The pitch competition in Abu Dhabi we run is Proof of Pitch, held inside Proof of Talk Abu Dhabi on 3–4 December 2026 at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. It is for pre-seed and seed startups, it is free to apply, and no equity is taken.
What founders get
- A stage. Winners pitch on the main stage, in front of the room.
- The judges for two days. The page says the judges stay in the room for two days, in a capped room of 2,000, so ten minutes on stage is the start of the conversation, not the end of it.
- No cost to enter and no equity. That is stated on the competition page.
The prize pool is not announced yet, so we do not quote one. The page says it will land with the jury.
Who it is for
Pre-seed or seed companies that have not closed an institutional Series A. If you are further along, a different stage of event will serve you better.
What to check on any pitch competition
Ask whether it takes equity, what the entry costs, who the judges are and whether they stay beyond the pitch. We wrote what a crypto startup pitch competition should give you as a longer checklist.
Apply
All details and the application are on the Proof of Pitch page. Entering the competition is separate from attending the summit; to attend, request access. See the edition page for the full event.
How this guide was made
Proof of Talk's editorial team wrote it on 15 November 2026 from the facts published on our own pages and the Proof of Talk fact sheet. We organise the events it mentions, so it is not a neutral comparison, and it makes no claim about any other event.