Less than 10 days to register your startup to compete at the WCIT 2019 Lightning Rounds

This year marks the first time WCIT will host “Lightning Rounds” in its 40 year history.  Entrepreneurs and innovators will have a unique opportunity to showcase their startup ideas before a plenary audience from the tech community.

15 startups from around the world will have 3 minutes to present their new ideas or innovative technologies. The lightning Rounds will be split into 3 sets. Judges will choose presentations which demonstrate innovation as well as potential for global applicability and impact. The three most promising startups will be awarded the "Armenian Technology Communities A-Prize" and $100,000 on behalf of the entire High Tech Community of Armenia. Applications will be accepted until the 1st of September.

The World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2019), one of the largest and most prestigious ICT events in the world, will be held in Yerevan this year from October 6-9. The three-day congress will gather over 2500 participants from around 70 countries: information and communication technology leaders, CEOs and investors, policy makers and government officials, academics, and technologists. This year’s theme is The Power of Decentralization: Promise and Peril.

“We want global solutions that will impact the world. A major criteria for startups is that ideas presented should have global applications, and make the world a better place to live. Selected startups will have a unique opportunity to present their ideas in front of 3-4 thousand people,” explains Emma Arakelyan, WCIT 2019 Content Committee Member.

The Government of Armenia has declared IT a strategic area of focus. The country's legislation fosters favorable conditions for foreign direct investments in the tech sector. Furthermore, consistent efforts are being made to promote the development of high-tech innovations, cultivate ecosystems, and accelerate startups in the industry. The ICT sector represents 7 percent of the national GDP. Over 45 percent of the industry exports go to the USA and Canada, 25 percent to Europe, 11 percent to Asia. Over 900 ICT companies call Armenia home, including globally recognized Picsart, Renderforest, Softconstruct, Joomag, etc.

WCIT 2019 will be held in Yerevan on October 6-9, 2019. The Congress is hosted by Armenia with the support and under the high patronage of the Government of the Republic of Armenia. The World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) was established by the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA). Its main organizing body is the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE).