Top Ten UAE Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners Prepare For Battle At SME Congress & Expo

Ten of the UAE’s most promising entrepreneurs and small business owners will fight it out in a new competition next month aimed at helping the country’s brightest Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) attract extra capital funds.

The Pitch for Investment competition is a feature of the SME Congress & Expo, taking place from 16-18 December 2013 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, where the finalists will deliver live pitches about their business ideas in front of an expert panel of judges.

To be announced on 1st December, the shortlisted ten businesses will be selected from more than 50 nominations, and will be judged on their commercial merit and potential viability, unique selling proposition, execution ability, market research, risk management and financing strategies.

Regardless of the eventual winner, all will have the opportunity to meet with potential financing partners and business advisors at the SME Congress & Expo, which is being launched this year to provide an important learning platform for regional entrepreneurs and SMEs to successfully launch, grow and finance their businesses.

Hayete Jemai, Exhibition Director of SME Congress & Expo, said: “The Pitch for Investment competition is a unique platform for UAE entrepreneurs and small business owners to share their great business ideas or SME businesses that they feel are ripe for investment.

“This is a new competition that we have launched, and the response so far has been fantastic in the UAE, which relies significantly on SMEs for economic development. “This is also a great opportunity for venture capitalists and business partners who are looking to invest or partner with brilliant entrepreneurs and business people and help develop their ideas.”

The judging panel for the Pitch for Investment Competition includes Osama Ghanim, CEO of Innovabia; Basel Hussein Roshdy, Managing Director & Chief Investment Officer at Nile Capital & IT Ventures; Mona Tavassoli, Founder and Director of Mom Souq & Mompreneur Middle East; and Kamal Hassan, Founder of Innovation 360.

On the first two days of the SME Congress & Expo, the finalists will deliver five minute presentations on their business ideas followed by 15 minute Q&A sessions with the judges, before the ultimate winner and runners-up are announced on the final day of the event.

The grand prize includes a Management Training Course up to the value of US$5,000 provided by IIR Middle East and two Business Class Flights from the event’s official carrier, Etihad Airways, while second and third runners-up will also receive free return flights to any of Etihad Airways’ global destinations.

The three-day SME Congress & Expo features a strategic conference and training workshops aimed at helping SME owners navigate the complex landscape of owning and running their own business. A dedicated exhibition floor meanwhile will enable entrepreneurs to meet new partners and suppliers that will help their businesses expand.

Organised by Informa Exhibitions, the inaugural edition of the SME Congress & Expo is held in strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.

The SME Congress & Expo takes place with the support of Strategic ICT Partner Etisalat, who have been at the forefront of developing and delivering relevant innovative services and solutions to the small and medium segment in UAE for many years, enabling businesses to begin operations and grow their existing setup in the UAE as well as connecting them internationally.

Event Partners include Nexus and the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Pre-registration and more information is available at www.smemiddleeast.com or www.facebook.com/smemiddleeast.

Emirate:  Abu Dhabi

Date: Nov 18, 2013

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