Bagher Bahri said in a statement that the largest hall of this year’s Elecomp has been allotted to emerging startups. The decision was made by Iran’s ICT Guild Organization following an overwhelmingly positive reception from startups in the last two Elecomp exhibitions, said the official.

“Iran’s ICT Guild Organization sees startups as the future of the information and communication technology and has made it a priority to throw its weight behind fledgling and ambitious startups. Thus, the largest halls of Elecomp 2017 have been allocated to startup companies,” Bahri said ahead of this year’s Elecomp.

The exhibition is scheduled for July 21-24 at Tehran International Permanent Fairground.

The section dedicated to small enterprises has been known as ‘Elecom Stars’. According to Bahri, halls 8 and 9 of the Tehran fairground accommodates startup companies in an area of 7,000 square meters, some 4,000 sq. meters of which are usable. 

“The area is also dedicated for startup-related activities, such as introduction and presentation of companies, private meetings as well as mentoring sessions for how to establish and run a startup company,” the Elecomp executive director noted.

According to Bahri, senior executives of Tehran International Exhibitions Company have been “startled by positive feedback on the presence of startups” at Iran’s largest annual gathering in the ICT sector.

“This year’s Elecom Stars will be the biggest startup event in the Middle East,” Bahri asserted.

He added that Elecom Stars will be a significant improvement over last year’s exhibition, both in numbers and in quality.

“Elecom Stars will experience qualitative and quantifiable growth this year. To turn it into a more effective event for startups, each company will have the opportunity to present itself in three separate occasions, including to mentors, a private pitching to investors as well as a public presentation in the competition sector,” Bahri said. 

He added that startups will benefit from financial aids and facilities, such as special discounts, to feature at the four-day show. “Startup companies coming from other cities and counties will be housed and organized with minimum hassle,” he added.