تقنية

UNWTO Launch Women in Tech Startup Competition: Middle Ea

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 16 March 2023 – UNWTO has launched a new Startup

Competition to support women tourism tech entrepreneurs and innovators across the

Middle East.

Announced at Biban 2023, Saudi Arabia’s largest SME conference, the Women in

Tech Startup Competition: Middle East, will further advance UNWTO’s work to make

tourism a pillar of women’s empowerment. 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 programs and to UNWTO scholarship opportunities.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, says: “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.”

Who can apply?

  • 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.

  • Idea Stage, Early Stage or Series A startups with a minimum viable product or idea

that is ready to be developed and funded.

  • Have a full-time team, a tested pilot and business plan.
  • Be scalable with potential for international growth.

NEWS

RELEASE

WORLD

TOURISM

ORGANIZATION

MADRID, 16 MAR 2023WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION (UNWTO) – A SPECIALIZED AGENCY OF THE UNITED NATIONS

C/ POETA JOAN MARAGALL 42, 28020 MADRID, SPAIN. TEL: (34) 91 567 81 00 / FAX: (34) 91 571 37 33 – [email protected] / UNWTO.ORG

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.

Applications close at the end of July 2023 and the winners will be announced at the

Tourism Tech Adventure (TTA), to be held on World Tourism Day (27 September Riyadh,

Saudi Arabia).

Startups can apply at: UNWTO Women in Tech Startup Competition: Middle East

UNWTO and Innovation

Since 2018, UNWTO’s IEI department has launched more than 21 startup competitions

and innovation challenges, covering over 150 countries around the world. With over

10,000 participants and more than US$214 million in funding, UNWTO continues its

efforts to support digitalization and innovation in line with the global entrepreneurship

ecosystem. Tourism has the opportunity to improve inclusiveness, local community

development, and resource efficiency by leveraging innovation and digital advancements.

For more information, please contact:

Rosalia Galan – Communications Expert

IEI – UNWTO Regional Office Middle East

[email protected] | +966 555908142

Lara Kabbara – Communications

IEI – UNWTO Regional Office Middle East

[email protected] | +966 508887969

Related links:

Innovation, Education and Investments

UNWTO Tourism Startup Competitions

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