WiT’s annual Startup Pitch is back, bolstered by the continuing collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud, for the fourth year running.
AWS will provide over US$250,000 worth of AWS credits and technical support towards WiT Startup Pitch 2021 through the AWS Activate program, which provides startups with tools and resources to help grow and scale their businesses.
Yeoh Siew Hoon, founder, WiT said, “Just as we know travelers will be back with a vengeance, we know every disruption brings with it great innovation and so we’re using this moment to seek out the best ideas that have either emerged out of COVID-19 or been accelerated by it.
“We also know that startups formed and strengthened during this period are those forged by fire – creative, courageous and resilient – and we are delighted that AWS is continuing their collaboration with us for the fourth year running.”
David Peller, managing director, AWS Travel and Hospitality, who will be one of the judges of this year’s event, said, “The WiT Startup Pitch has established a tradition of showcasing diverse, innovative solutions designed to enhance guest and traveller experiences, and remove friction from the world of travel. AWS is pleased to provide AWS credits and support to the startups competing, accelerating their growth and ability to scale through access to the broadest and deepest cloud platform with the largest global community of customers.”
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Call for entries to the competition is now open with the deadline of August 13, 2021. A panel of judges will select the 10 semi-finalists that will pitch at the WiT Innovation Stage on October 18, 2021, which will kick off WiT Singapore Main Stage October 19-20, 2021 returning to Marina Bay Sands with a hybrid experience.
Three finalists will go on to pitch at the Grand Finals on October 20, 2021. The winner will have the opportunity to present on Center Stage during the 5 minutes in the Spotlight session at The Phocuswright Conference in Fort Lauderdale/ Hollywood, Florida, November 15-17, 2021.
The WiT Startup Pitch, in its 13th year, is open to all travel-related startups, up to five years old. WiT seeks to highlight ground-breaking new ideas and clever, entrepreneurial minds that push the boundaries in travel technology. It is calling for entries from all over the world, and it will leverage its regional editions – WiT Seoul, WiT Japan & North Asia, WiT Middle East and Africa – to seek out new ideas and fresh batches of entrepreneurs.
Said Pete Comeau, managing director of Phocuswright, “The pandemic has uncovered numerous challenges that the travel industry must overcome to emerge smarter, bolder and better. These conditions fuel fresh ideas, business models and new applications of technology and create ripe opportunities for entrepreneurs to enter the market and disrupt the status quo. Phocuswright is excited to partner with WiT to identify the most promising young companies who are poised to tackle the biggest challenges and shape the future of our great industry.”
Note: The deadline for entries for WiT Startup Pitch 2021 is August 13, 2021. Submit your entries here.