opportunities for the youth in Gaza, especially by supporting startups to overcome boundaries, gain the support of a committed Palestinian diaspora, and sustainably compete in regional as well as international markets.