Arab Technology Business Plan Competition
Bridging Arab innovators with investors since 2005. A regional competition supporting technology entrepreneurs to transform innovations into viable commercial ventures.
Connecting innovators with venture capital since 2005
Competition Overview
The Arab Technology Business Plan Competition (TBPC) is a flagship regional initiative organized by the Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF) since 2005. It serves as a critical bridge connecting two vital stakeholders in the Arab innovation ecosystem: entrepreneurs seeking to commercialize their technological innovations and investors hunting for promising ventures with high growth potential.
The competition addresses a fundamental gap in the Arab world?the disconnect between those who generate startup technology business ideas and those who want to invest in them. By providing structured support, training, mentoring, and direct access to venture capital, TBPC transforms promising ideas into investment-ready ventures.
Winners gain exclusive visibility at the ASTF Technology Investment Forum, where they can showcase their business plans in front of venture capital fund investors, angel investors, and strategic partners to secure financial backing and partnerships for their ventures.
Competition Impact & Reach
Growing Participation
From 48 business plans in 2005 to over 240 participants by 2011, TBPC has experienced exponential growth, reflecting rising entrepreneurial interest across the Arab world.
Regional Coverage
Participants have represented 15+ Arab countries including Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Bahrain, Libya, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Sudan, plus Arab diaspora from Europe and North America.
International Recognition
Top winners have advanced to prestigious international competitions, including the Intel + UC Berkeley Technology Entrepreneurship Challenge in the USA, with TBPC winners achieving podium finishes at these global events.
Technology Diversity
Business plans have spanned cutting-edge sectors including nanotechnology, biotechnology, renewable energy, water treatment, semiconductor design, medical devices, robotics, and advanced ICT solutions.
Primary Objectives
Support Entrepreneurship
Help Arab innovators transform technological ideas into viable commercial enterprises through structured business planning and mentorship.
Address Unemployment
Create job opportunities by funding startup ventures and equipping young entrepreneurs with necessary skills to build successful companies.
Foster Innovation
Encourage Arab youth to pursue careers in emerging technology sectors rather than waiting for traditional employment opportunities.
Increase Investment
Increase investments in Arab technology startups by providing Arab investors with a diverse and well-selected group of promising ventures.
Technology Sectors
The competition encompasses 11 technology sectors representing critical areas for innovation and development:
Information & Communication Technology
Embedded Systems
Life Science
Energy & Clean Technology
Water & Desalination
Semiconductors
Electronics & Design
Medical & Healthcare
Transportation
Materials Science
E-commerce
Competition Phases
The competition operates through four sequential rounds, progressing from initial registration through skills development to final pitching:
Application Phase
Registration opens, applicants submit applications and executive summaries, initial winners are announced.
e-Learning & Draft Development
E-learning courses begin, applicants submit business plan drafts, round winners are announced.
Training & Full Submission
Participants attend training workshops, submit full business plans for their innovations, winners are announced.
Final Competition
Virtual fair launches, top winners compete in final stage, closing awards ceremony celebrates champions.
Participant Benefits
Comprehensive Training & Mentorship
Participants gain access to e-learning courses, intensive workshops, and one-on-one mentoring sessions covering business planning, financial modeling, market analysis, intellectual property protection, and investor pitching. Training programs have been conducted in partnership with UNIDO's Entrepreneurship and Technology Promotion Office in locations including Egypt, Bahrain, and across the Arab region.
Direct Access to Investors
Winners showcase their ventures at the ASTF Technology Investment Forum, presenting directly to venture capital funds, angel investors, and strategic partners actively seeking investment opportunities in Arab technology startups. This exclusive platform has facilitated funding and partnerships for numerous TBPC alumni.
International Exposure
Top performers advance to prestigious global competitions, including the Intel + UC Berkeley Technology Entrepreneurship Challenge in the United States. TBPC winners have represented the Arab world on international stages, with teams achieving podium finishes at these world-class events.
Regional Network Building
Join a growing community of Arab technology entrepreneurs, connecting with fellow innovators, industry experts, successful alumni, and ASTF's network of 27,000+ scientists and researchers across the Arab world. These connections often lead to partnerships, collaborations, and business opportunities.
Recognition & Credibility
TBPC recognition significantly enhances startup credibility with investors, partners, and customers. Awards and finalist status from this prestigious regional competition validate your business model and innovation, opening doors to funding and market opportunities.
Business Plan Refinement
Through the four-round process, participants receive expert feedback from judges, industry veterans, and successful entrepreneurs, transforming initial concepts into investor-ready, market-validated business plans with clear paths to profitability and scale.
Strategic Partnerships
TBPC's impact is amplified through strategic partnerships with leading international organizations and regional institutions:
Intel + UC Berkeley
Long-standing partnership providing TBPC top winners with opportunities to compete in the prestigious Technology Entrepreneurship Challenge in the USA, exposing Arab innovators to Silicon Valley's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization)
Collaboration with UNIDO's Entrepreneurship and Technology Promotion Office has enabled comprehensive training programs in Bahrain and across the region, providing participants with world-class business development resources.
Kuwait Finance House
Financial sector partnership supporting competition operations and providing potential funding pathways for winning ventures in Islamic finance-compliant structures.
Egyptian Government
High-level governmental support, including patronage by the Egyptian Prime Minister and Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, demonstrates national commitment to fostering technology entrepreneurship.
Eligibility & Requirements
Team Composition
- Teams must consist of 2-5 members
- At least two-thirds of team members must be Arab nationals residing in the Arab world
- Single designated coordinator handles all official communications
- Leadership must be fluent in English
Project Requirements
- Solutions must have already passed the R&D stage
- Must be financially feasible with attractive returns to investors
- Demonstrate regional and/or worldwide market potential
- Companies should be established or in startup phase within Arab nations
- Most R&D activities must occur or be planned in Arab countries
- Business plans cannot violate intellectual property rights
Required Documents
- Executive Summary: Limited to 2 pages of text
- Financial Summary: One-page overview with Excel worksheets for detailed data
- Resume Booklet: Team booklet with each resume not exceeding 1 page
- Media Summary: Bilingual (English/Arabic) one-page promotional content
Formatting Standards
- Black and white format (no color logos)
- Title font: 14-point bold Times New Roman
- Body text: 12-point Times New Roman
- Page size: A4 with 2-2-2-2 cm margins
- All files compressed into a single zipped folder
Success Stories
TBPC alumni have launched successful ventures, secured significant funding, and made meaningful impacts across technology sectors in the Arab world:
Si-Ware Systems (2007 Winner)
A provider of analog/mixed-signal/RF design solutions specializing in semiconductor IP development. The company has grown to serve global semiconductor companies with cutting-edge design services, demonstrating how TBPC can launch ventures that compete on the world stage.
Sector: Semiconductors & Electronics Design
NanoDx (2011 Champion)
Egyptian nanotechnology startup that not only won TBPC 2011 but went on to secure 3rd place at the Intel-UC Berkeley Technology Entrepreneurship Challenge, demonstrating the quality of Arab innovation on the global stage.
Sector: Nanotechnology & Medical Diagnostics
Clean Energy Innovations (2010)
Top winners from 2010 included breakthrough projects in solar energy electricity generation (Saudi Arabia), waste-to-energy conversion (UAE), and sustainable technology solutions addressing critical environmental challenges in the Arab region.
Sector: Renewable Energy & Environmental Technology
Mobile Technology Pioneers (2005-2007)
Early TBPC winners including WadiMobile (Dubai-based Casta Platform), Astroleap (mobile marketing solutions), and Minerets (wireless mobile solutions) helped establish the Arab world's presence in mobile technology innovation during the sector's formative years.
Sector: Mobile Technology & Telecommunications
Healthcare & Biotechnology Breakthroughs
Multiple winners have addressed critical healthcare needs including Novel Med and Therapeutic Vaccines (2009), C-CAP pharmaceutical solutions (2008), medical devices, and biotechnology innovations improving health outcomes across the Arab world.
Sector: Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology
Competition History (2005-2014)
Since its inception in 2005, TBPC has grown from 48 initial submissions to over 240 participants, supporting hundreds of technology entrepreneurs across the Arab world and establishing itself as the premier regional platform for technology business development.
Inaugural Competition
48
Business Plans
13
Arab Countries
Top Winners: Hakaya (software services), Astroleap (mobile marketing), WadiMobile (mobile applications platform)
Second Edition
26
Submissions
9
Countries
Top Winners: Pyramid tech-inc (3D cameras), Kindisoft (business logic protection), Open Technology (open source)
Growing Momentum
51
Submissions
11
Countries
Top Winners: Si-Ware Systems (semiconductor IP), Minerets (wireless mobile solutions)
Partnership with UNIDO
62
Business Plans
12
Countries
University Winners: C-CAP (pharmaceutical), Virtuor (networking), Atraumatic Expanders (dentistry)
Regional Expansion
79
Applicants
14
Countries
Top Winners: Novel Med, Therapeutic Vaccines, Collapse Analysis, EDOM, Aqarmap
Record Participation
155
Business Plans
15
Countries
Top Winners: Solar energy electricity generation (Saudi Arabia), Waste-to-energy (UAE), Social workplace chat (Egypt)
Unprecedented Growth
241
Participants
12
Arab Countries
Top Winners: NanoDx (Egypt - also 3rd place at Intel-UC Berkeley Challenge), Herbatica (Lebanon), ODBoards (Yemen), RT-Project (Saudi Arabia & Lebanon)
Continued Excellence
Top Winners: VeinShow (Palestine), PrestoWireless (Jordan), Alkottab (Egypt)
Arab Techno-Preneurship Day
Special event held under the patronage of Egyptian Prime Minister H.E. Eng. Ebrahim Mehleb, featuring judging sessions, panel discussions, and five specialized workshops on entrepreneurship topics.
Ready to Launch Your Technology Venture?
Join the Arab Technology Business Plan Competition and connect with investors, mentors, and fellow entrepreneurs to bring your innovation to market.