The U.S. Department of State is excited to announce the launch of the 2019 Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Catalyst pitch competition at the 2019 Global Entrepreneurship Summit in The Hague, Netherlands. Through the pitch competition, young STEM entrepreneurs with innovative solutions will be able to showcase their scale-ups to an international audience at GES 2019.

Catalyst offers young STEM entrepreneurs the opportunity to elevate their pitch and present their scale-ups on an international stage. Through the competition, participants also receive valuable startup training from American academics who are leaders in the field of science and technology. The 2019 pitch competition will take place the same dates as the GES, which are June 4 -5, 2019.

Young innovators who have participated in GIST Catalyst have secured funding for their ventures, collaborated with the United States private sector, and built new business partnerships. Launched during GES 2017 in Hyderabad, India, Catalyst provided 24 entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their scale-ups to high-impact investors, policy makers, and leaders in the U.S. private sector. The prize pool included startup resources from Amazon Web Servicers, Google, Alice, Cognizant, and Dell that totaled more than $450,000 USD.

Entrepreneurs with investment-ready scale-ups that address global challenges in health, energy, water, food/agriculture, and connectivity/infrastructure are encouraged to apply to the 2019 GIST Catalyst pitch competition. Click on this link to apply.

In order to apply, interested entrepreneurs must first submit an application to GES 2019. In the GES application there is a section for applicants to confirm they want to participate in a GIST Network pitch competition. Click on that box in order to indicate you are interested in competing in GIST Catalyst. Once confirmed, the GIST Catalyst team will reach out with further details.

The governments of the Netherlands and the United States will co-host the ninth GES in the Hauge, to drive global innovation and celebrate the free-market economy that supports jobs, growth, and problem solving. GES 2019 will promote economic growth, fair trade, and encourage investments that lead to entrepreneurial activity that creates prosperity and opportunities.

GES is the preeminent annual gathering that convenes entrepreneurs, investors, and their supporters globally. Since 2010, an estimated 20,000 emerging leaders have participated, and governments and the private sector have committed to provide more than $1 billion in new capital to entrepreneurs worldwide.