GITEX Startup 2017 has announced that it will be taking place this year in Dubai October 8-12 as part of the GITEX Technology Week.

Following last year's success, this year 700 startups will be exhibiting from 75 countries - including over a 100 from the UAE, as well as more than 250 international and angel investors, VCs and limited partners that are seeking to tap into the potential of the tech sector in the Middle Eastern startup ecosystem.

Last year GITEX managed to get 430 startups from 60 countries and more than 200 investors from 27 countries for hundreds of facilitated face to face meetings.

In attendance at the 2017 event are investor networks and knowledge partners Venture Souq, Spark Labs and Tech Wadi.

Open to all exhibiting startups, there will be a pitch competition offering cash prizes valued at at a total of $180,000, with a first prize of $100,000.

This year categories with prizes have expanded to include best Arab startup, best female led startup and most disruptive startup.

On the show floor 13 categories will cover both tech and industry centered solutions, amongst them AR/VR/gaming, smart cities, healthcare and robotics.

Judges for the competition are to include Sunny Dhillon a partner at Signia Venture Capital and Bernard Moon a partner Sparklabs Global Ventures.

New to this year’s GITEX Startup will be a corporate buyer program which aims to educate corporates on intrapreneurship - innovation in the office. There will be coaching on how best to work with startup suppliers and partners in addition to face to face meetings

The four day event will also be celebrating creative entrepreneurship – with new features, activations and experiences onsite; showcasing film, art, design and music entrepreneurs that are pushing the boundaries of their art forms through technology.

Feature image via GITEX.