SingularityU MENA Global Impact Challenge for Startups in MENA Region 2017

What moonshot innovation would you develop to solve a global grand challenge using exponential technology that would impact the lives of a billion people in the next 10 years?

Application Deadline: 24th April 2017

Eligible Countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen

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To be taken at (country): Singularity University, USA

About the Award: The purpose of the SingularityU MENA Global Impact Challenge is to foster moonshot innovations and startups that positively impact the lives of people living in the MENA region, with an ability to scale and impact a billion people worldwide in 10 years.

This year, we are ideally looking for applicants who have the skills and passion to develop and launch a startup company around a moonshot idea that addresses climate change, although we will also accept outstanding applicants who have other areas of expertise or choose to innovate in other fields.

We selected the climate change theme because it has consequences for every industry, geographic region, and way of life. Even if you don’t consider yourself a climate change authority or innovator, your skill set can probably help mitigate the effects of climate change. If you’re already passionate about impact or working in the impact space, you can create a moonshot innovation to address this urgent global problem.

We will not require participants to innovate in the climate change space, and welcome people from all disciplines to apply, but this theme will inform the program curriculum. We are looking for applicants from ANY technology or science discipline because we know a challenge as huge as climate change can only be solved within the convergence of multiple disciplines and exponential technologies.

What moonshot innovation would you develop to solve a global grand challenge (environment, energy, water, food, health, disaster resilience, governance, learning, space, security, prosperity, and shelter) using exponential technology that would impact the lives of a billion people in the next 10 years?

Type: Contest

Eligibility: Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• The challenge is open to residents and citizens in any country in the MENA region. MENA countries include Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen
• You must be age 21 or older on the first day of the GSP
• Must be fluent in written and spoken English
• You must be able to participate in the entire GSP17 program from June 17 – August 17, 2017
• Applicants selected as finalists will be interviewed by a panel of judges on May 22, 2017

We look for people from all professional backgrounds, but will be really thrilled to find you if:

• You’re an accomplished entrepreneur, technologist, scientist, or change agent with expertise in your chosen field(s)
• You have a background in or a passion for addressing climate change or are working to address any of the direct or indirect effects of climate change, such as governance, security, sustainable water supplies, and alternative food or energy sources
• You’re already considering how to leverage exponential technologies to create positive impact in the world
• You’re committed to the long-term journey of launching an impact-focused startup

Selection Criteria: We will evaluate submissions using the following criteria:

• Degree of the solution’s relevance to the theme of the challenge
• The regional relevance in solving the challenge in MENA
• Feasibility, viability, and coherence of implementing the idea
• Entrepreneurial and innovative potential, with a focus on technological novelty
• Applicant’s leadership experience and quality, profile, achievements, and potential

Number of Awardees: Not specified

Value of Contest:  The Prize of the Challenge is free attendance to the transformational Global Solutions Program at no cost.

Duration of Contest: June 17 – August 17, 2017

How to Apply: 

• CV or resume
• Summary of accomplishments
• An abstract of the project idea
• A video URL of the project idea

Visit Contest Webpage for details

Award Provider: Singularity University