Most innovative startup projects in Sumgayit determined

Startup tour was held today in the city of Sumgayit within the project "From Idea to Business".

Some 100 participants from Sumgayit and surrounding regions attended the event, which took place at Heydar Aliyev Center.

The information session was first held for the participants of the event, and information was provided on the concept of "From Idea to Business", the purpose of startup tours held within the project, results achieved and future plans.

It was noted that the tours held within the framework of the project "From Idea to Business" are realized in order to support the expansion of the startup movement and the realization of citizens’ innovative ideas.

Company Azercell is the key partner of the project, which is implemented jointly by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies, the Regional Development Public Union of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Azerbaijan Youth Foundation, the United Nations Development Programme and Microsoft Corporation.

Detailed information was given on the opportunities provided by the Foundation to startuppers, traditionally announced grant competitions and participation in these competitions by the State Fund for Development of Information Technologies at the information session held within the framework of the event.

Then, the author of the project "Healthy Living Platform" Shahlar Pashayev shared his success stories. Providing information about the project, Shahlar Pashayev said that users will be able to get detailed information about key health parameters within six minutes after they have been identified by the mobile platform for “Healthy Living Platform”.

He noted that the startup events, in which he participated, played an important role in the full formation of his project.

It is to be recalled that the project "Healthy Living Platform" was selected as the best startup of Azerbaijan within the framework of the Startup Tour on Open Innovations organized jointly by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies and Skolkovo Foundation of the Russian Federation.

Later, in the interactive section, AIESEC in Azerbaijan and Microsoft representatives held a training covering issues such as formation of startup teams, proper preparation of project presentation, ways of selling the project to investors and market research.

Following the interactive section of the event, a team of participants was formed and the teams were trained for the competition by professional mentors.

Then, the teams presented their ideas to the jury. Following the presentation of team leaders, question-and-answer session and discussion of the project were held.

Then, the selected projects competed for key places. At the end of the second part, the jury of experts determined the winners of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in the city of Sumgayit.

Thus, teams “Smart reaktor”, “Zoolab”, and “Order Bot” took the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, respectively.

At the end of the event, the winners were awarded by the organizers and partners.

Along with the cities of Mingechevir, Lankaran and Guba, the most successful startup projects in Sumgayit were also determined.

The winners of the startup tour in the regions and cities of the Republic of Azerbaijan win the right to participate in the National Final in Baku.

The winners of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in the National Final will be awarded by the organizers and partners, as well as be provided the opportunity to present their projects within 24th Bakutel International Telecommunications, Innovations and High Technologies Exhibition and Conference.

Additionally, the winning projects within the framework of startup tours can be provided with mentoring services, attraction of investments, including opportunities for sending of successful startups abroad, and participation in international events.