Dubai: Eureka! GCC, Asia’s leading business model competition, prepares for its 2025 edition in Dubai, boasting over 300 startup registrations across key sectors like AI, fintech, and sustainability, with a $100,000 prize pool and enhanced mentorship for semi-finalists.
Eureka! GCC, Asia’s foremost business model competition, is poised to make a significant mark in Dubai as it prepares for its 2025 edition. With a record of over 300 startup registrations, the competition has showcased the vibrant entrepreneurial landscape in the Gulf region. The selected semi-finalists span a variety of sectors, including health-tech, fintech, sustainability, artificial intelligence, and education technology, reflecting the diverse innovation taking root in the area.
Highlighted amongst the promising startups are ventures like Nema AI, which is pioneering AI-driven diagnostics in healthcare; Payvista, advancing financial technology solutions for underserved markets; and Instawrap Technical Services, focused on creating sustainable packaging alternatives. This diversity not only illustrates the burgeoning talent in the Gulf but also emphasizes the competition’s appeal to a broader international panorama, with participants from countries as varied as India, Jordan, Turkey, the UK, and Pakistan.
The semi-finalists will undergo a comprehensive Entrepreneurship Program designed to sharpen their business acumen and presentation skills. This programme encompasses a series of workshops, speaker sessions, and one-on-one mentorship, which aim to bolster participants’ readiness for the pivotal Elevator Pitch round. During this event, the top 30 semi-finalists will present their ideas before a distinguished audience comprising mentors and investors, with the best ten moving forward to the final stage. The Grand Finale will take place on 28-29 May 2025 at the Al Habtoor City Hotel Collection in Dubai, featuring a substantial prize pool of $100,000.
Pankaj Gupta, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Gulf Islamic Investments (GII) and the founder of Eureka! GCC, underscored the importance of entrepreneurship in shaping the region’s economic landscape. “At GII, we believe that entrepreneurship is the driving force shaping the Gulf’s economic and social future,” he stated, highlighting the resilience and innovation displayed by young entrepreneurs in the Gulf. The backing of regional leadership and various partners, such as Crowe UAE and Bits Pilani, further cements the competition’s integral role in nurturing a supportive ecosystem for emerging entrepreneurs.
As the spotlight intensifies on the finalists with their transformative ideas, the competition seeks to bridge the gap between innovative concepts and viable enterprises. This year’s focus has expanded, nurturing sectors poised for growth, and promises to further enrich the entrepreneurial fabric of the GCC. The event not only serves as a launchpad for startups but also plays a pivotal role in establishing Dubai as a beacon for business-led initiatives.
Eureka! GCC’s foundation by the Entrepreneurship Cell of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and its affiliation with GII highlights a shared commitment to fostering an environment conducive to entrepreneurship. By providing essential resources and platforms for emerging businesses, the competition enhances the overall startup ecosystem, aiming to enable a smoother transition from innovative ideas to operational enterprises.
As the competition gathers momentum, it signals a bright future for both the participants and the broader Gulf region, promising to catalyse growth, innovation, and community-driven solutions that can tackle real-world challenges.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/eureka-gcc-2025-announces-competition-lineup-fonsczyg – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/eureka-gcc-2025-announces-competition-lineup-fonsczyg – Eureka! GCC 2025, Asia’s leading business model competition, returns to Dubai with a broader platform to champion the Gulf’s most promising startup ventures. Over 300 startups registered, leading to the selection of 30 semi-finalists across sectors like health-tech, fintech, sustainability, AI, and education technology. Notable ventures include Nema AI, Payvista, and Instawrap Technical Services. The semi-finalists will participate in an intensive Entrepreneurship Program featuring workshops, speaker sessions, and mentorship. The Grand Finale, with a prize pool of $100,000, is scheduled for May 28-29, 2025, at Al Habtoor City Hotel Collection, Dubai.
- https://eurekagcc.com/ – Eureka! GCC is Asia’s largest business model competition, organized by IIT Bombay’s E-Cell and powered by Gulf Islamic Investments (GII). The competition offers a 360-degree experience for early-stage startups in the GCC, including mentorship, workshops, and networking events. The 2025 edition is set to take place on May 28-29, 2025, at V-Curio Hotel and Hilton Palace in Dubai. Participants can register through the official website to join the event.
- https://eurekagcc.com/faqs/ – The Eureka! GCC FAQs page provides comprehensive information about the competition, including eligibility criteria, registration process, timeline, mentorship, workshops, and awards. It clarifies that participation is free and open to students or working professionals who are citizens or residents of GCC countries. The page also details key dates, such as the registration deadline on March 30, 2025, and the Grand Finale on May 29, 2025, in Dubai.
- https://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-network/aura-wins-eureka-gcc-2024-grand-prize-for-the-most-innovative-start-up-company – Aura was declared the winner of the Eureka! GCC 2024 Grand Prize at a gala dinner at the Hilton Al Habtoor City, Dubai, on June 4, 2024. The competition attracted over 300 startups from GCC countries, with Aura emerging as the most innovative startup. Other awards included prizes for Filming Locations, ReflowX, and the Audience Choice Award for Best Open Pitch won by HAAY. The event highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation within the GCC region.
- https://cbhtimes.com/2024/05/17/iaccel-gulf-business-incubator-partners-with-gulf-islamic-investments-eureka-gcc-2024-start-up-business-competition/ – Gulf Islamic Investments (GII) partnered with iAccel Gulf Business Incubator (iAccel GBI) to enhance the Eureka! GCC 2024 competition. This collaboration aimed to bolster startup talent and foster entrepreneurship across the Middle East, promoting innovation and economic growth. The partnership provided participating startups with access to iAccel GBI’s expertise and resources, supporting the development of nascent companies in the region.
- https://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-network/hulexo-wins-eureka-2023-grand-prize-for-gccs-most-promising-startup-companies – Hulexo, a retail tech startup, won the Eureka! GCC 2023 Grand Prize, receiving $25,000 to invest in their business. The second prize of $15,000 went to Exirio, while CrossVal secured third place with $10,000. A new Innovation Recognition award was introduced and awarded to Gesture Talk, with $5,000, for their work in changing the lives of hearing-impaired individuals. The event underscored the innovative spirit within the GCC’s startup ecosystem.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative clearly refers to a future event scheduled for 28-29 May 2025, indicating timeliness. The founder and leadership references are current with no indication of outdated personnel. The content appears as a press release, which typically means high freshness as it announces upcoming activities and events.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The direct quote from Pankaj Gupta, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Gulf Islamic Investments, is distinctly attributed and consistent with typical press release style. No earlier public source for this quote was found, suggesting it may be original to this announcement or first publication.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from Zawya, a website known for business and financial news and press release distribution in the Middle East. While Zawya is credible for regional business news, it acts largely as a distributor of company press releases, so the content may reflect promotional intentions rather than independent journalistic investigation.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
Claims about startup competition sectors, the prize pool, and programme structure align with typical business model competitions and regional initiatives encouraging entrepreneurship in the Gulf. No extraordinary or unverifiable claims were presented, making the content highly plausible.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is a recent press release announcing an upcoming 2025 event, with credible attributed quotes and plausible content consistent with known startup competitions in the Gulf region. The source is moderately reliable as a platform for official announcements. There is no evidence of recycled news or out-of-date information.
