Just days after the GIST East Africa, the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST)Initiative is calling on all entrepreneurs and startups from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Turkey to submit applications for the 2013 GIST Tech-I Competition, from now until June 17, 2013. The GIST Initiative is implemented by CRDF Global.
Now in its third year, the GIST Tech-I Competition will help launch the idea or grow the business of the most promising entrepreneurs in these emerging economies through seed funding, training, networking andby providing mentoring from the best entrepreneurs in the world, angel investors, and venture capitalists.
Entrepreneurs and startups must submit a Go-To-Market Plan consisting of an executive summary directed to investors, and a two-minute promotional video of the product or service created for customers. This year applications will be considered within two tracks: idea and startup stage. Ninety quarterfinalists, will be selected by experts within the entrepreneurship ecosystem, and their videos will be posted online for public voting.
Following the online public voting, thirty semifinalists will be invited to the workshop, pitch session, and awards ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in October 2013. Competition winners will receive grants ranging from $2,000 to $15,000, in addition to mentorship, networking and increased visibility. The application with the greatest number of public votes for the video voting portion of the competition will receive an iPad®.
Register for the GIST Tech-I Competition here: http://gist.crdfglobal.org/gist-programs/gist-tech-i-competition. See the 2012 and 2011 winners.
The GIST Initiative builds entrepreneurial ecosystems across the Middle East, Turkey, Asia, and Africa by identifying, coaching, and funding the most promising technology entrepreneurs through:
- Flagship competitions
- Start-up acceleration services
- Interactive video conferences
- Interactive mentorship programs
- Online social media platforms
The Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST)Initiative forges links at the individual and institutional levels among technology entrepreneurs, angel investors, and the marketplace to improve quality of life through economic prosperity.
The GIST Initiative builds entrepreneurial ecosystems in over 40 countries in the Middle East, Central & South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, by identifying, coaching and funding promising entrepreneurs through its competitions, start-up acceleration services, online social media platform, and interactive mentorship programs. The GIST Initiative is implemented by CRDF Global and is supported with funding from the U.S. Department of State.
