" sail " Registration for the startup pitch competition opens
Sharjah, November 28, 2026 – Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2026, organized by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), announced the opening of registration for startups from all over the world to participate in the “Startup Pitching Competition in cooperation with 1Tank” until January 8, 2026.
The competition aims to support emerging companies and pioneering solutions for emerging projects and focuses on four tracks that constitute the pillars of the new economy: educational technology, sustainability, creative industries, technology and industry 4.0. The total grants allocated to the winning companies amount to 200 thousand dirhams, with 50 thousand dirhams for the winner of each track, in addition to potential financing opportunities from supporting investors.
The award winners will be honored during the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2026, organized by Sheraa on January 31 and February 1 at the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park.
Sarah Abdul Aziz Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Executive Director of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center “Sheraa,” confirmed that the competition reflects Sheraa’s vision of building an integrated environment to enable influential projects, especially in the four tracks that the competition focuses on as basic pillars for building a sustainable economy, noting that the center works to integrate financing, guidance, and global communication within one system, which helps emerging companies transform innovation into sustainable economic and societal value.
In confirmation of this vision, Ehtesham Bator, the founding partner of the “1trepreneur” group, said: “Our group targets founders first and foremost, and we have launched the “1Tank” initiative with the aim of giving emerging companies a real platform to present their ideas and products and enhance their growth and opportunities to obtain financing.
He stressed the importance of cooperating with “Sheraa” to organize the competition for the second time during the activities of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival, as the winners of last year’s edition demonstrated the uniqueness of the achievements that entrepreneurs can achieve when they receive the appropriate support, and we are committed to continuing to serve the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The “Education Technology Track” targets solutions that redefine the learning experience through advanced digital tools, while the “Technology and Industry 4.0 Track” focuses on projects that employ artificial intelligence, automation, and smart analytics to develop industrial processes. The “Sustainability Track” provides space for projects that address environmental and social challenges and support the transition to a more flexible and resource-conserving economy. As for the “Creative Industries Track,” it targets solutions that promote literature, culture, media, and design, reflecting the status of creative industries as a growing economic tributary.
In addition to the financial value of the prizes, the competition gives founders the opportunity to directly access the support of potential investors and partners, which opens up new paths for cooperation and investment, thus enhancing opportunities for integration into local and international business networks that consolidate the presence of companies, support their development, and transform their ideas into existing projects.
- For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Related
