Abu Dhabi: The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development has signed sponsorship and partnership agreements with British Petroleum and Sandooq Al Watan to support the Pitch@Palace competition.

Pitch@Palace is the UAE version of the international contest launched by Prince Andrew, Duke of York, in the United Kingdom in 2014. It targets innovative tech start-ups and SMEs, helping them expand and become leading enterprises locally and internationally, and addresses their financial, marketing, management or development needs, according to a statement from Khalifa Fund.

Twelve submissions will be shortlisted to take part in the final national challenge on October 4 at Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace hotel. Two winners will qualify to participate in the final phase at London’s Saint James Palace in the December this year.