TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield is expected to make a first appearance in the MENA startup ecosystem this October. As part of events leading up to the culmination of the final competition in Beirut, events have been scheduled to take place in Cairo, Tunis, and Dubai.

The first ever MENA-hosted TechCrunch Startup Battlefield will take place at the Beirut Digital District on October 3rd and TechCrunch’s representatives will be touring the startup ecosystem in July, with the aim of connecting with a number of early-stage startups, entrepreneurs, and investors within the MENA startup ecosystem.

North Africa’s Tunis; the Tunisian capital, will be the first port of call when the tour kicks off on July 12th, while Cairo; the Egyptian capital, is expected to play host between 17th to 18th July. As scheduled, the tour is expected to end with a visit to the Middle Eastern Silicon Valley, Dubai, on the 24th of July.

Startup Battlefield is TechCrunch’s flagship summit which is aimed at providing a platform for startups to raise their game and compete in the business battlefield. Around 765 companies are reported to have graduated and become alumni of Startup Battlefield, as the initiative lays claim to having raised over USD 8 Bn and produced over 100 successful exits and IPOs since its inception.

As part of requirements for participation in TechCrunch’s latest Startup Battlefield, interested founders who are looking to apply should have an early-stage company in the launch stage which must be headquartered in one of the following focus countries: Algeria, Armenia, Bahrain, Egypt, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, and Yemen. Interested startups are also expected to have at least one working or beta-phase product that is reasonably close to, or is in the process of production. These startups are also required to have had ‘limited’ press or publicity to date, as well as being above reproach when it comes to issues of conflicts on intellectual property.

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