Dubai Silicon Oasis to Host Third Consecutive Entrepreneur Day Event and Competition
Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), the regulatory body for Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), the integrated free zone technology park, announced its plan to host ‘The Entrepreneur Day’ (TED) business plan competition on November 16, 2016 at its wholly owned Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Centre (Dtec), the largest technology incubation and co-working centre in the region.
Organized for the third consecutive year, The Entrepreneur Day is Dtec’s annual signature event that comprises a conference headlined by top speakers. The line-up of thought leaders includes Dr Tommy Weir addressing “Leadership Dubai Style”, as well as panellists from the entrepreneurial ecosystem such as Nuno Goncalves Pedro of Delta Partners San Francisco, Michael Mansoor of Microsoft and Hyperloop One. Panel discussions will revolve around topics such as “How to Attract International Investors”, “Startups vs Corporates: How Collaboration Can Speed Innovation” and “Disrupting Travel”. A key highlight of the event is DSOA’s entrepreneurs annual pitch competition offering cash prizes and incubation support to the top winner.
The annual event brings together more than 500 founders, investors, start-ups, entrepreneurs, and media to engage and interact with industry counterparts. More than 300 applications have been received. The categories for admission into the competition this year included: Smart City, Internet of Things, Digital Islamic Economy, Fintech, Traveltech, Healthtech, and Apps.
Eight of the best technology start-ups will be shortlisted to pitch their business plans to a live audience and an expert judging panel on the day of the event. The winning start-up, to be announced at the conclusion of the competition, will walk away with a cash prize of US$10,000, as well as a free service licence, flexi-desk space within Dtec and incubational support.
Speaking on the initiative, Hans Christensen, Director of Dtec, said: “In 2015, we hosted more than 100 investors from around the world, and three of the start-ups that participated in the pitch competition during “The Entrepreneur Day” received investment offers. The huge interest and uptake from young and talented professionals, as well as from investors in the MENA region, and from Asia, Europe and the US, served as our inspiration in planning an even more impactful third edition of The Entrepreneur Day this year.
Hans added: “With the addition of the Technohub 2 building, Dtec now boasts an expansive area of about 5,000 square meters and is home to almost 600 start-ups and entrepreneurs from over 63 countries.”
For online registration to attend or exhibit products and services in the showcase area at the event: (http://www.dtec.ae/ted16). This new feature is anticipated to further encourage start-ups to join the annual event.
A wholly-owned entity of the government of Dubai, DSO operates as a free zone technology park for large enterprises, medium and small companies looking to set up their offices in Dubai.
