Startup Competition
What is Startup Competition?
The Startup Competition is a pre-incubation program which supports up-and-coming startups ideas and develops into functional startup models.
The main aim of this competition has always been to create student-initiated startups. This aim has not changed, and will remain at the heart of this event’s operations. While our main goal is to ensure that the most deserving startup receives sufficient funding to kickstart their journey, it is also a necessary goal that all participants partaking in the competition receive sufficient academic support and market traction to bring them closer to their proper launch phases.
Who can apply?
The Startup Competition mainly targets young entrepreneurs (undergraduates or recent graduates between the ages of 18-25) with an already existing passion for entrepreneurship and a desire to launch their own startup idea. It is open to all Egyptians.
Can my team have students from other universities?
Yes, of course.
What am I getting out of it?
Partaking individuals will receive training, mentorship, coaching, market traction, networking opportunities, and expert feedback.
The winning team will receive a seed-funding prize of 75,000 EGP in order to launch their startup.
When is it going to take place?
The competition lasts 8 weeks, from the 12th of March to the 8th of May.
How is it going to be conducted?
This year’s competition will utilize a purely virtual approach to the facilitation of operations.
The competition will host a combination of synchronous and asynchronous training methodologies.
Virtual sessions will be made available through videos and written content regarding the topic. Thereafter, a virtual workshop will be conducted so that teams may apply what was learned to develop their business ideas alongside ES academic staff as well as experts and coaches present.
Furthermore, mentoring sessions will be made available for additional feedback after academic sessions and workshops.
Do I need to prepare in advance?
Yes, the more you prepare, the higher chance you have of winning. You can start by coming up with a startup idea and doing your research to develop it.
What is its timeline?
Phase 0: Ideation
March 12th-13th: 1:00 PM -5:00 PM
(both days)
- Onboarding and Orientation
- Two Day Bootcamp
March 14th-18th:
- Initial Pitches and Phase 1 Startup Selection
Phase 1: Business Model Development
March 20th: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
- Guest Speaker
March 21st: Recorded Sessions
March 23rd: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
- Coaching Session
Phase 2: Action Plans
March 23rd: Recorded Sessions
March 27th: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
- Guest Speaker
April 4th: Recorded Sessions
April 6th: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
- Coaching Session
Phase 3: Early Growth, Funding, and Pitching
April 7th: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
- Guest Speaker
April 10th: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
- Guest Speaker
April 11th: Recorded Sessions
April 12th: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
- Coaching Sessions
April 16th-17th:
- Investor Pitches and Second Filtration Phase
Phase 4: Prototype and MVP Development
April 18th: Recorded Sessions
April 20th: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- General Feedback Session
April 24th: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
- Final Coaching Session
April 20th- May 2nd: Traction Acquisition and MVP Development
May 3rd-7th: Mentoring Sessions and Feedback
May 8th: Final Pitching Day and Closing Ceremony
***All times given are in the Cairo, Egypt (GMT+2) time zone.***
Is it mandatory that all team members attend all the sessions?
No, but we strongly encourage it as all team members will be required to present their pitches.
If I didn't make it through the filtration phase, will this prevent me from attending the rest of the program?
You will have access to the online material but not any of the coaching sessions or live workshops.
Do all team members have to submit the signup form?
Yes, they must provide individual proof of payment as well.
How do I sign up?
Sign up will be
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