SEF launches global search for top startups through Pitch Competition

The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF 2026) is now accepting applications for its flagship SEF Pitch Competition x ITank, issuing a global call to visionary founders ready to present their most ambitious startups on a world stage.

- Staff Reporter, Gulf Today

Held during the festival, the competition is a gateway to opportunities; and competing founders will contend for a share of Dhs200,000 in total grants and the potential to secure additional investor funding, all while connecting with the region's most influential investors and industry leaders.

Organised by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) in partnership with 'ITank'; an initiative under the community group 'Itrepreneur'; this initiative underscores Sharjah's growing prominence as a hub for creativity, sustainable innovation, and entrepreneurial excellence. The competition is centered on four key sectors poised to define the future, namely, EdTech, Sustainability, Creative Industries, and Tech & Industry 4.0. By focusing on these areas, SEF continues its mission to elevate ventures that tackle pressing global challenges and drive meaningful progress.