Wednesday, August 8, 2018, 13:00 - 21:30 UTC+3:00
Kolektif House - Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey, İstanbul, Turkey
We are pleased to invite you to participate at the Alibaba Cloud 3rd MEA
Startup Contest that will be held on 8th of August 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. This
year, 5 MEA shortlisted winners will be invited for a city battle that will be
held in Wu Xi, China where 4 most promising and innovative startups will be
chosen to compete in the World Final in Hangzhou, China. It will provide a great
opportunity to meet the top venture capital investors and top-level partners
from around the world.
About the Alibaba 3rd MEA Startup Contest (CACSC):
Alibaba has a tradition of bringing the best minds in the industry together via the Global Startup Contest held each year. The contest attracts well-known investment institutions, and distinguished decision-makers in the industry every year. This year will have 2 rounds of city battles to be shortlisted to compete in the World Final in Hangzhou. The 3 rounds description as follows:
Round 1: August 8th, 2018 – Istanbul, Turkey:
15 of the best
startups will be shortlisted to compete in the 1st round
of city battle in Istanbul, Turkey where 5 Startups will be further
shortlisted and qualified to the next round. The 5 winners will fly to the 2nd round
of city battle in Wu Xi, China and their tickets & accommodation will be sponsored by Alibaba
Cloud*.
Round 2: September 17th, 2018– NanJing, Mainland China:
The 5 shortlisted teams from
Turkey battle will then compete with the 5 winners from the city of Nanjing in
China. 4 champions will be shortlisted to compete in the final round in
Hangzhou, China, and Alibaba cloud will also sponsor their tickets &
accommodation**.
Final Round: November, 2018 (date to be communicated
soon) – Hangzhou, Mainland China:
The Top 4 winners from the city battle will then be
invited to travel to Hangzhou to participate in the Global Final. The 1st &
2nd place Winners will present in front of venture capital investors from
across the world and judge panel for 8 mins and compete for the Startup
championship Create @Alibaba Cloud Startup Contest World Final 2018. The 3rd
& 4th place winners will be on stage for 3 mins to share their business
idea, company profile and have a Q&A session in front of the audience and
judge panel. The final competition will be then awarded the Global champion
of Create @Alibaba Cloud Startup Contest World Final 2018.
Deadline to Apply: July 20th 2018.
Prize to be Won:
Global Final Winner - Cloud
resources, Access to Alibaba Group resources through the Alibaba
Innovation Center's global strategic customer support program and special
invitations to global events.
Top 2 team of city battle - $50,000 USD Alibaba cloud Coupon valid
up to 2 years.
3rd, 4th team in the City Battle - $10,000 USD Alibaba cloud
Coupon valid up to 1 years.
The rest of the 15 participants: $10,000 USD Alibaba Cloud
coupons will be offered valid for one year.
Criteria to Apply:
Companies or organizations that have developed
innovative products, applications or solutions in the following technology
domains:
1.
Artificial
Intelligence (AI) / Big Data
2.
Cyber Security
3.
Digital Services
4.
Immersive Media
(Augmented Reality (AR) / Virtual Reality (VR)
5.
Internet of
Things (IoT)
The selected winner’s criteria:
1.
Have a minimum
viable product (MVP)
2.
Show initial
signs of traction
3.
Must have some
technology or proprietary solutions
Eligibility to participate:
1.
The company's
country of registration is within Middle East, Turkey, & Africa.
2.
Willing to travel
to Turkey for the 1st round participation on their own cost.
3.
Officially
registered as a company for no more than 3 years
4.
Not yet a public
listed company
5.
Annual revenue is
less than 500,000 USD
6.
Have a clear
business model, innovative products and potential to grow.
7.
Have not
participated in the Alibaba Cloud startup program before.
*Travel & Accommodate cost will be sponsored on Alibaba Cloud
for 1 team member of each startup for the Nanjing city battle.
**Travel & Accommodate cost will be sponsored on Alibaba Cloud for 1 team member of each startup for the Hangzhou city battle.