For the second straight year, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is running the world’s largest startup competition in tourism boosted by wakalua, the global tourism innovation hub.

Together with our corporate partners we want you to tackle the core concepts of travel shaping the sectors future. Beat your competition with the most disruptive, innovative and sustainable solution and become the next game changer in tourism.
 

The Awards

- Pitch & Connect: Be one of the top 3 challenge finalists to pitch in front of investors, mentors, leading corporates and international tourism stakeholders during the Grand Finals – one per corporate challenge – in Madrid, Spain, on 21 January 2020.

- Network: Gain a fully sponsored trip and free access to exclusive networking opportunities with tourism leaders and global tourism stakeholders during the Madrid International Tourism Trade Fair 22-26 January 2020 (FITUR).

- Pilot & Mentorship: As a winner you will have the opportunity to design a pilot project with the corporate leading your challenge and receive world class mentorship.

- Pilot & Scale-up: Win the special award on Sustainability and run a pilot with Globalia, leading tourism corporation in Spain and Latin America, including a 6-week scale-up programme at the wakalua hub in Madrid, Spain.
 

Evaluation criteria

- Business model

- Potential impact

- Scalability

- Team profile

- Sustainability

Timeline

- 15 November 2019: Applications close

- 02 December 2019: Two-week round of online interviews with selected startups.

- 16 December 2019: Announcement finalists.

- 21 January 2020: 5 Grand finals, one per challenge, in Madrid, Spain.

Eligibility

We are looking for the most disruptive startups that are transforming the way people travel and experience tourism in the following five categories:

- Deep Tech: Location & Geolocation Data

- Smart Mobility

- Rural Development

- Disruptive Hospitality

- Smart Destinations

We are targeting start-ups that:

- Are in the Early Stage or Series A Stage

- Are innovative in nature and provide value-added and sustainable solutions for the tourism sector

- Have potential for scalability and a vision to grow internationally

- Have a business plan

- Are in the Both for-profit and non-profit projects
 

Further information and registration HERE

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