8 events across 8 cities
Discussions triggered between government, private sector and start up communities
Up to 15 startup teams compete
1 team wins $10,000 and qualifies for the grand finale
8 winning teams convene at World Government Summit’s Annual Gathering
Grand finale competition held to recognize one startup
Grand Prize of
$100,000
8 winning teams will be incubated in Dubai’s Area 2071
Potential opportunities to have government as a client
Startups applying to this challenge should be building emerging technologies with data analytic capabilities that can be applied to policy making.
Startups applying to this challenge should be building emerging technologies that improve productivity and/or wellbeing
Startups applying to this challenge should be building emerging technologies that support green thinking and improve health.
Startups applying to this challenge should be building emerging technologies that support and further new ways of working, and workforce development.
The startup solution should be an in-market, scalable product or service (MVP or pilots are permitted, but must fundamentally be beyond the "idea stage").
Startups may be a for-profit business, NGO or public benefit company.
Startups must have at least two team members.
Startup solutions should be implementable within the respective cities in which the idea is being pitched, from a technical and legal perspectives.
All solutions selected will be assessed on their innovative quality and novelty. Judges will also assess how creatively the new technologies have been leveraged.
Solutions must be reasonably easy to implement, as winning startups will potentially be asked to implement their solutions with local governments.
All solutions must show a clear benefit and positive impact to society. Startups will need to prove how their solution, with the help of local government, can help improve citizens’ lives.
Solutions will be assessed on how viable the product is, i.e. Can the solution go to market? Is there sufficient talent in the region to drive such a solution? Can the solution gain traction quickly? Will the solution generate value? Are all key commercialization assessments of the solution addressed?
Solutions must be financially and operationally sustainable.
Teams will be assessed on their ability to convey a clear message on what their solution will do and how it will benefit their region. Pitch coaches will be present on the day of the competition to help guide teams.
Solutions must be scalable, as the competition aims to serve the wider public.
Solutions will be assessed on their potential to address governments of the future. This component will be further elaborated during the session’s workshop on Day 1.
As various stakeholders across the globe strive to find innovative solutions to resolve pressing global challenges, The GovTech Prize has taken the initiative to find entities and individuals who are on the path to developing technologies to address these hurdles creatively and effectively. The GovTech Prize sets out to acknowledge their efforts, connect them to one another and award them through the Series. The GovHack Series is built on the belief that some of the greatest solutions to regional challenges exist in the minds and hands of bright startups across the world, and has therefore launched a mission to find and grow them.
The GovTech Prize comprises various categories of awards, which at their core recognize innovative solutions developed by both governments and individuals around the world. At its inception, the GovTech Prize had set out to find governments that provided the best mobile service applications, but the prize has since branched out to multiple categories. Winners of these awards are awarded at one of the most prominent events globally, The World Government Summit.
The GovTech Prize has had a number of competitions and awards which aim to find governments and individuals across the world that provide innovative solutions to global challenges. The GovHack Prize had set out to find governments that proved to provide the best mobile services applications, it has now branched out to multiple awards and competitions including an award for the Best Emerging Technologies in Government and a Block Chain Virtual GovHack competition. Winners of these awards assemble at the end of the GovHack Prize year in February to be awarded in one of the most prominent events in the Middle East, The World Government Summit.
All startups will receive an email of acceptance or rejection, at least one week before the competition date.
Judges will evaluate startups based on the following criteria (Please refer to the judging criteria section for detailed information):
Only one team member is allowed to pitch on competition day, but the full team should be present
The pitch coach will help you with pitching your solution to the judges before you present. He/She will not provide any support on the solution itself, nor provide any additional support during pitching.
The pitch will be strictly 3 minutes long. There will be 2 minutes for questions from the judges. However, you have the chance to network together and perhaps answer any inquiries afterwards.
For any questions regarding your pitches, please email us at [email protected]
If your startup is selected to pitch you will receive a separate information packet with all the details needed.
The venue of the competition will be communicated closer to the event day in each city.
Dress code is casual/smart casual for all days of participation.
