Huawei Spark Ignite 2021, a Thailand-based global startup competition is a chance for tech-startups to enter into the Huawei spark accelerator program. Its aim is to ignite the startups with financial, go-to-market, mentoring, and networking support.
About Huawei Spark Ignite 2021
This competition is all about collaborating with disruptive startups and shaping the future technologies. Huawei, one of the largest telecom companies in the world, offers upcoming startups to surpass the ordinary and build a successful business ecosystem across the globe.
Huawei technologies in collaboration with DEPA, NIA, KBTG, TusPark WHA, and Zanroo Inc. have started this competition. This is a call for tech-startups globally, to get a chance to enter the Huawei Spark Accelerator Program, to build an ecosystem for businesses not only in Thailand but also in the entire Asia Pacific (APAC) region.
This year it is offering this platform to eight tech-enabled areas:
Transportation
Media and Gaming
Financial services and Insurance
Education
Internet
Mobile
Sustainability
MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conferences, Exhibition)
‘‘
The competition's aim is to ignite the startups with financial, go-to-market, mentoring, and networking support.
How To Apply?
To apply for the contest, the startups need to go through a long procedure where they’ll be shortlisted at every step.
1. Application (May-Aug 10)
The startups need to register on their website and have to submit a pitch deck. The pitch deck has to be of 3 slides presentation or must be in pdf format. This is a short description of the company’s growth and revenue so far, explaining their market potential and how beneficial they are for society.
2. 1st Shortlisting (Aug 11-Aug 25)
The top 30 startups will be shortlisted by the Huawei judges on the basis of the following criteria:
Relevance
Market Potential
Service Model
Business Traction
Technology USP Scalability and Limitations
Financial Viability
3. Interview Phase (Aug-26-Sep 16)
The selected participants will have a 15-minute interview with the Huawei panel. The interview will be divided into two parts. Starting with an 8-minute pitch following a 7-minute Q&A session, the startups have to give a brief about their pitch deck and business model.
4. 2nd Shortlisting (Sep 17-Sep 24)
The top 15 semi-finalist startups will be selected on a voting basis by the Huawei judges’ panel. The shortlisting will be based on similar criteria as in 1st shortlisting phase with an additional criterion of team strength.
5. Mentoring Phase (Sep 25-Oct 15)
The semi-finalist 15 startups will be mentored by Huawei experts to improve their product concept and improve or practice their proposal.
6. Internal Pitching (Oct 20)
The top 15 semi-finalist startups will virtually pitch their startup to the Huawei judging panel. The panel will shortlist the top 5 startups on a voting basis.
7. Final Live Event (Nov 8)
The top 5 finalist startups will be presenting their proposal live to a Huawei jury panel.
Plan of Action for Startups
The competition is a great opportunity for the startups to collaborate with Huawei and other top agencies. This platform will create a knowledge hub for startups to develop a deep understanding of technologies that can eventually scale up their potential in the global market. Indian tech startups who have commercially available services and products across the Asia Pacific region and fall under Huawei fields of interest should register for the competition as soon as possible.
