The Underdog Tech Award is open to early-stage technology businesses from outside the major IT centres.

InDrive, an e-hailing company, has launched the Underdog Tech Award, a new international competition to find for the founders of the best digital startups that come from outside of major tech hubs and start-up communities.

The application phase, began yesterday, 19 September, and will conclude on 1 December 1. Award nominees will be shortlisted during December.

According to the firm, the competition was designed to reward technology start-ups that are successful, despite encountering disadvantages due to their location, such as low resources and lack of access to funding.

The Underdog Tech Award is open to early-stage technology businesses from outside the major IT centres.

Start-ups that have had, or have the capacity to have, a major positive effect on their communities, as well as high prospects for quick growth, are eligible for inclusion.

In addition to the recognition gained from winning the award, the winner will receive a monetary prize (the prize fund is $60,000), feedback from judges and venture capitalists, the opportunity to train with industry experts and PR assistance.

Mark Loughran, Group president, inDrive, said: “We consider it essential to support those who are initially deprived or have difficulty accessing the necessary resources. For example, we have already established the Aurora Tech Award, an award for women in IT, along with other initiatives to support those who need and deserve it.

“Now we have organised an award for underdogs. We at inDrive are still underdogs, and proud of it. We aim to support innovative startups that make the world better.”