Call for papers: ITB China Startup Award 2017

BERLIN / SHANGHAI – The ITB China Startup Award is an exciting event within ITB China. The ceremony will take place on 11 May 2017 in the conference area at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Conference Center. The award recognizes companies that turned dreams and ideas into viable business solutions with great market potential. Pre-selected innovators from startup companies who launched their products less than three years ago will demonstrate their innovative solutions before the jury containing of experienced industry professionals. The innovators have the chance to explain how their product will impact the future of the travel industry during an 8 minute pitch. The winner voted by the jury will receive the first ITB China Startup Award.

 

Philip Wolf, Phocuswright juror, says: “Innovation in travel technology now occurs anywhere in the world. One of these startup companies at ITB China could have a powerful impact on our industry. I look forward to being a judge and being surprised!”

 

The jury consists of the following four members of experienced industry professionals: Philipp Wolf, Phocuswright (Patronage), Gang Chen, Group Senior Vice President, Ctrip, Jay You, Yuantai Investment Partners Evergreen Fund Partner and Le Yu, Managing Director, Ping An Ventures.

 

Applications to demonstrate are welcome from: Product launches less than three years ago. The product and/ or solution should be innovative, add value to customers and should be commercial. The applicant pool is vetted by ITB China analysts based on the uniqueness of the underlying innovation. Companies of all sizes and sectors may apply.

 

Companies who apply for the pitch will get online exposure on the ITB China website and through all our press channels, industry-wide recognition and extensive media coverage from ITB China’s media partners. Moreover they will get the chance to pitch to highly successful backers in their area of business, two complimentary passes for the entire event, including conference sessions, demonstrations and exhibits, as well as all meals and social functions. Furthermore they receive valuable and constructive feedback directly from industry gurus and get the chance to compete for the ITB China Startup Award receiving international acclaim.

 

The winner will be rewarded with a nine sqm basic shell scheme booth worth more than 4,000 USD at ITB China 2018 to showcase their product

 

In order to choose the competitors applicants need to turn in a file in their own choice of format in at least English optional also in Chinese which contains: name, company, contact information (telephone, email), homepage URL, business plan, detailed product description, growth estimates and experience of the team. Interested parties who want to be considered, have to email to itbchina@messe-berlin.de with “ITB China Startup Award” in the subject line. Deadline for submitting applications is: 31 March, 2017. The finalists will be confirmed on 15 April, 2017. More information is available at: itb-china.com/awards

 

ITB China will take place from 10 to 12 May 2017 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Conference Center. The event, an international offshoot of one of Messe Berlin’s most successful trade fairs, will take place annually and focus on the Chinese travel industry. Its co-organiser is TravelDaily China, a leading online news portal and organiser of travel industry conferences in Asia’s largest country.