GIST Innovates South Caucasus Eligibility Requirements

Applicant requirements

Program applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible to participate in the 2024 GIST Innovates South Caucasus program:  

1. The applicant must be a citizen of Armenia, Azerbaijan, or Georgia.
2. The application must be complete (described below in Application Instructions).
3. The application must be received by the submission deadline of February 16th, 2024.
4. All applications must focus on science or technology solutions with market potential in the South Caucasus.
5. All applications must include TWO individuals. Individuals applying alone will not be considered. The entire training which includes the in-person launch, virtual participation, and the in-person close of the workshop should be attended by TWO team members. BOTH team members should meet the eligibility requirements. 
6. Startups led by women, and startups that directly advance the interests of women in the countries where they operate are particularly encouraged to apply.

Applications that fall under the following categories will not be accepted:  

1. Research projects with no demonstrable commercial potential .
2. Teams based at a charity or foundation (not-for-profit) organization.
3. Participants in previous in-person GIST activity such as CATALYST pitch competitions or startup trainings.
4. Teams based at organizations that buy and resell technologies and other goods.
5. The applicant must be at least 18 years old and can be through 40 years old on February 16th  (application deadline), and must be able to both read and speak English proficiently. 
6. All materials submitted must be the original work of the applicants.