The largest global real estate developments are currently taking place in Saudi Arabia, and they want to work with you. Saudi Arabia has seen significant investment in recent years, with a particular focus on developing world-class cities and urban areas.
Over the next 25 years, the convergence of technology and strategic innovation is set to transform our world. AI-driven cities will enhance urban living, blockchain and tokenization will revolutionize finance and investment, the Metaverse will transform how we interact and work, and all new frontiers across the galaxy will be at our fingertips.
This Future of living Challenge at Cityscape Global aims to foster creativity and collaboration among stakeholders worldwide. The challenge provides a platform for those innovations that promise to address global challenges, drive economic growth, and redefine the future of living.
Can you demonstrate a solution that addresses these challenges? Do you want to contribute to creating world-class cities that enhance the lives of everyone? If so, submit your pitch for an opportunity to be on stage at the world’s largest real estate event, in Riyadh on 11-14th November 2024.
What are some examples of solutions we are looking for?
- Smart cities: Solutions that integrate advanced technologies, IoT, and data analytics to enhance urban living, improve city infrastructure, and promote sustainability.
- Urban transportation and mobility: Solutions that improve urban mobility, develop sustainable transportation options, empower vertical mobility within cities or integrate smart traffic management systems.
- International and regional transportation and mobility: Innovative solutions in land, air and maritime travel including hyperloop, rail, drone and UAS, hybrid land and water vehicles and more.
- Smart buildings: Solutions that implement advanced automation, AIoT, or integrated building management technologies.
- Digitization tools: Solutions that promote digital transformation through advanced software, data analytics, or cloud-based platforms.
- 5G and cloud computing: Solutions that leverage the power of 5G networks and cloud computing for enhanced connectivity, data processing, and service delivery.
- Resilient infrastructure: Solutions that develop adaptive, resilient infrastructure to withstand natural disasters, climate change, and urban stressors.
- Remote learning and living: Solutions that enhance virtual education platforms, remote work environments, or hybrid living spaces.
- Health and wellness: Solutions that utilize advanced technology for personalized healthcare, telemedicine, wearable health devices, and wellness monitoring.
- Strategic organizational tools: Solutions that optimize business processes, improve decision-making, or enhance organizational efficiency through strategic tools and frameworks.
- Blockchain and tokenization: Solutions that utilize blockchain technology for secure transactions, smart contracts, or tokenization of assets.
- Investment tools: Solutions that facilitate alternative investment opportunities through crowdfunding platforms, digital currencies and Decentralized Finance (DeFi).
- Human-centric data: Solutions that measure and analyze the well-being, happiness and satisfaction of urban residents through innovative data collection and analysis tools.
- Future of work: Solutions that redefine work environments, promote flexible work arrangements, or enhance workforce productivity through technology.
- AI and ASI: Solutions that harness the capabilities of artificial intelligence and artificial superintelligence for advanced problem-solving, automation, and innovation.
- HMI: Solutions that deploy human-machine interfaces to assist people with disabilities, enhance human capabilities, or create more intuitive interactions with technology.
- Security and data privacy: Solutions that ensure robust cybersecurity measures, data protection, and privacy management.
- Space: Solutions that explore space technology advancements, space exploration, or satellite communication systems.
- Industry 4.0: Solutions that integrate smart manufacturing, IoT, and advanced robotics to revolutionize industrial processes.
- Metaverse and XR: Solutions that create immersive experiences through the metaverse, extended reality, or virtual and augmented reality applications.
What are we not looking for?
- Vendor lock-in solutions
- Solutions that are not cost effective
- Solutions that are difficult to implement logistically
- Solutions with no track record of success
About the Show and Competition Format:
Cityscape Global is the world’s largest real estate event, welcoming over 160,000 attendees. 380 industry-leading speakers, 300 exhibitors and every Saudi Arabian GIGA Project under one roof, in 2023.
The event is growing even further in 2024, with an expected audience of 200,000+ and 500 speakers across 6 stages, covering a broad range of topics and areas related to urbanism, technology, investment and the future of living. This edition is taking place at the Riyadh Exhibition & Conference Centre – Malham on 11 – 14 November 2024.
- 20 semifinalists will be chosen to present live at the show, per category
- Each semifinal consists of 10 participants and 5 judges, with back-to-back pitches over a 1.5-hour time period.
- The live semifinals will be viewed by an audience of government stakeholders, key developers, and leading investors present at Cityscape Global
- 1 finalist will be chosen per semifinal, to present on the Cityscape Global Mainstage as part of the Innovation Challenges final showdown, where the 6 finalists will present again in front of an audience of 1,000 industry experts and globally renowned judges
- 1 final winner is selected per category by the judges
What do successful submissions (semifinalists) receive?
- Direct access to the most exciting global real estate market
- Opportunity to pitch in front of an audience that includes every Saudi GIGA project
- Matchmaking with VCs and investors, as well as end-users and potential buyers
The 6 overall Finalist receive additional benefits:
- Marketing exposure and presence in the competition press release
- Interviews pre-event for Cityscape Global 2025
What does the winner receive?
Prize money to be determined.
1st Place Winner per category receives:
- A possible pilot project with one of the jury members’ companies
- Media Exposure and interviews during Cityscape Global 2024
- Complementary 9 sqm (3x3) equipped booth at Cityscape Global 2025 (worth $9,604 USD)
- Complementary Panel speaker slot in Cityscape Global 2025 – “The Winners circle -12 month on” content session
- Marketing exposure and interviews pre-event for Cityscape Global 2025
- Possible access to 12-month complementary office space in Riyadh (via sponsors)
Selection and invitation:
20 companies per category (60 total) will be selected and invited to Cityscape Global 2024.
- There is no submission fee, and a complimentary Event Pass to Cityscape Global 2024 will be provided
- Entrants must cover their own flight, accommodation and other expense during the event
- Additional benefits: Cityscape Innovation Challenge participants receive a discounted rate on a Startup-Pod-Package at the exhibition, for $3.500 USD
Rules to participate
- Participant must be a registered company.
- Innovative solutions must comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
- Participant must be able to demonstrate a working prototype/product/service.
The pitch deck (max. 20 slides)
Your initial submission will be evaluated by a jury to evaluate your solutions. On the pitch day, semifinalists will be able to use a more comprehensive slide desk.
This must include:
A. Elevator pitch about your company
B. Product Description. Provide a clear description of your innovative solution/product/business
C. Using a business case / success case, describe the added value of your solution
D. Introduce your founding/key team members and provide an overview of how many team members in total FTE
The pitch document may be submitted as a presentation deck or in letter format, and must be in English language. Uploaded files must be in PDF format: A4 size (portrait/landscape), max. 30MB. Links to videos, examples, websites etc. may be included.
Timeline
- Application deadline: 13th September 23:59 Central European Time
- Selection Period: 17th August – 13th September
- Announcement & Invites: 13th September (60 companies overall)
- Semifinal Preparation submission: Slides to be sent in by 31st October 2024 (no late submissions will be accepted)
- Semifinals: 11-13th November 2024
- Final: 14th November 2024
Concept program Semifinals & Finals:
- Pitches: 4 minutes
- Jury questions: 4 minutes
- Jury deliberations
- Finals including award ceremony on the Main Stage of Cityscape Global on the 14th of November 2024