Global Impact Challenge (GICs) are annual competitions organized by geography and theme.  These challenges are an open call to entrepreneurs, leaders, scientists, and engineers with the most innovative ideas for moonshot innovations. Additionally, The purpose of the SingularityU MENA GIC is to foster innovations and startups that positively impact the lives of people living in the Middle East and North Africa.

• The high unemployment rate,
• educational gap,
• gender inequality in the workplace and
• issues around water supply

are just some of the main problems that affect and slow down the development of MENA and the world. Further, Now that technology is leading to a fast-paced Fourth Industrial Revolution with new technological advances on the rise able to solve large-scale issues. Also, the need to guarantee a better future for all is higher than ever.

Moreover, the SingularityU MENA GIC urges experts in the region to contribute to solutions around issues prevalent in their country that can be scaled globally. Applicant startups for this GIC must be working with exponential technologies such as

• Artificial Intelligence,
• Digital Fabrication,
• Robotics, and
• Nano-Technology

with the aim of finding solutions for our top regional challenges in the industries of Health, Education, Energy, Agriculture, Transportation, and Fintech.

 Global Impact Challenge 2019 Focus

In this year’s SingularityU MENA GIC, we are focusing on Health, Energy, Education, Agriculture, and Transportation (HEEAT) and Fintech. Additionally,  Here are some key statistics and reasons why these are the most demanding :

• Health: MENA region countries spend on average only 8% of their budgets on healthcare.
• Energy: As technology develops, electrical power demand grows while natural resources are decreasing.
• Education: Currently the MENA has almost 22 million children out of school, leaving a big of unequal reach out of quality education.
• Transportation: Investing in transportation will facilitate the relocation and import/export businesses, which is key to tackling major issues like poverty.
• Fintech: Even though Egypt has the highest population number of MENA (95 million people), only 14% out of 52% of the total number of adults in the country, has a bank account.

Eligibility

• SU mission alignment: You have a startup in one of the global grand challenge (GGC) spaces.
• Team: Your startup has at least two full-time co-founders.
• Experience: You have expertise in exponential technology and/or a key GGC space.
• Time: Your venture is a fully formed entity, and also, is in the seed-stage or idea-stage.
• Traction: You have demonstrated market traction (LOIs, purchase orders, validated trials, sales, etc.).
• Eagerness to learn: You’re looking for a substantial shift in mindset and skill set, and further,  are eager to globalize your startup and 10x your impact.
• Availability: You’re available to the GSP Activate (four weeks) phase, also, the SU campus in Mountain View for the Accelerate (four weeks) phase.