Startup Weekend Event Returns to Dubai in May

April 24, 2012 - PRLog -- Startup Weekend, a 54-hour event where participants pitch technology startup ideas and form teams to compete for awards and cash prizes, will return to Dubai on May 10-12, 2012. Throughout the event, participants will be mentored by successful business leaders from the community. A panel of distinguished judges will determine the top ideas and teams at the end of the event.

The first Startup Weekend Dubai, held in October 2011, attracted more than 400 participants and resulted in the launch of several online and mobile technology startups. As with last year, the upcoming Startup Weekend Dubai will be held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Dr. Christiane Schloderer, a participant at last year’s event, said, “Startup Weekend Dubai was the most thrilling event I have ever attended in the UAE. I loved the energy, the enthusiasm, the spirit. My team, MindTalk, is still going strong after six months, preparing for a launch of activities.”

The Startup Weekend concept began in 2007 in the United States. Since then, more than 200 Startup Weekends have been held around the world. The Dubai event is one of three Startup Weekends to be held this spring, including Abu Dhabi on May 24-26 and Doha on June 14-16. All three events are being organized by the same team behind last year’s event in Dubai – Ms. Sara Falaknaz, Ms. Deem Albassam and Mr. Kamal Hassan – who have recently founded the company “Innovation Machine” to promote regional entrepreneurship and innovative startups.

Adrian Azodi, whose team “Giftastic” won second place in last year’s event, said, "The Startup Weekend experience is pivotal. It gives you the tools and platform to turn ideas into reality. My team and I are using both the momentum and the prize money to move our idea into a real business."

Participants and attendees, including anyone with a startup idea, application development or design expertise, or investors and startup enthusiasts, should complete a free registration at http://dubai.startupweekend.org/. Anyone interested in sponsorship or being a mentor at the event may contact Innovation Machine (http://innovamachine.com).