$25k CAD to 1st place winner and a chance to win the big 250k grand prize packagE

Canada’s Next Great Startup (“CNGS”) Dubai 2025 is a startup pitch competition designed to attract entrepreneurs who have great new business ideas and early stage startups they seek to launch.  We seek to support the Contest winner to launch their innovative new startup in the UAE while seeking to scale and grow globally using Canada as its launch point to access North American markets.
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CNGS Dubai 2025 will seek out innovators who have an active entrepreneurial spirit and who can help establish a pipeline of talent and entrepreneurship between Canada and the UAE.  Our Contest winner must launch their startup in the UAE with the ability to expand operations and scale globally.  We want to build a bridge of innovation and create the world’s most dynamic interconnected startup ecosystem that will support NextGen startups and help them flourish in both Canada and the UAE.
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CNGS Dubai 2025 seeks to promote Canada as the gateway to North America markets and Dubai as the global gateway to markets Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.  Our objective is to link businesses to a dynamic and interconnected startup ecosystem.

We’re looking for exciting, original, and innovative new startup ideas that solve impactful problems with a solution that can result in a large market opportunity to scale and grow the startup into sustainable businesses. Your startup idea can be related to any industry or sector as long as it is innovative and meets the contest judging criteria.  Currently we see a number of startups emerging in green energy, biotech, agri-science, manufacturing, oil and gas, aerospace, medical & health sciences, banking/financial services etc.  Bottom line - We are looking for innovation in every potential startup regardless of industry or sector.

We’re looking for entrepreneurs from across the UAE with the entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to execute their vision and bring their startup ideas to market.  And if we see the potential in your startup idea and you are selected the Contest winner, our 1st Place Prize  will include a $10K cash award to support the launch of your startup in the UAE. We will also connect you to a dynamic and interconnected startup business incubator ecosystem.  In addition to the cash prize awarded to the Contest winner, you will also receive travel and accommodation expense to cover a 10-day trip to Canada where you will have the chance to compete at the Canadian National Startup Championships for the 1st Place Grand Prize Packager valued at $250K CAD

Here's how the CNGS DUBAI contest works:

1. Register Submission of Interest (SOI) online here.
2. 1st Stage PASS or FAIL screening of all SOIs received by the Event Producer.
3. The top 10 startup ideas that received a PASS grade, will be selected to compete.
4. Invitation to Participate ("ITP") will be sent to TOP 10 Startup Ideas
5. Contestants receiving an ITP submit Contest Entry Application ("CEA")
6. Every CEA is evaluated before a Contestant is accepted into the Contest
7. Contestants enter the Pitch Pen and make their best startup pitch.
8. Every Contestant's startup pitch will be scored by Contest Judges
9. A CNGS DUBAI 2025 Contest Winner will be declared

If you reside in the UAE and have an innovative idea for a startup business can register a Submission of Interest if you wish to participate in the CNGS DUBAI 2025 Contest.   Even if the startup has already been launched, as long as it has not been operating for more than 3 years since it’s launch you still may be eligible to participate.  Please see the Contest Official Rules for all eligibility requirements and contest rules.  Only the top SOI’s received will be invited to participate and compete in the Contest, up to a maximum of 10 contestants.

Participation in this Contest, in any way, including but not limited to, being selected Contest winner, will not guarantee being approved for a Canadian Immigrant Visa.  Although CNGS Dubai 2025 offers the Contest Winner the chance to compete in the Canadian National Startup Championships, there is no guarantee and no representations made that the Contest Winner will receive the necessary approval(s) from the Government of Canada needed to travel to Canada and participate in the Canadian National Startup Championships.

There are no fees required to register a SOI. Only the top 10 SOI submissions will be selected to compete in the contest. There will be a minimum of 5 qualifying submissions required to hold the contest. However there will be a maximum number of 10 qualifying submissions that will be invited to participate in the Contest.  
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If you are one of those top selected SOI’s invited to enter the contest, there will be a Contestant Entry Fee of $400 CAD in order to enter the Contest.

In order to Register a Submission of Interest (SOI) you need to visit our contest website and read the Official Contest Rules to understand all of the rules and eligibility requirements for anyone seeking to participate in CNGS Dubai 2025. If you agree to be bound by those Official Contest Rules, you can start the process of registering a SOI here.

All submissions received that are deemed complete will be pre-screened to determine if they appear to meet our eligibility requirements for entrepreneurs and startup businesses. Each SOI will receive a PASS or FAIL grade at this first stage pre-screening.  If a SOI appears to meet our eligibility requirements, it will receive a PASS grade. Each SOI that receives a PASS grade will be ranked based on the Event Producer’s established criteria for acceptance into the Contest. The top ranking SOI’s receiving a PASS grade will be invited to participate in the Contest, up to a maximum number of 10.

Canada’s SUV program is a direct to permanent residency program for entrepreneurs who have an innovative idea for a startup business they seek to launch in Canada. Eligible individuals can apply directly for permanent residency under the SUV program.  They may also apply for a work permit before permanent residency is processed if they are found to be essential to the launch of startup business operations in Canada and they are required to enter Canada before permanent residency is processed.
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Therefore, anyone interested in participating in the Contest and registers a SOI will be assessed against the requirements for applying under Canada’s SUV program if they wish to consider immigrating to Canada as business entrepreneur. However, we will also assess all individuals who register a SOI under all other Canadian visa programs for entrepreneurs and startups if the SUV Program does not appear to be viable or a better program is available.

Therefore, the following criteria, in their totality, will determine if an SOI will receive a PASS or FAIL grade at the first stage screening:

1. Is the Founder a lawful resident in the UAE?
2. Does the Founder’s startup venture appear to be innovative?
3. Does the Founder’s startup have the potential to scale and grow globally?
4. Is the Founder essential to the launch of the proposed new startup venture?
5. Does the Founder have sufficient financial resources to support the launch of the new startup venture?

If you are invited to enter the competition, you must submit a complete Contest Entry Application (CEA) before the established deadline. If you didn’t prepare and submit a demo video with your Submission of Interest (SOI) then you must submit one as part of your complete CEA.  You will have to follow the instructions and guidelines on how to prepare and submit a demo video in order for the video to be accepted. You also will be provided CNGS guidelines to follow with respect to what constitutes a complete CEA and you will need to follow those guidelines carefully so that your CEA will be determined complete.
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Deadline for CEA Submission: See Official Contest Website

If you are invited to enter the competition, you must submit a complete Contest Entry Application (CEA) before the established deadline. If you didn’t prepare and submit a Pitch Deck with your submission of interest, then you must submit one as part of your complete CEA.  You will have to follow CNGS instructions and guidelines on how to prepare and submit a Pitch Deck in order for the deck to be accepted.

The Contest judges will compromise the Judges Panel (“Pitch Pen”) that will evaluate and score the startup pitch of each Contestant selected to participate in the Contest.  Every Contestant

invited to participate in the Contest is required to appear at a date and time determined by the Event Producer to make their startup pitch before the Contest judges. Contestants will be given (5) minutes to make their best pitch, and then there will be a (5) minute question-and-answer period that follows. Together, both the 5-minute presentation and the 5-minute follow up question-and-answer period comprise a Contestant’s startup pitch.

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While every Contest judge will score each Contestant who makes a startup pitch, the Event Producer will pre-select prior to the Contest commencing a group of (4) Contest judges who will ask each Contestant questions during the question-and-answer period.  

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Before the Contest commences, the Event Producer will provide “Pitch” guidelines to each Contestant on best practices to make their startup pitch before the Judges Panel. We recommend you follow these CNGS guidelines with respect to the preparation and delivery of your startup pitch before our Judges Panel if you are invited to enter the Pitch Pen.

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All Contestants will have their startup pitch in the Pitch Pen scored according to the following judging criteria:

1. Evaluation of the Contestant’s demonstration of entrepreneurial spirit.
2. Evaluation of the Contestant’s explanation of the problem being solved by the startup.
3. Evaluation of the Contestant’s explanation of the proposed solution offered by the startup.
4. Evaluation of the Contestant’s overall communication skills.
5. Evaluation of the Contestant’s overall ability to answer the questions of the Contest judges.
6. Evaluation of the Contestant’s overall pitch presentation.
7. Evaluation of the level of innovation and technology involved in the proposed startup.
8. Evaluation of the sustainability, scalability and the ability to scale and grow between the UAE and Canada.
9. Evaluation of the target market of this startup and why they would care if this solution is brought to market.
10. Evaluation of the size of the market opportunity and business potential for this startup.
11. Evaluation of the potential impact of the proposed startup.
12. Evaluation of the Contestant’s business model and revenue models to be executed by the startup.
13. Evaluation of the startup’s competitive advantage in the marketplace.
14. Evaluation of the Contestant’s ability and resources to bring this startup to market.
15. Evaluation of the Contestant’s startup team & financial resources to support its launch.
16. Evaluation of how the startup can create jobs.
17. Evaluation of the Contestant’s knowledge of its target markets and the level of market research undertaken.

The 1st Place Prize to be awarded to the CNGS DUBAI 2025 Contest Winner is valued at $25K Canadian Dollars which, subject to the terms and conditions stipulated herein, shall be comprised of the following:

1. 1. After being announced the Contest Winner, the Event Producer in accordance with these Official rules will award a cash prize of $10,000 CAD to the Contest Winner to support the launch of its startup in the UAE.
   2. IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE CASH PRIZE, the CNGS Dubai 2025 Contest winner will be awarded a spot to compete at the Canadian National Startup Championships in Ontario Canada scheduled to take place in 2025.
   3. The Contest Winner will be provided an all expenses (travel and accommodation) paid trip to Ontario Canada in order to compete in the 2025 Canadian National Startup Championships for the opportunity to win the 1st Place Grand Prize Package valued at $250,000 CAD (See Official Rules sec. 15.24).
   4. The Contest Winner will also be awarded Legal Fees for Kadri Law services that support the preparation and filing of all Immigration Visa application(s) including representing the Contest Winner on said Canadian visa application(s) in order for the CNGS Dubai 2025 Contest Winner to travel to Canada for the 2025 Canadian National Startup Championships. Value: Up to $10,000 CAD.
   5. In support of the Canadian Visa application process, the CNGS Dubai 2025 Contest Winner will receive Business Consulting and Advisory Support (BCAS) services provided by the Event Producer: Value: Up to $10,000 CAD.‍
      

For greater clarity, the contest winner of CNGS Dubai 2025 will receive a 1st Place Prize Package that includes both cash prize(s) and other non-cash prizes once declared the CNGS Dubai 2025 Contest Winner. This includes the opportunity to compete at the Canadian National Startup Championships for the 1st Place Grand Prize Package valued at $250,000 CAD, subject to the conditions stipulated in the Official Rules sec. 15.24. Winning the CNGS Dubai 2025 competition includes the opportunity to compete for the 1st Place Prize Package at the Canadian National Startup Championships and any other possible investment opportunities associated with the same. These Official Rules set out the requirements and conditions (see sec. 11) that must be met for the Contest Winner to receive any prize, in whole or in part, including all restrictions and

limitations as stipulated herein.

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No.  Upon being declared the CNGS DUBAI 2025 Contest winner, provided that you have fully and unconditionally complied with the Official Contest Rules, you will be eligible to receive the first 1st Place Prize that consists of a $10,000 CAD cash prize to launch your new startup in the UAE. If you wish to immigrate to Canada, we can certainly discuss and evaluate all relevant Canadian Business Immigration.optios available to you if you wish to expand your new startup into Canada.

The Contest winner will be announced once all contestants have made their startup pitches in the Pitch Pen.  The Contest winner must launch their startup in the UAE and then begin the process of applying for the necessary Canadian Immigrant Visa approval(s) in order to be able to travel to Canada and participate at the Canadian National Startup Championships in Ontario Canada in 2025.

If either of the following occurs after a Contest Winner is declared:

1. The Contest Winner in unable, for any reason, to participate in the Canadian National Startup Championships; or
2. The Canadian National Startup Championships are cancelled or otherwise unable to be produced for any reasons;

If for any reason the CNGS DUBAI 2025 Contest Winner is not able to participate in the 2025 Canadian National Startup Championships the Event Producer will have no further obligation to the CNGS Dubai 2025 Contest Winner beyond the payment of the $10,000 Cash Prize to support the launch of their startup in the UAE.

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If for any reason the Event Producer is not able to produce the Canadian National Startup Championships, the Event Producer reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Canadian National Startup Championships and in doing so will have no further obligation to the CNGS Dubai 2025 contest winner beyond the payment of the $10,000 Cash Prize to support the launch of their startup in the UAE.

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If you wish to enter the contest or you have any questions about the Official Contest Rules, you can reach our team at info@nextgreatstartup.ca  
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We generally respond to any online inquiry made about the Contest within two (2) business days.