The RISE Project (Reinforcing Integration of Skills for Employability and Internationalisation in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq) is pleased to launch the 1st edition of RISE Start Cup Competition 2026. The competition aims to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00b7 Promote innovation, entrepreneurship, employability, and international cooperation among students from the partner universities of the RISE Project (Italy, Spain and Kurdistan region of Iraq)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00b7 It provides students with an opportunity to transform innovative ideas into practical solutions addressing current societal, economic, environmental, and educational challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00b7 Designed to drive sustainable development, the RISE Start Cup challenges students to launch entrepreneurial projects that enhance job skills, global reach, and university-business cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Theme of the Competition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Participants are invited to submit innovative project ideas related to the following topic:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFrom Local Ideas to Global Impact: Cross-Border Innovation for Sustainable Communities and Regional Development\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Objectives<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The main objectives of the RISE Start Cup are the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 To promote an entrepreneurial culture among students<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 To enhance employability opportunities and future skills<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 To encourage innovative solutions to address societal and economic challenges<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 To foster cooperation between partner universities<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 To strengthen international networking and partnership opportunities<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eligibility<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to participate in the RISE Start Cup, the following are the main eligibility criteria that university partners will have to fulfill:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Each RISE partner university may nominate one students\u2019 team to participate in the RISE Start Cup Competition;<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Each team must consist of minimum two students up to four students (being aware that the project budget can cover up to two students\u2019 participation during the days of the competition);<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Students shall be enrolled in a Bachelor degree;<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Each partner university will select one academic mentor (professor or lecturer);<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Participants must be enrolled at a RISE partner university during the project lifetime (academic year 2025-2026);<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. The participation is open to every faculty interested;<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7. Teams will present an innovative business idea;<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8. The overall activity is conducted in English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Event Dates and Venue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n RISE Start Cup 2026: 9-10 November<\/strong> 2026 at Duhok Polytechnic University, Duhok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RISE Networking Event: 11 November 2026 at University of Zakho, Zakho<\/p>\n\n\n\n Competition requirements for the selection by the university<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each team willing to participate shall submit by August 31st<\/sup> :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 One-page CV<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Executive Summary about the innovative project idea (maximum 2 pages)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 One-page motivation letter<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 To fill in the application form here: https:\/\/forms.gle\/MCdJBsSmwXhAGgAEA<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Selected university\u2019s teams will follow a training\/engagement path starting from mid-September until the Start Cup Competition Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each university team will have to submit the following materials to the RISE jury by October 29th:<\/p>\n\n\n\n o Business Model Canvas<\/p>\n\n\n\n o Pitch Deck Presentation (maximum 8-10 slides)<\/p>\n\n\n\n o Short video presentation (maximum 3 minutes) or project poster<\/p>\n\n\n\n o For all these materials, the university will share the project templates to be used<\/p>\n\n\n\n Requirements for the final selection during the day of the Start Cup Competition:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Business project ideas must demonstrate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Innovation and originality<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Relevance to the competition theme<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Potential impact<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Sustainability<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Feasibility and scalability<\/p>\n\n\n\n START CUP phases and Selection Process<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Phase 1 \u2013 Publication of the Call for the Start Cup and Internal University Selection<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Application by the students teams shall be submitted by August 31st, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Each partner university will organize a local selection process and nominate one best team by September 15th, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phase 2 \u2013 Preparation\/online cross-cultural mentorship between mid-September and end of October<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 All the students teams selected will participate in at least 4 webinars of preparation (organised with UNIMED Start Cup, UMU and UNINT and local stakeholders)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phase 3 \u2013 Start Cup competition, evaluation of the Jury and award<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 The jury, composed of 1 representative of the HE Ministry + 1 from NGOs and civil society + 1 from local authorities + 1 Alumni + 1 from industry, will evaluate the above-mentioned materials and the pitch on the day of the Start Cup Competition according to predefined criteria in order to select the best innovative business idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Three finalists will be selected and will present their projects during the Networking Event in Zakho University; all the teams will attend the Networking Event<\/p>\n\n\n\n Evaluation criteria<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The business ideas are evaluated according to the following criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Innovation and creativity (25%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Feasibility and implementation potential (20%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Social and economic impact (20%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Contribution to employability and internationalisation (15%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Sustainability and scalability (10%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Quality of presentation and pitching (10%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n RISE Start Cup Awards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Certificates of Excellence<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Mentorship opportunities<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Visibility through RISE and UNIMED networks<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Opportunities for future collaboration and project development<\/p>\n\n\n\n Proposed agenda for Start Cup and Networking Event<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 1: Arrival of the partners (students and faculty members) in Duhok during the day. An intercultural activity for the students as an ice-breaking activity will be organised, followed by a welcome social dinner<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 2: Start Cup Competition at DPU + social dinner<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 3: Transfer from Duhok to Zakho in early morning around 8 am for the Networking Event, which will last the entire day. The morning would be dedicated to roundtables with stakeholders, while the afternoon would focus on networking activities, followed <\/p>\n\n\n\n by a dinner in Zakho<\/p>\n\n\n\n .Event Dates and Venue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n RISE Start Cup 2026: 9-10 November<\/strong> 2026 at Duhok Polytechnic University, Duhok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RISE Networking Event: 11 November 2026 at University of Zakho, Zakho<\/p>\n\n\n\n Competition requirements for the selection by the university<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each team willing to participate shall submit by August 31st<\/sup> :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 One-page CV<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Executive Summary about the innovative project idea (maximum 2 pages)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 One-page motivation letter<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 To fill in the application form here: https:\/\/forms.gle\/MCdJBsSmwXhAGgAEA<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Selected university\u2019s teams will follow a training\/engagement path starting from mid-September until the Start Cup Competition Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each university team will have to submit the following materials to the RISE jury by October 29th:<\/p>\n\n\n\n o Business Model Canvas<\/p>\n\n\n\n o Pitch Deck Presentation (maximum 8-10 slides)<\/p>\n\n\n\n o Short video presentation (maximum 3 minutes) or project poster<\/p>\n\n\n\n o For all these materials, the university will share the project templates to be used<\/p>\n\n\n\n Requirements for the final selection during the day of the Start Cup Competition:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Business project ideas must demonstrate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Innovation and originality<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Relevance to the competition theme<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Potential impact<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Sustainability<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Feasibility and scalability<\/p>\n\n\n\n START CUP phases and Selection Process<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Phase 1 \u2013 Publication of the Call for the Start Cup and Internal University Selection<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Application by the students teams shall be submitted by August 31st, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Each partner university will organize a local selection process and nominate one best team by September 15th, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phase 2 \u2013 Preparation\/online cross-cultural mentorship between mid-September and end of October<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 All the students teams selected will participate in at least 4 webinars of preparation (organised with UNIMED Start Cup, UMU and UNINT and local stakeholders)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phase 3 \u2013 Start Cup competition, evaluation of the Jury and award<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 The jury, composed of 1 representative of the HE Ministry + 1 from NGOs and civil society + 1 from local authorities + 1 Alumni + 1 from industry, will evaluate the above-mentioned materials and the pitch on the day of the Start Cup Competition according to predefined criteria in order to select the best innovative business idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Three finalists will be selected and will present their projects during the Networking Event in Zakho University; all the teams will attend the Networking Event<\/p>\n\n\n\n Evaluation criteria<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The business ideas are evaluated according to the following criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Innovation and creativity (25%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Feasibility and implementation potential (20%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Social and economic impact (20%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Contribution to employability and internationalisation (15%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Sustainability and scalability (10%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Quality of presentation and pitching (10%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n RISE Start Cup Awards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Certificates of Excellence<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Mentorship opportunities<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Visibility through RISE and UNIMED networks<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Opportunities for future collaboration and project development<\/p>\n\n\n\n Proposed agenda for Start Cup and Networking Event<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 1: Arrival of the partners (students and faculty members) in Duhok during the day. An intercultural activity for the students as an ice-breaking activity will be organised, followed by a welcome social dinner<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 2: Start Cup Competition at DPU + social dinner<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 3: Transfer from Duhok to Zakho in early morning around 8 am for the Networking Event, which will last the entire day. The morning would be dedicated to roundtables with stakeholders, while the afternoon would focus on networking activities, followed by a dinner in Zakho.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participation in the Networking Event<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The same student teams selected for the RISE 2026 Start Cup, together with their academic mentors, will participate in the Networking Event. Each partner university is entitled to send three students and one professor to attend both events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contact Information<\/p>\n\n\n\n For further information, participants are encouraged to contact their university focal points:<\/p>\n\n\n\n RISE Local Coordination Team<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Asst. Prof. Dr. Awder Mohammed Ahmed, Sulaimani Polytechnic University<\/p>\n\n\n\n Email: awder.ahmed@spu.edu.iq<\/a> Project website: https:\/\/www.risekrdproject.eu\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n