Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1256426
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 JUNE 2020 11 CULTURE NATURE edition of MITA YouStartIT Validator COMMERCIAL "The content is designed to help the start- ups clearly frame the problem they wish to solve, prove that there is a potential market for their tech solution, understand who their competitors are and learn if their business model can sustain a company in the future" gies Lab will also be made avail- able for any startup founders that require it. The main purpose of the Vali- dator of course has not changed. Startup founders participating in this programme will be val- idating their startup idea to un- derstand whether their project is viable and worth pursuing. Jarek Bialek, the entrepre- neur-in-residence responsible for the programme content, commented: "The content is designed to help the start-ups clearly frame the problem they wish to solve, prove that there is a potential market for their tech solution, understand who their compet- itors are and learn if their busi- ness model can sustain a com- pany in the future." COVID-19 has increased demand for the digitisation of the "new normal" and the fast-tracking of innovations and business continuity solutions in sectors such as healthcare, transport, retail, commerce, ca- tering, enterprise tech and real estate, among many others. So for this edition of the YouStartIT Validator, MITA is primarily looking for start-up founders with innovative ide- as needed to the "new normal" resulting from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. These could be solutions that aid business continuity in in- dustries like healthcare, trans- port, retail, catering, real estate and many others. The MIH will accept a maximum of 10 start-up founders for this pro- gramme. Up to four of the best projects will be selected to participate in the next YouStartIT Accel- erator and receive a grant of up to €30,000 to continue growing and move to the next stage of funding. Like the startups it supports, the MIH is always eager and ready to adapt to new changes in the environment in order to keep developing and growing the Maltese startup ecosystem. Deborah Schiavone, Senior Executive at MITA Innovation Hub