The UNWTO Women in Tech Startup Competition 2023 is now accepting applications. In order to expand their tech startup in the tourist business and offer long-term solutions to the sector, women entrepreneurs from all over the world who are based in the Arab area are invited to participate in the UNWTO Women in Tech Startup Competition: Middle East.
Startups will submit applications to one of the four UNWTO categories listed below. Select the endeavor that will have the largest anticipated beneficial impact because certain initiatives may fall under more than one category.
- Category 1 – Social Impact: We live in an increasingly connected and interdependent world,
transformed by digital advances lead by women. Technology can help us advance social,
cultural, and environmental objectives, creating meaningful impact for people across
borders. If well managed, technology can enable the tourism sector to act as an agent of
positive change for healthier lifestyles, enriched and revitalized cultural destinations, and
more sustainable consumption and production patterns.
This category is open for women-led startups that focus on technology in wellness, health,
urban development, rural development, sustainability, and education with cross-cutting
benefits with tourism. - Category 2 – Tourism and Travel Experience: The tourism sector faced unprecedented
disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic that it is still recovering from. New technologies,
digital tools and capacities are needed to accelerate recovery and define the future of the
sector. Tech and digitalization can no longer be a niche, they must be a fundamental part of
the new norm for the industry. This is particularly the case in the Middle East, a region that
is witnessing a push to increase tourism offerings and their quality, to emerge as a key
destination on the global stage.
This thematic area invites to participate women-led startups focusing on the food and
beverage, transportation and accommodation, travel, and retail industries. - Category 3 – Future Tech: Digitalization is no longer a trend in the Middle East, it is here to
stay for all sectors, including tourism. Many countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the
United Arab Emirates, amongst others, are moving towards implementing a smart destinations approach to tourism.
This category targets women-led startups that work in the areas of fintech, AI, AR/VR,
crypto currency, internet of things, blockchain technology, digital twining and the
metaverse. - Category 4 – Events and Community: Today, technology and social media platforms enable
communities around the world, even if they exist online, in-person or in a hybrid format.
Whether these communities focus on sports, arts and culture, gaming, literature,
professional or personal interests and events, they are being managed and run through
technology.
This thematic area is for women-led startups that have a special focus on social and
messaging platforms, e-sports and gaming platforms, community-based applications,
events-related platforms, and education technology to participate.
Benefits:
The winners of Women in Tech Startup Competition Middle East will gain from the following
benefits:
- Invitation to join UNWTO Innovation Network, with access to more than 447 investors, 47
incubators, 1274 corporations and representatives from governments, academia and
media from all over the world. - Opportunity to participate and pitch in the UNWTO Tourism Tech Adventure high-level
event, that will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 27 September for the celebration of
International Tourism Day. - Visibility on all UNWTO platforms and social media networks, with a global reach.
- Mentorship programs with international leaders in the field of innovation.
- Access to potential seed funding, investments, and partnership opportunities with
consultancies, accelerators and incubators. - Scholarships for UNWTO Tourism Online Academy, which has more than 20.000 alumni,
and offers courses in different languages, including Arabic, produced in partnership with
international top Universities all over the world. - Prospective opportunities to talk as guest keynote speakers and panelists at international
forums.
Eligibility:
- Startups must be led, owned or managed by women in the Middle East, residing in any of
the following countries: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain,
Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen. - Be an 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.
Application:
Application deadline for the competition is in July. Applicants will be informed of the decision in
the same July.
