WITH 45% of its population being younger than 25 years old, the future of Saudi Arabia depends significantly on an innovation-driven economy shaped by ingenious ideas. In order to foster local talents, the German-Saudi Arabian Liaison Office for Economic Affairs (GESALO) aims to discover the best Saudi and Bahraini high-tech startups in the fields of Smart Cities, Mobility/Logistics, and InsurTech at the Start.Up! Germany Pitch Night at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain on Sept. 6, 2018.
Following the successful premiere of the 1st German-Saudi Startup Competition in March, the winners of the Start.Up! Germany Pitch Night will be awarded a fully-sponsored participation in this year's Start.Up! Germany Tour in Dusseldorf, Cologne, and the Ruhr area (Oct. 7 to 12, 2018) together with a special Welcoming Day for Saudi and Bahraini startups only in Berlin on Oct. 5, 2018.
Due to its vibrant and rising ecosystem startups from Saudi Arabia will participate in the tour for the first time. In the previous year, 46 startups from 16 different countries such as Brazil, France, Kenya, Russia, and South Korea attended the unique road show through Germany’s innovation hubs.
The startups can expect a series of B2B meetings and matchmakings with German and international investors, public institutions and companies such as Thyssenkrupp, Vodafone, Henkel, trivago, WILO, Ergo, Evonik, KPMG and DB Schenker. In addition to pitch events within the individual categories, various workshops are offered to all startups. Berlin and the Ruhr area are Germany’s startup hotspots: More than 44% of new businesses in Germany are founded in the named regions, 41% of venture capital is flowing to Berlin and the Ruhr area. Just a few days ago, Siemens announced to build up a Technology campus in Berlin in the style of Silicon Valley and is willing to invest 500 to 600 million € in the location.
Reasons enough for local startups to take a glimpse of the German ecosystem: Saudi and Bahraini startups can submit their applications via presentation and/or video until August 14, 2018. In Bahrain, the best candidates will compete against each other in a three-minute performance in their respective categories in front of a high-level jury of company and association representatives from the three countries. The most promising ideas and business models will qualify for the Start.Up! Germany Tour 2018.
The registration is open for Saudi and Bahraini startups founded after Jan.1, 2015, and have at least one founder from the respective countries. Interested young businessmen from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain can submit their applications on the following link: www.gesalo-startup.com.
