Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) 2025 has launched the SEF x 1Tank Startup Pitch Competition, offering aspiring entrepreneurs a chance to win grants totaling Dh200,000. Organized by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), the competition aims to spotlight innovative solutions in four major sectors: EdTech, Sustainability, Creative Industries, and Tech & Industry 4.0. Applications for the high-stakes contest are open until January 26, 2025. Interested participants must submit a pitch deck, company profile, and a brief introductory video via the SEF website. A panel of esteemed judges and investors will shortlist 16 startups—four from each track—for the live pitch event scheduled for February 1–2 during SEF 2025. The shortlisted candidates will have three minutes to present their ideas, followed by a Q&A session with industry leaders. Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, highlighted the competition’s transformative potential. “This initiative nurtures a generation of exceptional entrepreneurs who challenge norms and create impactful solutions,” she said. Jimmy James, co-founder of 1trepreneur, expressed excitement about the collaboration with Sheraa. “We aim to empower startups to turn their ideas into reality while addressing critical global challenges,” he stated. The winning startups will each receive a Dh50,000 grant, free flights with Air Arabia, and potential funding opportunities worth up to Dh500,000. Applicants must submit their pitch deck, company profile, and a brief video introduction by January 26 via sharjahef.com/pitch-track. ICA/Expat Media
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