Announcing GIST Tech-I Competition for science and technology entrepreneurs

Organized by CRDF Global and the US Department of State, the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) initiative aims to build entrepreneurial ecosystems in countries across the Middle East, Asia and Africa. As part of their mission, they’re announcing the 3rd annual GIST Technology Idea (Tech-I) Competition.

Here’s what you need to know:

• The competition has two tracks: The idea stage and startup stage.
• Participants are competing for cash prizes, mentorship and the chance to pitch their ideas at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• If you would like to participate, you need to prepare and submit an executive summary and 2 minute video pitch.

If you have any questions, you can contact Zehra Hirji at the US Embassy in Kuwait. Here’s the full text of the announcement:

The U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce the launch of the 3rd annual Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST): Technology Idea (Tech-I) competition! This competition is an opportunity for young science and technology entrepreneurs in GIST eligible countries throughout the world to compete for $70,000 in cash awards, robust mentorships opportunities, and an all expense paid trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to obtain training and to pitch their idea at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in October.

This year, we are excited to announce a dual-track system for the Tech-I competition. Applicants will have the choice to apply as an Idea Stage or a Startup Stage entry. Idea Stage applicants often have great ideas, and possibly a prototype. Startup Stage entries often have assembled a full team, done market analysis, and have a launch timeline or have already launched their product/service.

2013 Tech-I highlights:

• Dual tracks: Idea Stage and Startup Stage
• Technology innovators and entrepreneurs should submit their executive summary and two minute video pitch here.
• The deadline for applications is 5 PM EDT June 17, 2013.
• GIST will host webinars to help entrepreneurs with their applications — encourage your networks to register using the links below.
• Idea Stage webinars: May 14 and June 4
• Startup Stage webinars: May 15 and June 5
• 30 semi-finalists will earn an all expenses paid weekend of entrepreneurship training in Malaysia this October where they will compete in the final round of the competition.
• The winners will receive cash prizes totaling $70,000 and 2 months of mentorship from entrepreneurship experts.
• Details of the 2013 Tech-I competition, including rules and deadlines, are here.

Other resources to help with competition outreach:

To view the video pitches of the finalists from Tech-I last year, click here.

Click here to see and hear what GIST brings to entrepreneurs according to GIST I Dare Business Plan Competition finalists.

To see what previous GIST competition finalists and mentors said about becoming entrepreneurs, click here.

Here is the link to the GIST Youtube channel.

Background: The OES-funded Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) initiative builds capacity and strengthens entrepreneurial ecosystems across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Turkey. GIST identifies and supports young entre­preneurs through skills development, networking, and financial advice. GIST programming includes a Technology Idea (Tech-I) Competition in conjunction with the annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit; Tech Connects, interactive webcasts that bring together great entrepreneurial minds; and on-the-ground Startup Boot Camps that provide in-depth training and mentorship. GIST has connected over 2.5 million youth with entrepreneurship resources through the State Department social media platforms, has trained over 3,000 startups, and has created a network of over 150,000 young motivated entrepreneurs. Members of GIST are eager to take on the challenges and joys of translating their innovative ideas into new companies and generating new jobs along the way. These young entrepre­neurs, who serve as role models in their home countries, have created remarkable scientific and technological innovations from creating customized self-sanitizing surfaces to de­veloping a new web-based diabetes mon­itoring platform.