Recruitment for Participation in 'BIBAN 2024,' the Largest Startup Event in the Middle East Region

Recruiting Companies for Startup Competition 'BIBAN EWC'
Applications Accepted from June 26 to July 16

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 26th that it is recruiting startups to participate in the startup event ‘BIBAN 2024’ and the international startup competition ‘EWC (Entrepreneurship World Cup)’ held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from November 5 to 9.

‘BIBAN’ is the largest startup event in the Middle East region organized by the Saudi Arabian Small and Medium Enterprises Authority. It started in 2017 and has expanded into an international event since last year, with about 1,200 companies worldwide participating and more than 140,000 visitors attending. The exhibition consists of startup displays and nine themed forums such as ‘Market’ and ‘E-commerce,’ providing a platform for mutual exchange and local market information to companies and investors interested in entering Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region.

Last year, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups operated the K-Startup Pavilion at ‘BIBAN 2023’ and supported the exhibition participation of 10 promising startups including ‘The Pinkfong Company’ and ‘AngelSwing.’ This year, the ministry will also operate the ‘K-Startup Integrated Pavilion’ within ‘BIBAN 2024’ to support the exhibition participation of promising startups interested in entering the Middle East market.

This year, a national representative will also be dispatched to the EWC finals held during the BIBAN period. EWC is an international startup competition jointly hosted by the Saudi Arabian Small and Medium Enterprises Authority and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN). Startups selected as the top 100 will participate in the ‘EWC 2024 Global Finals’ held in Riyadh during BIBAN 2024.

The winner can receive a total prize of 1 million USD (total prize money by stage and category), investment attraction, and support for entry into Saudi Arabia. In 2021, the Korean startup Todak won the Grand Prize. Starting this year, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development will hold ‘EWC Korea (EWC Korea Preliminary)’ as official operating organizations through a business agreement with the Global Entrepreneurship Network.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will select 10 startups to participate in the ‘K-Startup Integrated Pavilion’ exhibition at BIBAN 2024 and 3 Korean representative startups to advance to the EWC Global (world finals) through EWC Korea this year. Startups applying to participate in EWC Korea will undergo document and presentation evaluations, and the top 10 will be supported to operate exhibition booths at the ‘K-Startup Integrated Pavilion’ at BIBAN 2024. Among them, the top 3 will advance to EWC Global as Korean representatives.

Companies wishing to participate in EWC 2024 and BIBAN 2024 can check the announcement on the K-Startup website on the business announcement date.