To enter the Supernova Pitch competition, you will need to be one of the exhibiting startups attending GITEX Impact, October 16 – 20 at Dubai World Trade Centre. The startups that apply for the competition will then be required to pitch their ideas, with the semi finalists being announced closer to the time of the event.

Overall Supernova Champion: $100,000 cash prize to selected overall winner Winner per Category: $8,000 cash prize to selected winner per category

If I win, what happens next?

The team will be in touch regarding your cash prize and next steps 1 week after GITEX Impact 2023.

If I am not shortlisted to participate in the semi-finals, what can I do?

If you are not shortlisted, there are many opportunities to engage with investors and the wider GITEX Impact audience. We will be keeping a waitlist in case of any last-minute changes. Please note that we receive hundreds of applications per category and the shortlisting goes through multiple rounds of review to reach only a final 10 for the semi-finals and 2 for the finals.

What is the deadline to submit to enter the Supernova competition?

The deadline to submit on the Exhibitor Portal is August 1st 2023. Any date changes will be announced.

What should my pitch deck include?

Here are two good references for you: https://slidebean.com/blog/pitch-deck-structure https://www.ycombinator.com/library/20-deck

What should my pitch video include?

Your Pitch Video must be ONLY 60 Seconds or it will not be considered. Your Pitch Video must be in English and have a clear shot of your upper body (sitting or standing). Please submit your video by either a YouTube or a Vimeo URL. Check out Paul Graham’s advice on story telling when pitching: "Your goal, and your only goal, is to make investors feel it's not safe to cross you off. And there is a verb for convincing someone that something is not safe. It sounds dramatic, but your goal is to frighten them. But what frightens them? The possibility that you might become really big. They know there are maybe a few companies that will become really big….Before you start meeting investors, put together a rough draft of your fundraising vertebrae. These are the 3-4 points that compromise the narrative of why your company will be really big. Together, if investors believed in any of these points, they’d be afraid not to bet on you. As you do, keep in mind that there is an important distinction between what the business is and how you tell the story of what your business is. Your conversations with investors should influence the latter, not the former. No investor knows your business as well as you do.”

When will I find out if I have been shortlisted to pitch in the semi-finals?

The announcements of the shortlisted startups for the semi-finals will be done by September 15th 2023. Any date changes will be announced.

What are the judging criteria?

The general judging criteria is broken down to main areas. Please keep these in mind as you design your pitch deck, pitch video, and semi-finals, finals pitches! Idea: How innovative is this idea? Market Opportunity: Market Size, Competition, Scalability Business Model: Revenue Model, Pricing, Target Customers Traction: Any revenue, customers, investors? Team: Is a skilled team in place for the startup’s success?

If I was selected to pitch previously but wasn’t able to attend, am I entitled to spot in the semi-finals or finals?

No, there will be a new selection process each year. You will have to apply to be considered again. Similarly, if you are shortlisted for the finals after pitching in the semi-finals but you miss the pitch, you will be replaced with the next runner-up.

URB Innovation Award - GITEX Impact

Urban Innovation Awards will recognise the best emerging talents under the age of 30 in architecture, landscape design and urban planning, with a focus on sustainability. “Urban Innovation Awards” by URB is designed to foster a bottom-up entrepreneurial spirit in the built environment. The awards will empower & cultivate a new breed of young innovators to become the next leaders of sustainable design.

THE FIRST EVER URBAN INNOVATION AWARDS

We are looking for rising stars in the built environment. submissions are open to UAE-based individuals only. Our main criteria is on the quality of the portfolio & the impact of the individual on sustainability & innovation.

The award will honour an individual who can show commitment, innovation, and impact on sustainability through their work.

WITNESS THE WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT

AWARD CATEGORIES

Open to UAE-based individuals under the age of 30. The award is eligible to professionals as well as students above the age of 18 & those under the age of 30 at time of application. entrants must be permanently based in UAE.

FUTURE URBAN INNOVATOR

University students

YOUNG URBAN INNOVATOR

Professionals below the age of 30

PROCESS FOR SUBMISSION

Entrants must submit 1 to 3 sustainability projects they've personally developed, showcasing innovative strategies
for vibrant living, working, visiting, and thriving. For team projects, specify each entrant's contributions.

150 word biography with portrait photo - PDF
CV - PDF
Portfolio of work - PDF
Signed declaration page - PDF available at https://urb.ae/awards
Mention category in subject line
Send submissions to [email protected] - attachment size maximum 10 MB

Deadline for submission: 01 OCTOBER 2023

“Our aim is to discover the next generation of architects, urban planners & landscape designers. Urban Innovation Awards is one of several initiatives by URB to enable and foster an ecosystem of sustainable innovators at an early stage in their careers. The awards will empower the best young minds whilst promoting a culture of sustainability in urban planning. These initiatives coupled with our ongoing projects will help us with our mission to accelerate the world’s transition towards sustainable development.”

URB Innovation
AWARD

THE FIRST EVER URBAN INNOVATION AWARDS

AWARD CATEGORIES

FUTURE URBAN INNOVATOR

YOUNG URBAN INNOVATOR

PROCESS FOR SUBMISSION

150 word biography with portrait photo - PDF

CV - PDF

Portfolio of work - PDF

Signed declaration page - PDF available at https://urb.ae/awards

Mention category in subject line

Send submissions to [email protected] - attachment size maximum 10 MB

Deadline for submission: 01 OCTOBER 2023

Baharash Bagherian

CEO of URB

Pravin Punjabi

Sulaiman Khodr

CONFERENCE PRODUCER

Associate director - brand experiance

Know Your Way

GET INVOLVED

EXPLORE

INFO

FOLLOW

URB Innovation AWARD

THE FIRST EVER URBAN INNOVATION AWARDS

AWARD CATEGORIES

FUTURE URBAN INNOVATOR

YOUNG URBAN INNOVATOR

PROCESS FOR SUBMISSION

150 word biography with portrait photo - PDF

CV - PDF

Portfolio of work - PDF

Signed declaration page - PDF available at https://urb.ae/awards

Mention category in subject line

Send submissions to [email protected] - attachment size maximum 10 MB

Deadline for submission: 01 OCTOBER 2023

Baharash Bagherian

CEO of URB

Pravin Punjabi

Sulaiman Khodr

INFO

FOLLOW

URB Innovation
AWARD