MITT Travel Start Competition

The competition is open to companies that meet the following criteria: 
They must be no older than five years old, working on an innovative project utilizing IT technologies in the tourism industry, and having at least a prototype of their product.

Eligible areas of activity include:

• Online platforms for travel organization.
• Distribution of tourism services, including tour operators, online travel agencies, and marketplaces.
• Technological solutions for tour operators, travel agencies, hotels, and related businesses.
• Providers of supplementary services for the tourism sector.

Projects submitted in previous MITT Travel Start competitions (2021–2024) that did not win are also welcome to participate in this year’s competition.

• December 2, 2024 - February 14, 2025 Application deadline.

• December 16, 2024 - February 16, 2025 Preliminary examination of Applications and selection of 40 (forty) applications for participation in the online pitch session.

• February 17, 2025 – February 28, 2025. Online pitch session, during which 10 (ten) finalists will be selected to participate in the in-person defense. Announcement of the selection results no later than March 6, 2025.

• March 20, 2025 Competition final. Presentation to the Board of Experts and visitors of the MITT exhibition.

The competition finalists will have the chance to present their projects to the professional audience at the exhibition, as well as to competition partners. They will also receive informational support from the exhibition and its partners, with the opportunity to win free participation in the MITT exhibition in 2025.

The 10 startups that reach the finals will receive the following benefits:

• An opportunity to present at a special startup speaker session during the MITT exhibition.
• A dedicated workspace in the Travel Startups zone at the MITT 2025 exhibition, available throughout the event.
• The chance to showcase their project and presentation on MITT's information platforms, reaching over 100,000 professionals in the tourism industry.

The Russian Union of Travel Industry will offer the finalists:

• partnership opportunities with RST member companies, comprising over 5,000 participants.
• mentoring support from the RST Startup Commission and other relevant committees and commissions.

The winners of the competition will receive: 

I, II, III places:

• all incentive measures specified above
• free participation package at the International Tourism Exhibition MITT 2026 with a stand
• information support for the project throughout the year to attract the largest possible audience