Time
Venue
About the event
Cities serve as crucial hubs for the daily lives, work, and activities of billions of people worldwide. The growing global population and heightened risks stemming from human activities have given rise to numerous problems and challenges in the daily lives of urban dwellers, disrupting sustainable and balanced development in urban environments.
The first innovation challenge event in Asian cities strives to engage citizens across this vast continent, harnessing their innovation and creativity to address urban challenges. This event not only seeks to support the business environment in this domain but also aims to assist cities in solving small and medium-scale challenges, contributing to their overall development.
Participants
Seed
- Individuals or groups with initial ideas
- Newcomers or newly-formed groups
- Individuals eager to learn essential teamwork skills
- Individuals looking to enter new businesses
Sprout
- Small groups with a defined idea
- Those interested in mastering a robust and effective presentation method
- Individuals or teams lacking an initial product
- Individuals or teams lacking a specific business plan and growth model
- Those aiming to attract accelerators
Sapling
- Start-up businesses with modest initial capital
- Individuals or teams with a known target market
- Individuals or teams with a specific business plan and growth model
- Individuals or teams seeking to attract capital and investors
- Those looking to develop the target market and increase product sales
Urban Challenges
Cities throughout Asia have identified a range of small to medium-scale challenges across various sectors, shared with the secretariat of the Asian Mayors Forum. Now, it’s your opportunity to contribute solutions to these challenges using your ideas, designs, and products, and become part of the urban business landscape. Upon registration, our trainers will furnish participants with a comprehensive list of identified urban challenges.
Event Process
- 1st Step: Gathering challenges from Asian cities – until January 20, 2024
- 2nd Step: Participant registration in three levels – until March 20, 2024
- 3rd Step: Assessing participants based on their level – until April 5, 2024
- 4th Step: Reviewing ideas and businesses, aligning them with urban challenges – until April 20, 2024
- 5th Step: Hosting a three-day event in Tehran city –July 3-5, 2024
- 6th Step: Providing support to top ideas and projects by cities, accelerators, and investors – throughout the year
What participants event will receive
- Top teams
- All Participants
Seed
First-place
- $1000 cash prize
- 1 year of free education from the Maktabkhaneh platform for each group member
Seed
Second-place
- $800 cash prize
- 1 year of free education from the Maktabkhaneh platform for each group member
Seed
Third-place
- $500 cash prize
- 1 year of free education from the Maktabkhaneh platform for each group member
Sprout
Minimum rewarded capital:$50000
- Get 6 months of free space in the science and technology park of your province
Sapling
Minimum rewarded capital:$50000
- Get 6 months of free space in the science and technology park of your province
- An international certificate of attendance at the event
- Access to nine specialized training workshops
- Free mentorship with international coaches exclusive to each category (seed, bud, seedling)
- Four nights of complimentary accommodation with meals, snacks, and transportation service to the event venue
- Opportunity to engage in the international business environment and present ideas/plans/products to Asian cities’ authorities, ambassadors…
- Chance to interact and exchange culture and experiences with fellow Asian citizens
- Ability to participate in bilateral and multilateral meetings with investors, heads of successful businesses, and cities’ officials from across Asia, after coordination by the event organizers
- Possibility of receiving a full grant or entrance grant for all participants
- Opportunity to network with successful business owners from across the Asian continent
Event Program
July 2
July 3
July 4
July 5
July 6
- Greeting participants at their accommodations
- Initial meeting and introduction at the event venue
- Initial team building and finalization of ideas
- Opening ceremony
- Teams’ deployment at the venue
- Conducting exclusive mentorship sessions
- Teams arriving at the event venue
- Conducting specialized training workshops
- Conducting preliminary training workshops
- Facilitating dedicated mentorship sessions
- Holding bilateral meetings with accelerators and investors (by prior arrangement)
- Organizing bilateral meetings with urban officials from participating cities (by prior arrangement)
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Download
- Teams arriving at the event venue
- Conducting exclusive mentorship sessions
- Evaluating the teams by category (seed, bud, seedling)
- Closing the event and announcing the final results
- Departure of participants from their accommodations
Register
Early birds Registration
Registration Fee: $ 100
Registration Deadline: March 20, 2024
(Applicants may qualify for a full grants)
Regular Registration
Registration Fee: $ 150
Registration Deadline: April 5, 2024
(Applicants may qualify for a full grant)
Late Registration
Registration Fee: $ 200
Registration Deadline: April 20, 2024
Special discount for group registration
- Mentors
- Coaches
- Jury
- Organizers
- Special guests
Ali A.Alraouf
Prof. of Architecture and Urbanism
ISOCARP Board
Member
Doha, Qatar
Ar.Rajendra Kumar
Architect, Urban Designer, Curator
New Delhi, India
Mahdi Ghaemi Nia
Innovation, Smartification, & Digital technologies
Katayoun Sepehri
Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Advisor
Sina Ataee
Urban Innovation
Strategist
CESAM & DAO University of Aveiro, Portugal
Navid Falahat
Innovative Project Developer and Designer
Soroush Baghban
Urban Innovation Researcher and Facilitator
Afshin Khaki
Local Business Development Manager
Vira Ameli
Evidence-based health and social policy
Mehdi Parvin
Patent Analysis
Sara Salimi Namin
Technology and Innovation Management, and Inventive Problem Solving
Farshad Hagh-Panah
Startup Administration, Startup Finance, and Wealth Management
Soheil Abbasi
Board member & Deputy for Innovation, HamAva Innovation Factory
TBC
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TBC
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Hamidreza Gholamzadeh
Secretary General, Asian Mayors Forum
Saeid Zahedi
Head of Scientific & Training Workgroup
Amir Tajkhah
Head of Investment Workgroup
Zahra Golmohammadi
Head of Planning Workgroup
Alireza Abbasian
Head of Executive Workgroup
Sina Hashemi Aghdam
Head of Branding Workgroup
Arash Sorouri
MC
Mahshid Taghikhani
Participants Affairs
TBC
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TBC
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TBC
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TBC
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Organizers
Sponsors
Organizing partners
Startup ecosystem partners
Cities participating in the event
Frequently Asked Questions
Our event will commence on the morning of Wednesday, April 24, 2024, with an introductory program and will conclude with the closing program on the night of Friday, April 26, 2024.
Participants coming from other cities and countries should plan their arrival accordingly to ensure attendance at the event introduction meeting on the morning of Wednesday, April 24.
Yes, registration is open for both individuals and groups across all three sections.
Absolutely, this event is international, welcoming innovative individuals, groups, and businesses from across Asia to participate.
Certainly, participants will receive an international bilingual certificate accredited by the Asian Mayors Forum and international organizations collaborating in organizing this event.
No, there are no age or educational restrictions for participation in this event. All citizens with ideas, products, or businesses will have the opportunity to participate, provided they are initially accepted.
No, the main language is Farsi. However, translators will be available for foreign participants, and all organizing teams are proficient in English. It’s also recommended that participants have a basic understanding of English to enhance their experience and interaction with other foreign attendees.
No, accommodation will be provided by the event organizers from April 23 to April 27, 2024, for all participants.
Snapp (an Iranian ride-sharing application) will provide transportation to your accommodation from all terminals using the discount code #incitySW1. Additionally, regular transportation will be available from the accommodation to the event venue, and the opening and closing ceremonies, throughout the event.
Yes, the organizer provides all meals during the event. We accommodate various dietary needs, so please inform us of any restrictions or food allergies during registration.
This event offers you the chance to showcase your ideas to city officials and investors from across Asia, presenting your concepts, designs, or products on an international platform. Moreover, you’ll collaborate with participants from various countries, fostering an exchange of experiences and ideas.
The registration fee includes accommodation for four days and four nights, meals and snacks, access to workshops, mentorship sessions, additional programs, and any necessary tools required for participation in the event.
A limited number of grants are available for deserving participants, awarded based on meeting the conditions outlined in the registration form.
A full grant covers all expenses related to the event, including travel and registration fees, while an entrance grant only covers the registration fees.
While some basic supplies like mugs, note sheets, and stationery will be provided, it’s advisable to bring your own personal computer, charger, and any other necessary devices.
