Unbound innovation festival returns to Bahrain
By Mark Sutton / ITP.net
SOURCE: ITP.net - Unbound innovation festival returns to Bahrain
Innovation festival Unbound will return to Bahrain from 6-7th March, to showcase some of the most inventive brands, start-ups, and government initiatives in the Kingdom.
The event will double in size from last year, and will take place at the Bahrain National Theatre.
Unbound Bahrain is the anchor event of StartUp Bahrain Week, held in association with the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and supported by Tamkeen (The Labour Fund) as a strategic partner and startup community in Bahrain. The festival celebrates the Kingdom's commitment to creating a digital economy and fuelling a digital future for the wider MENA region.
The festival will host over 75 speakers and more than 3,000 local, regional and international delegates, including inspiring entrepreneurs sharing their experiences on starting and growing a business venture.
The event will include keynote speeches, fireside chats, and panel discussions, on topics including ecosystem building, FinTech, artificial intelligence, sustainability, investing and venture capital, and blockchain.
Unbound Bahrain will also feature the Unbound50 Zone, a competition to showcase start-ups across the MENA region, as well as the Female Founders Challenge, a platform for women in tech to pitch their pioneering ideas. In addition to this, Unbound Bahrain will host pitch-to-investors sessions, which provide start-ups with the opportunity to raise awareness of their product in front of an international audience.
The event will also include a Women In Technology panel sponsored by Zain Bahrain, and the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), will launch its ‘Technopreneurship' Programme to train entrepreneurs.
Daniel Seal, Founder & CEO at Unbound, said: "Unbound is delighted to be returning to the MENA region. This year's event promises to be the biggest yet, with speakers from across the globe discussing the very latest in innovation. With startup battles, awards and showcases, Unbound Bahrain provides startups with unique opportunities to connect with investors and help make ideas become a reality. In a very short space of time, Unbound has become the go-to platform for MENA innovators to embrace opportunities in Bahrain and the wider region."
Pakiza Abdulrahman, Manager of Business Development - Startups at the Bahrain Economic Development Board, said: "The EDB is committed to fostering a supportive environment for start-ups and has found a perfect partner in Unbound to showcase the benefits of doing business in Bahrain and the Middle East. Unbound comes with an immersive experience of running this international event in London, Miami and Singapore, and we are thrilled to host them for a second year to showcase GCC & MENA's startup trends.
"As digital disruption changes the face of the modern economy, we must do all we can to enable startups and the next generation of innovative technologies. Getting the right balance of soft infrastructure; access to funding; and mentorship in place is crucial to our success and Unbound Bahrain will be the ideal platform to learn more about the technological trends shaping our society."