Youth Pitches 8 - Solve What Matters: Water and Beyond

Youth Pitches (YP) is an initiative of the Arab Youth Center that supports young entrepreneurs building bold, future-focused solutions to today's most pressing challenges. The 8th edition is part of the road to the 2026 United Nations Water Conference (UNWC), co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Senegal in Abu Dhabi (8-10 December). Under the theme "Solve What Matters: Water and Beyond," YP8 invites young water entrepreneurs to join a specialized virtual training program and compete in a pitch challenge. Finalists will also present their solutions at the UNWC. About this form Only one team member per startup or project should complete this form, with their personal and project details. Other team members may join the virtual training once the organizers confirm it. If your team reaches the on-ground finale, the member registered here will represent the team. Eligibility • You must be between 18 and 35 years old. • At least 50% of your team must be in the same age range. • You must be proficient in English, because the program will be delivered in English. • You must attend the full training program. Missing more than two sessions without a valid excuse will disqualify you from shortlisting. Key dates • Virtual training: 2–20 November 2026. All accepted participants train for 2 weeks, and the top 20 continue for a third week. • On-ground training: the 3 days before the finale, for the 6 finalists. • Grand finale at the UNWC: 8–10 December 2026 (exact date TBC). If you have not heard from us by 28 October 2026, your application was not shortlisted for this edition.

Full Name (First & Last) *

As stated in your passport

Gender *

Date of Birth *

UTC

Nationality *

Please write the full and official name of your country in English (ex: United Arab Emirates)

Country of Residence *

Please write the full and official name of your country of residence in English (ex: United Arab Emirates)

City of Residence *

Please write the full and official name of your city of residence in English.

Phone Number (with country code; ex: +971) *

Please make sure that your phone number is accurate and has WhatsApp on it.

Email Address *

Confirm Email Address *

Submitting inaccurate email address will prevent us from reaching out to you.

Position or Title *

Organization or Entity *

Tell us about yourself *

Maximum 500 Characters

Formal Personal Picture *

Please make sure that the picture is clear and in high resolution. This picture will be used to announce the participants of this edition & used thoughout the program.

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Resume / CV *

In PDF format only

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LinkedIn Profile

Valid Passport Copy *

Please make sure that the passport copy is clear and has all the essential details without any cropping.

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Emirates ID (For Emiratis and UAE residents)

Two sides of the ID. Mandatory for Emiratis and UAE residents.

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Acquaintance Document (Please fill and upload) *

Please download the Acquaintance Document and complete it electronically by copying the link below into a new web page, then upload it back to this question. Acquaintance Document https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wqdqe5fm6b7ou9ylllbed/.pdf?rlkey=k7tnwrsy0xzk0o2ss86e6f0qm&st=b5se5hb6&e=1&dl=1 Please fill in the form with as much applicable information as possible, especially your parents' details, residential address, passport information, and signature. You may leave blank any fields that do not apply to you, such as those related to residing in the UAE. If you are unable to complete the form electronically, you may print it, fill it in by hand, and then upload it here.

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The language of this initiative is English, what is your level of English proficiency? *

Name of the project/startup *

Startup Logo *

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How old is the startup today? *

What stage would describe you startup currently? *

Do you get any financial return from this startup? *

How many team members are there in this startup? *

Tell us about the start-up *

Provide a project brief/deck *

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Any related links you want to add?

Describe the specific challenge your startup addresses in manufacturing, logistics, or industrial production, how your solution works, and who your target customers are. *

Explain how your solution supports smart manufacturing, eco-friendly production, the circular economy, or sustainable production technologies. *

Share specific, measurable results with numbers and timeframes (e.g., customers, pilots, revenue, partnerships, waste reduced, or efficiency gained). How is your solution better, faster, or cheaper than existing alternatives? *

Explain how your startup generates revenue, your key goals for the next 12–24 months, and who is on your founding team and why you are the right people to deliver this. *

Have you participated in any of the initiatives of the Arab Youth Center? *

What was the AYC initiative that you have participated in? *

How did you hear about Youth Pitches 8? *

Acknowledgement and Consent *

I confirm that I will attend all lectures and workshops of the Youth Pitches initiative, and I will submit my work on time, and I understand that missing more than two days and/or skipping submissions will make me ineligible to qualify for the finals. I consent to the use of my personal photo, along with my name and my country's flag, in an official post on the Arab Youth Center's platforms to announce the participants of this edition of the initiative. I understand that, if I qualify for the final stage, the Arab Youth Center may be unable to obtain my entry visa to the United Arab Emirates. The Center will apply for the visa through the relevant authorities but will not be responsible for the visa being approved. I understand that if I do not receive a response confirming my acceptance into the initiative by 28 October 2026, this indicates that my profile has not been accepted into this edition.