DUBAI: The 1 Billion Followers Summit, a prominent event dedicated to advancing the content creator economy, has unveiled its distinguished jury for the 1 Billion Pitches competition. The jury, comprising six members, will evaluate submissions from startups and entrepreneurs vying for funding. According to Emirates News Agency, the jury includes experts, prominent investors, and leaders from major regional investment firms. The permanent members of the jury are Tarek Fouad, Chief Marketing Officer at Shorooq; Issa Aghabi, Founder and Managing Director of Access Bridge Ventures; Sara Enan, Principal at VentureSouq and Salica Investments; and Andy Gaies, Chief Operating Officer at LIT Videobooks. Joining them as guests of honour are His Excellency Faisal Belhoul, Vice President of the Dubai Chambers, and Mahmoud Adi, Founding Partner at Shorooq. The jury's evaluation process will include representatives from major companies and investment funds such as Shorooq, Beyond Capital, HALA Ventures, and others. The c ompetition, supported by a AED50 million fund from Shorooq and the Summit, aims to empower content creators by funding projects that drive positive societal change. Alia AlHammadi, CEO of the New Media Academy, emphasized the summit's commitment to expert evaluation of content creator projects. The competition received 500 applications from 40 countries, with 25 projects shortlisted based on criteria such as feasibility, market potential, and social impact. The winners will be announced at the summit's third edition in Dubai from January 11 to 13, 2025.