Armenia's Sevan Startup Event in July

The registration process for participating in the Sevan Startup Summit 2017 in Armenia has started with organizers welcoming teams from around the globe, including Iran.

This year the event is likely to bigger than the previous editions. Being the first informal startup event in the region and the first startup tent camp in the world, the upcoming edition will host 70 international startup teams (seed stage, early stage and business stage), as well as 30 software engineering teams, Armenian News Agency reported.

Up to 25 local business trainers and mentors, venture capital companies, angel investors and guests from each country from across the globe are welcome to apply, the organizers said.

Organized in the form of tent camping with an inspiring view of Lake Sevan (the biggest lake in the country) in Gegharkunik Province, the week-long event from July 24-31, promises to help startups gain more traction and connect with investors.

The format of this year's meet is quite different from the previous round: participants will have the opportunity to attend lectures (July 24-28) to be conducted by international business trainers.

Business stage startup teams will have a chance to pitch angel investors and venture companies during the two-day Camp Fire Pitch (July 25-26), organized for the first time at the event.

Developer teams will also have a chance to present software solutions and win grants during the 24-hour Campathon (July 27-28). Seed stage startups will compete with each other in the Idea Battle (July 29) and early stage startups will compete in the Big Battle (July 30).

Vahag Rapyan, head of the organizational team, addressed the possibility of realizing such an intense schedule in an informal environment:

“The success and positive energy of Sevan Startup Summit 2016 (held last August) obliged us to expand the event this year. We are exerting a huge effort to conduct all the programs scheduled at the highest level."

More than 100 teams will take part in the summit this year, around 15 of which will compete for prizes. The prize fund of Sevan Startup Summit 2017 comprises $40,000. Selected from numerous applicants, the "participating startup teams will have a unique chance to find investors and expand business relations,” organizers said.

Those interested in attending the event can apply on their website, www.ssm.am