Boeing and 1776 to support Mena start-ups

Dubai

Boeing and 1776 announced their partnership to support tech start-ups in Middle East and North Africa. Through this partnership, Boeing will sponsor Challenge Cup Dubai, one of 75 local pitch competitions taking place in cities around the world as part of 1776’s Challenge Cup, a search for the best technology start-ups tackling challenges in complex, regulated industries.

Boeing will also work directly with start-ups through the 1776 Dubai campus located in Jumeirah Emirates Towers, alongside the Dubai Future Accelerators.

“Challenge Cup Dubai is exciting for Boeing HorizonX as we look to cultivate the best and brightest minds from across the Middle East and North Africa,” said Steve Nordlund, Vice-President of Boeing HorizonX, the company’s innovation cell that focuses on accelerating potentially transformative aerospace technologies, manufacturing innovations and emerging business models.

The local Challenge Cup Dubai competition takes place September 21. Each local winner will compete at the Global Finals at Challenge Festival in New York City in November. The deadline to apply for Challenge Cup Dubai is September 1.

“The global Challenge Cup is not only a series of local pitch competitions but also a platform to showcase start-ups from around the world to leading organisations, such as Boeing, looking for direct solutions and technological advances in their operations,” Evan Burfield, 1776 global co-Founder & CEO, said in a statement on Sunday.

“At 1776, we are constantly seeking to provide opportunities to bridge the gap between start-ups and institutions to collaborate on transformative technologies,” he added.

Through this relationship, 1776 will continue to activate its regional and global partner network to identify the best start-ups, especially those whose technology has the potential to transform the future of the aviation industry. Boeing will demonstrate its global commitment to innovation by nurturing the growth of start-ups participating in Challenge Cup Dubai, as well as those working in 1776’s Dubai campus.