Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1509516
4 NEWS 12.10.2023 THE Start-Up Festival Malta, which took place at the MFCC on 5 and 6 October, exceeded expectations, with 55 stands, over 1800 registered attendees, over 500 productive meetings in the Dealroom area, and more than 400 engaged specta- tors during the thrilling Pitch Black com- petition. is year's Start-Up Festival was a tes- tament to the strength and growth of the local start-up community. Attendees were treated to a diverse array of start-up exhibits, each showcasing cutting-edge technologies, disruptive business models, and ground breaking solutions. e fes- tival provided a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs, investors, and enthusiasts to come together and explore the latest trends and innovations in various indus- tries. e heart of the festival was the Deal- room area, where over 500 meetings took place between start-ups and potential in- vestors and partners. Entrepreneurs had the chance to pitch their ideas, seek fund- ing, and build valuable relationships with industry leaders. One of the highlights of the event was the Pitch Black competition, where more than 400 eager listeners gathered to wit- ness start-ups present their pitches in a fast-paced and high-stakes environment. e judges as well as the audience faced the challenging task of selecting the win- ners from a pool of exceptionally talented participants. Kurt Farrugia, CEO of Malta Enterprise explained that, "Pitch Black stands as a remarkable success story, showcasing the innovation of our entrepreneurs. is first edition has exceeded our expecta- tions, with more than 40 applicants, out of which 25 female-led startups and hun- dreds of attendees actively listening in to the pitches. We congratulate the winners, and look forward to working closely with them in the coming weeks." Dr Keith M Azzopardi - Co-founder and CEO of Smart Materials Limited, who won the first edition of Pitch Black explained that "We are deeply honoured to have been recognized at the Pitch Black contest. Our heartfelt thanks go to Start- up Festival Malta and Malta Enterprise for this incredible platform. At Smart Ma- terials, our core vision is to revolutionize the materials industry with sustainable, innovative solutions that not only en- hance product quality but also prioritize environmental responsibility. Winning this contest reaffirms our commitment to this mission and propels us further towards making a lasting impact. ank you for believing in our vision." Natallia Miranchuk, founder and CEO of Soula who won the award for Best Female Led Startup award with her solution providing ethical AI in mater- nity: "It was indeed special to compete in the first ever Pitch Black competi- tion at the Startup Festival Malta. We are honoured to win the Best Female led startup award - we also received a huge amount of productive feedback. ank you, Malta, for your warm heart and beautiful festival! It was my first time on the Island but for sure not the last - especially now that the price ser- vice package gives us the opportunity to work with so many Maltese companies." Moreover, the festival boasted an im- pressive lineup of international speakers, including Emmy Award winner Mohsen Mousavi and accomplished interna- tional serial entrepreneur and investor Rina Onur. ese distinguished speakers shared their expertise, experiences, and valuable insights with attendees, further enriching the festival's program and offer- ing a global perspective on entrepreneur- ship and innovation. e festival's success would not have been possible without the support of its sponsors, their dedication to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation was ev- ident throughout the event. e Pitch Black competition was organ- ised in collaboration with AIM and sup- ported by Atlas Insurance, Melita Busi- ness, De Marco and Associates, Trident Park, RSM, Castille Resources, Money- base, Steve's and Co, Plug n Play, Andaria, Founders Taboo, Residency Malta Agen- cy and EU Startups Summit. Startup Festival Malta was supported by Melita Business, Enemed, Circular Econ- omy Malta, Residency Malta Agency, Malta Film Commission, Bank of Valletta, ERA, Wasteserve, Air Malta, WSC and MCST. Pitch Black steals show in 3rd edition brimming with investment, networking, and inspiration Startup Festival Malta energizes local entrepreneurial ecosystem SEPTEMBER was the third con- secutive month during which Mal- ta International Airport saw more than 800,000 passengers. Traffic for September totalled 812,176 passen- ger movements, translating into an increase of 6.5 per cent over 2019 figures. is growth was registered on the back of an increase of 3.0 per cent in seat capacity compared to 2019. De- spite this increase, at 89.2 per cent, the monthly seat load factor (SLF) remained high, indicating that travel demand did not wane. ere were no surprises in the top five markets, with Italy remaining at the top, followed by the United King- dom, Germany, France and Spain. Cumulatively, the top five markets accounted for 66 per cent of Septem- ber's total traffic. While Italy (+48.7 per cent) and France (+46.4 per cent) registered significant growth over 2019, the United Kingdom (-19.1 per cent) and Germany (-23.8 per cent) fared worse than they had in 2019, and Spain reg- istered a minimal drop of 0.1%. Winter flight schedule October is the last summer month for the aviation industry, and Malta International Airport has just pub- lished its new flight schedule for the upcoming winter season here. e schedule features direct flights to 30 different markets, and several already-popular routes, including Vienna, Marseille, Edinburgh, War- saw and Zagreb, will benefit from in- creased flight frequencies. Busy September for Malta International Airport