Archived Newsroom • Press Release |
|
Eight social ICT start-ups win ITU Telecom World
2014 Young
Innovators Competition
Young social entrepreneurs to participate in accelerator programme at
ITU Telecom World in Doha and win seed funding
Geneva, 18 November 2014 – ITU Telecom has announced the
winners of its fourth annual Young Innovators’ Competition. Open to young
social entrepreneurs between ages 18 and 30 from around the world, the
competition sought innovative digital solutions with positive social impact
to four challenges, focusing on developmental issues and technologies. The
winners will be heading to ITU Telecom World 2014, the leading networking,
solutions showcasing and knowledge-sharing event for the global ICT
community in Doha, Qatar, 7-11 December.
From over 822 entries for four Challenges from 99 countries worldwide,
submitted on a dedicated platform powered by Crowdicity, eight start-ups and
concepts were selected on the basis of social impact and potential for
business success:
Challenge 1 on Local Digital Content with Challenge
Partner Ooredoo
Challenge 2 on Open Source Technologies for Disaster
Management
Challenge 3 on Smart Cities & Climate Change with
Challenge Partner WHO
Challenge 4 on the Internet of Things with Challenge
Partner IEEE IoT Initiative
At ITU Telecom World 2014 in Doha, the Young Innovators Competition
winners will take part in an accelerator programme to take their projects to
the next level via one-on-one sessions with start-up mentors and business
experts, hands-on workshop training and peer mentoring from the winners of
the 2013 competition. Based on their performance during the Young Innovators
Pitching Session, each winner will be awarded up to USD 10,000 for start-ups
and USD 5,000 for concepts.
In addition, the competition winners will have space in a dedicated
pavilion on the show floor, the InnovationSpace, where they will have the
opportunity to display their work alongside other social innovations by
former winners and a community of global inventors, and where they will host
two thematic days during ITU Telecom World 2014:
Young Influencers Day – 7 December
In collaboration with the Doha Hub of the Global Shapers Community, a
World Economic Forum initiative, the ITU Telecom World Young Innovators
Programme will gather young influencers from across the region along with
young entrepreneurs to explore the potential of ICT in mitigating global
challenges, and discuss "What are the Driving Forces for Innovation and
Social Change". All young people interested in joining the inter-active
panel discussions are welcome to attend.
Start-up Day – 9 December
The day is dedicated to start-ups, entrepreneurs and discussions on
taking one’s project to the next level, organized in partnership with
ictQATAR Digital Incubation Centre. The focus of the day will be on
financing and investment, including a session on how to reach out to
investors and what to be aware of when doing so. By bringing together guest
innovators and their start-ups from all over the world, this day
demonstrates the Young Innovators Programme’s commitment to the power of
collaboration and knowledge-sharing in changing the future for the better.
“These bright young minds have found creative technological solutions to
developmental challenges both in their communities and in the wider world,”
said ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré. “The innovative social
start-ups, winners of the competition, as well as alumni from previous
years, are an inspiration to all delegates, guests and participants in ITU
Telecom World. Their resolve to improve their community and enthusiasm to
spread the idealism of their ventures is truly impressive.”
ITU Secretary-General elect Houlin Zhao added: “Expanding the
spotlight from winners of the competition to promising local and regional
start-ups, touching base with young thought- and business leaders through
partner programmes, reinforces ITU Telecom World as a key platform for
interaction, not only for the current big players in the ICT sector, but
also for the new and emerging disruptive leaders of tomorrow.”
For further information on the Young Innovators
Programme and Competition, please see
http://telecomworld.itu.int/take-part/young-innovators/
Media Note: Media accreditation for ITU Telecom World
2014, 7-10 December 2014, enables free access to the event for registered
media and analysts. Accreditation is compulsory. UN Press accreditation is
valid, but registration is required to obtain an event badge.
Journalists and analysts who have formally accredited for ITU events in
2014 and whose details have not changed during this period do not need to
re-submit accreditation credentials, but still need to register for an event
badge.
Accreditation and registration for ITU Telecom World 2014 in advance is
highly recommended to avoid queues and delays onsite. For accreditation and
procedures, please see:
http://telecomworld.itu.int/take-part/media-accreditation/
Accredited media will gain full access to all the different components of
the event, including the Leadership Summit, Forum sessions and Show floor
and be able to take part in a host of networking opportunities alongside
leading public/private sector representatives.
|
For more information, please click
here or
contact: |
Media
accreditation enquiries: |
Sanjay Acharya
Chief, Media Relations and Public Information, ITU
|
|
About ITU...