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Doha – 
QITCOM is set to provide a launch pad for Qatar’s Digital Industry through showcasing entrepreneurship, championing digital innovation, promoting investment opportunities and tailored learning events, all taking place within a special Entrepreneurship Zone. The Entrepreneurship Zone is part of QITCOM 2017, Qatar’s biggest digital event running from 6 to 8 March at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC).
Managed by the Ministry of Transport and Communication’s (MOTC’s) Digital Incubation Centre, the Entrepreneurship Zone contains a variety of activities dedicated to entrepreneurs and SMEs in the digital space: a CodeCamp, Innovation Theatre, “Make the Deal” investor matchmaking, and a Startups Hub. Around 300 entrepreneurs will participate in the Entrepreneurship Zone activities, with more than 50 local, regional and international startups showcasing their products and services.
Ms. Reem Al Mansoori, Assistant Undersecretary of Digital Society Development Sector, Ministry of Transport and Communications, said: “QITCOM 2017 strongly promotes entrepreneurship, innovation and learning, as these are integral to building a vibrant ICT sector and a knowledge-based economy. There are incredible opportunities for local entrepreneurs and SMEs at QITCOM 2017, and I encourage all to join us at the Entrepreneurship Zone and be part of Qatar’s smart future.”
CodeCamp is a first-of-its-kind hackathon in Qatar, and a brand new addition to QITCOM. Taking place from 3 to 4 March in the QNCC, teams of young students and coders will work together to develop creative technological solutions to a specific problem in four subject matter areas set by CodeCamp’s partners: digital transformation (Microsoft), smart travel (Qatar Airways), e-health (Ooredoo), and assistive technology (Mada). After 48 hours of coding, a judging panel will shortlist the best three teams from each subject to go to the Innovation Theatre for a final pitch where four winners will be announced. 
The Innovation Theatre is a unique platform that promotes digital entrepreneurship by encouraging talent to develop their businesses, and acts as a hub for entrepreneurs to network, learn and share their latest innovations, experience and success stories. The Innovation Theatre is hosting the “Pitch-Win-Succeed” business plan competition, where entrepreneurs and startup owners will pitch an original business idea to a judging panel. Over the course of three days, forty ideas will be successively narrowed down in a series of pitching rounds, with the final five winners joining MOTC’s Digital Incubation Centre. To qualify, the product or service idea must be innovative, technologically advanced and have distinct competitive advantages. More than 30 mentors will be on hand to support the talented entrepreneurs to develop their ideas and pitch. Available to all during QITCOM are a series of keynote speeches and panel discussions at the Innovation Theatre on subjects chosen to help entrepreneurs turn their startups into scalable businesses.
Separate to “Pitch-Win-Succeed”, the Innovation Theatre will also feature “Make the Deal” startup-investor matchmaking that connects high-impact technology startups with local, regional and international investors. “Make the Deal” is a special track within QITCOM 2017 that provides 18 startups with an amazing opportunity to meet with investors, network and grow their business. To qualify, the startups must offer a real solution in the digital and intelligence space such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, smart home technology, augmented and virtual reality, cyber security, big data and smart analytics.
In the Startups Hub, twenty local, five regional, and ten international leading startups are showcasing their businesses to fellow entrepreneurs, investors and visitors in a dedicated exhibition space. The businesses have been selected based on a number of criteria including innovation, technology and their business model.
In addition to the Digital Incubation Centre’s activities, MOTC’s Digital Industry Department are managing a Digital Masrah and BizTech Zone. Digital Masrah is an open stage featuring a combination of knowledge sharing sessions and specific workshops from technology innovators focused on the digital transformation of SMEs. The BizTech Zone brings business and technology together, enabling local businesses to gain insights on how to adopt new technologies.