The Startup Roadshow Launches Again with $15,000 in Prizes for Syrian-led Startups

The Startup Roadshow, the world’s first competition for Syrian entrepreneurs in the Middle East is kicking off its second edition on September 7^th as they embark on a tour across five cities in the region to crown the top Syrian-led startups and equip them with the tools to succeed.

This year, the competition aims higher, with cash prizes of up to $15,000 and additional mentorship opportunities. Kicking off in September, the roadshow is setting off to train 100 entrepreneurs across the cities of Beirut, Amman, Erbil, Istanbul, and Gaziantep in a five-day bootcamp, where the finalist will be invited to pitch their ideas in a final demo day in Amman. Additionally, winners of the event will be given the chance to showcase their businesses on the global stage during the SPARK Ignite conference in Amsterdam.

The roadshow is calling on Syrian students, young professionals, and ambitious entrepreneurs with business ideas to transform them into startups ready to take on the world. The competition is also open for teams that include a Syrian co-founder and are building a scalable business.

“We noticed there was a high demand from Syrian youth; who want to build their future, start their careers and contribute to their economies. We aim to offer the means to create jobs and access to labour market, which is the main focus for development organisations today,” says Mohammed Skaik, SPARK’s Regional Business Development Manager for the MENA region.

Established in 2018, the competition is organised by Jusoor and SPARK in partnership with Startups Without Borders. The event’s first edition witnessed two final demo days in Amsterdam and Beirut, where six entrepreneurs were crowned.

For more information on how to apply, click here.