Startup Zone Test - Abu Dhabi Global Health Week

Startup Zone

STARTUP PITCH COMPETITION

The Startup Pitch Competition at Abu Dhabi Global Health Week aims to identify innovative healthcare solutions, foster business ventures, and benefit patients. This competition provides a platform for startups to showcase their ideas, gain industry recognition, and connect with investors and partners.

ADGHW is committed to positioning Abu Dhabi as a hub for healthcare innovation while increasing the visibility of its healthcare initiatives. Apply now and be part of the future of healthcare.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

The ADGHW Startup Pitch Competition is a highly anticipated feature dedicated to promoting innovation and facilitating investment partnerships. Its primary objective is to identify and provide support to exceptional start-ups by connecting them with investors who can help bring their brilliant ideas to life. The competition is geared explicitly towards healthcare entrepreneurs, who will showcase their groundbreaking solutions to a panel of investors and business experts.

With a focus on long-term alliances, the startup zone seeks to create an ecosystem of innovation that will drive growth and economic development in the region by:

Exploring and identifying innovative healthcare solutions and potential business ventures that can drive growth in the industry while benefiting patients.
Positioning Abu Dhabi as a hub for innovation and giving international visibility of its healthcare initiatives.
Boosting the local ecosystem through connections with international investment funds, global corporations, clusters, and hubs.
Increasing innovation initiatives inside companies through an active and collaborative connection with international corporations.
Attracting innovative talent from local and global start-ups and scaleups.

WHY PARTICIPATE?

Take part in the Startup Pitch Competition to showcase your product or service to a diverse audience of venture capitalists, angel investors, entrepreneurs, early adopters, business educators, and service providers. This is an excellent opportunity to increase your exposure and potentially secure funding for your innovative ideas.

INVESTING IN HEALTHCARE

The UAE prioritises providing excellent healthcare for its citizens and allocates significant funds every year to maintain exceptional standards. This reflects their commitment to promoting well-being and ensuring access to top-quality medical care.

Get ready to witness a game-changing event in the healthcare industry! In just 140 minutes, you will witness 14 groundbreaking start-ups that are breaking barriers and revolutionising healthcare as we know it. Get ready to be amazed by the innovative solutions that will change the face of healthcare forever!

BREAKING BARRIERS IN HEALTHCARE

14 STARTUPS. 140 MINUTES OF GAME-CHANGING INNOVATIONS

Location

ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (Hall B)

Date

16 & 17 April 2025

Cost

Free stand and access to pitch for selected startups

Industry focus

Geared towards improving lives and transforming healthcare industries

Prize

The winning startup takes home a grand prize and is honoured on the main stage at ADGHW 2025 with the winning title of “Start-up to watch.” Please note that no cash prize is awarded for winning the competition.

Supported By

START-UP PITCHING CHALLENGE

Step 1: Eligibility

Early-stage start-ups: The competition is open to early-stage start-ups with innovative solutions related to medical technology.
Geographical location: Start-ups can be based anywhere in the world, but they should be willing to travel to the event location for the competition
Age: Start-ups must have been founded no more than five years ago.

Step 2: Application requirements

Executive summary: Start-ups must provide an executive summary of their business plan, including a brief overview of the problem they are solving, their solution and the potential market size.
Pitch deck: Start-ups must provide a pitch deck outlining their business plan, including their product or service offering, target market, competitive landscape, and financial projection.
Optional: Start-ups may also provide additional materials, such as customer testimonials or case studies, to support their application, team bios and so on.

Step 3: Presentation at the event

At the pitching event, every team will have the opportunity to present their pitch to a panel of respected judges.
Presenters will have a limited time frame, seven minutes (extra time not allowed), to showcase their ideas and plans with confidence and clarity.
After each presentation, judges will have around five minutes to ask questions and seek further clarification from the presenter.
Once all the presentations are complete, the judges will meet to decide on the top three pitches.
Winners will be recognised and announced on the event main stage for everyone to see, and will have a featured interview on our HealthBeats Podcast.

PITCH FORMAT (STRICT 7-MINUTE LIMIT)

Problem statement & market opportunity (1 minute)
Solution overview with clear value proposition (2 minutes)
Business model and go-to-market strategy (1.5 minutes)
Current traction and milestones achieved (1 minute)
Team introduction (30 seconds)
Investment needs and planned use of funds (30 seconds)
Growth strategy with emphasis on regional expansion (30 seconds)

JUDGING CRITERIA

Innovation and uniqueness (25%)
Market potential & regional relevance (25%)
Business model viability (20%)
Team capability (15%)
Alignment with Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 (15%)

COMPETITION OBJECTIVES

1

Explore and identify innovative healthcare solutions and potential business ventures that can drive growth in the industry while benefiting patients.

2

Position Abu Dhabi as a hub for innovation and give international visibility to its healthcare initiatives.

3

Boost the local ecosystem through connections with international investment funds, global corporations, clusters, and hubs.

4

Increase innovation initiatives inside companies through active and collaborative connection with international corporations.

5

Attract innovative talent - local and global startups and scaleups.

WHY PARTICIPATE?

FOR STARTUPS

Free access to a stand and pitch at a prestigious healthcare innovation event
Direct exposure to regional and international investors
Showcase innovations to healthcare providers and government entities
Fast-track entry to Abu Dhabi's healthcare market
Potential partnerships with established healthcare institutions

FOR INVESTORS

Curated selection of promising healthcare startups
Opportunities to co-invest with Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth funds
Insights into region-specific healthcare challenges and solutions
Access to Abu Dhabi's growing healthcare ecosystem
Supporting the regional transformation of healthcare

APPLICATION PROCESS

Online application with executive summary (deadline: March 10, 2025)
Final selection of 14 startups representing diverse healthcare subsectors (notification to selected startups to pitch onsite at Abu Dhabi Global health Week)
Pitch preparation guidelines provided to selected startups (early April 2025)
Pitch 16 & 17 April at Abu Dhabi Global Health Week 2025

PITCH COMPETITION FORMAT (14 STARTUPS IN TOTAL)

Wednesday 16 April 2025

Thursday 17 April 2025

10:00 -10:30

10:30 -12:30

12:30 -13:30

13:30 -15:00

15:00 -15:30

10:00 -10:15

10:15 -11:00

12:30 -13:30

13:30 -14:30

14:30 -15:00

15 - 17 APRIL 2025

ADNEC CENTRE ABU DHABI, UAE

Startup Zone

STARTUP PITCH COMPETITION

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

WHY PARTICIPATE?

INVESTING IN HEALTHCARE