Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), producers of Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®), is currently accepting applications for participants, judges and mentors for Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) at HITEC Dubai. Those who wish to participate in the Middle East version of E20X can apply online; start-ups should apply by 15 May and mentors and volunteers should apply by 20 May. E20X Dubai will take place at 15:30 on Tuesday, 1 June, 2021 at the Dubai World Trade Centre during HITEC Dubai. Both events will be co-located with The Hotel Show, produced by dmg events.
E20X participants will be selected from the field of applicants and pitch their business concepts to a panel of expert judges and HITEC attendees and exhibitors. Participants will have access to a team of mentors, before the competition, who will inspire and educate the startups by lending them insights, expertise and guidance. The E20X judge’s panel will determine the grand prize: E20X Judge’s Award.
The E20X Judges Award winner will receive international recognition, permission to use the E20X award logo and mentoring opportunities from industry and investor experts. There are no fees to apply to participate in the competition. However, all applicants must be true startups and pre-series A funding.
Two E20X mentor opportunities are available to industry professionals who would like to volunteer: pre-show mentors and day-of competition mentors. Pre-show mentors will entertain a series of brief one-on-one calls with chosen pitchers leading up to the competition, providing coaching and pitch deck feedback. Day-of mentors will meet face-to-face with participants in a series of pre-booked meetups hours before the E20X competition takes place sharing their experience, getting their brain picked and making invaluable connections.
“E20X is a powerful and popular highlight featured at HITEC,” said HITEC Dubai Co-chair Sanjay Nadkarni, Director of Innovation & Research at the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management. “Startups, judges and mentors receive global exposure within our industry. Industry veterans will have the chance to showcase their knowledge, and help budding entrepreneurs reach new career goals.”
The Hotel Show Dubai is returning live and in-person from 31 May – 2 June 2021 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Under this year’s theme, ‘Redefining Hospitality’, The Hotel Show Dubai offers the industry professionals in the Middle East a powerful platform from which to source, connect and learn about critical topics over the course of three inspirational days.
A notable feature of The Hotel Show will be HITEC Dubai with a unique combination of top-notch education and the brightest minds and hottest technologies from around the globe in one place. At The Hotel Show, findings from HITEC Dubai will allow operators to serve guests better and maximize guest loyalty.
HFTP is also producing two other HITEC events in 2021. First is HITEC Europe Sessions, a five-week series of virtual education, every Wednesday from 26 May – 23 June. The program centers on themes of hospitality technology, business resilience and operating in a post-pandemic world, and will offer breakout rooms in English, French, Spanish and German. HITEC North America will be held in-person in Dallas, Texas from 27–30 September, and will be the largest event from the HITEC brand.
