pitch-competitions
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Startup Tucson makes room for the dumpling founder
A dumpling business and a clinical software company can share a startup stage. In Southern Arizona, that is a clue to how Startup Tucson thinks an economy gets built.
Startupfest puts your pitch to the grandmother test
In Montréal, a startup festival pairs investor access with a jury that has little patience for jargon. Its real product is the carefully arranged encounter.
Build in Tulsa Bets That Startup Capital Should Pay the Babysitter, Too
The Tulsa nonprofit treats the founder's life as part of the cap table - pairing accelerators and investor access with childcare, health care, workspace and cash that takes no equity.
Step
Step is a new-media and events company that runs one of the largest technology festivals in the Middle East and North Africa. Founded by Ray Dargham in 2011, it stages the annual Step Conference in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, publishes tech newsletters and social platforms like StepFeed, and connects founders, investors and builders. From a first edition of roughly 100 people, it has grown to draw more than 8,000 attendees, with startups featured on its stages collectively raising billions in funding. In 2026 the company extended its model to San Francisco with an AI-focused edition.