HÀ NỘI — A startup competition is being organised to find a winner for Start Jerusalem 2017, which takes place in November 2017

The Embassy of Israel in Việt Nam, in collaboration with the National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation Development under the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Business Studies and Assistance Centre, is organising the competition.

Start Jerusalem is a global competition organised by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Jerusalem Development Authority, which brings together startups from different countries to compete for the opportunity to take part in a five-day innovation experience in Jerusalem, Israel -- one of the world’s leading tech ecosystems.

It is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to connect and benefit from interaction with prominent local tech leaders and participate in interactive fireside chats and panels, specially designed how-to workshops, site visits at leading companies and exclusive networking meet-ups with the city’s startup community.

The organisation board is looking for technology-oriented startups which are software based, particularly in the Internet of Things, web and mobile at the seed stage. The startups must be founded by young entrepreneurs, aged 23-35, and be proficient in English. Those interested should send an email to startjerusalem2017@gmail.com before September 10.

Application forms include general information about the product and the startup, thorough business plans in PDF in both English and Vietnamese and a video clip in English that is less than three minutes long describing the product and explaining why their startup should be picked to go to Israel.

After being screened and selected, finalists will be invited to the pitching round in Hà Nội with the judges from the Embassy of Israel in Việt Nam, Ministry of Science and Technology and Business Studies and Assistance Centre, as well as guests.

Israel is recognised globally as the “Start-Up Nation,” a major hub for technology and innovation. Israel has attracted over twice as much venture capital investment per capita as the United States and 30 times more than all the members of the European Union combined. — VNS