London Tech Week: MENACatalyst Networking Event At The Arab British Chamber of Commerce

June 14, 2019, London, UK—The London Demo Events came to a close with a major diaspora event organized by the Arab British Chamber of Commerce (ABCC). Established in 1975, the ABCC is at the forefront of promoting bilateral trade and investment opportunities between the UK and countries throughout the Arab World, which is exactly what Palestinian startups need to scale internationally. 

Over 50 high profile Arab and Palestinian business professionals and investors were in attendance, eager to learn more about the Palestinian startup ecosystem and offer their support via potential investment and mentorship opportunities. Also in attendance were representatives from the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK and the British Consulate General in Jerusalem. 

MENACatalyst kicked off the event with an introductory note detailing their efforts towards revitalizing the Palestinian startup ecosystem as it ties into their overall mission of supporting the establishment of a Palestinian based resilient virtual economy global in scope. Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Dr. Husam Zomlot followed up with an impassioned speech that conveyed his commitment towards strengthening the Palestinian narrative in the UK, and his support for Palestinian innovation and entrepreneurship as the foundation for improved economic and even social relations between both countries, respectively.  

Palestinian startups then took the stage to pitch their startups to a roomful of potential investors, business professionals, and industry partners. Impressed with the scope and range of the pitching startups, attendees expressed their eagerness to explore future collaborations either through potential investments or mentorship opportunities. 

Pitching then paved way for an evening of networking which allowed startups to further delve into their respective entrepreneurial journeys, share their vision for the future trajectory of their projects, and take advantage of one-on-one sessions with potential investors and mentors. 

The impact of the event was undeniable as participating startups came away with a range of new contacts of business professionals based in the UK, invaluable insight into UK markets and how to access support from international-based accelerators and venture capital firms, and the opportunity to gain the invaluable exposure for their projects. The event was transformational, to say the least with new opportunities for potential collaborations in the works and unlocking the potential of UK markets, Palestinian startups are without a doubt innovating the future of Palestine and beyond.