Santiago Demo Event 2018 Participants
Ramallah, Palestine – MENACatalyst Foundation successfully launched the Santiago Pitch Challenge in Ramallah on Monday July, 9, 2018 and was subsequently held on July 10, at Nablus, July 11, at Gaza, and July 12 at Hebron, to an energetic group of investors, business leaders, development organizations, and entrepreneurs.
Our goal with the challenge was to bring key stakeholders together to support local Palestinian startups and entrepreneurial pursuits. We welcomed local as well as prominent Palestinian investors, institutions, companies and businesses from both the private and public sector to support the Santiago Pitch Challenge and help usher in a new era of globally competitive, innovative and viable Palestinian startups.
The winners of the Santiago Pitch Challenge include:
Gymatto: http://gymatto.com
Lavender: http://lvendr.com
Gamiphy: https://www.gamiphy.co
Mashvisor: https://www.mashvisor.com
Palestine Heirloom Seed Library: https://www.facebook.com/palestineheirloomseeds/?ref=bookmarks
Linkage: http://linkageways.com
Transcend http://transcend.ps/index.html
Importos: https://aeliasoft.com
DOREe: https://www.doreeapp.com
NIMD: https://www.nimd-ltd
The Santiago Pitch Challenge featured over 250 high impact social and tech startups from around the Palestinian territories. The event began with a pitch as entrepreneurs representing their startups vied for coveted spot to be amongst 10 lucky winners who will travel to Santiago in mid-August of 2018. A panel of judges composed of high impact investors, key business leaders and experts from both Chile and Palestine evaluated and selected the startup teams with the highest viability potential. Winners were selected on the basis of their viability, including a strategic and feasible business model, and the potential to compete on a regional scale. The 10 selected entrepreneurs will then be flown to Santiago, Chile on a 4-day all-inclusive trip for a ‘Demo Event’ to meet with and pitch their startups to Palestinian Diaspora Angel Investors and distinguished Business Leaders from Chile.
Abdel Rahman Awad, a competitor of the Santiago Pitch Challenge had this to say, “I am thrilled with these new opportunities MENACatalyst is creating for Palestinian entrepreneurs.” He continues, “I participated in the event to have the chance to travel to Chile and connect with experienced investors that can help me take my company to new global heights.”
Due to the success of the Santiago Pitch Challenge, MENACatalyst Foundation will organize additional challenges to take high impact, high potential Palestinian startups to meet committed diaspora investors both regionally and internationally. Further challenges will take startups to cities across the globe, including Dubai, Amman, London as well as various locations throughout the U.S.
The Santiago Pitch Challenge was part of the DAIMN project (Diaspora Angel Investors and Mentors Network) that is co-funded by Welfare Association (Taawon), and KOICA (Korean International Cooperation Agency), and is officially sponsored by the Palestine Investment Fund.
Amongst committed investors of the Palestinian diaspora, Marcelo Diaz Bowen, a prominent Chilean based business leader and impact investor acted as a judge throughout the Santiago Pitch Challenge and is excited to bring out the best of the Palestinian startup scene, “I am thrilled to work alongside MENACatalyst and join them in their efforts to not only support local startups but to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs as the key to unlocking a brighter future.”
Ghassan Amayra, founder of MENACatalyst Foundation as well as organizer of the Santiago Pitch Challenge explains his commitment towards supporting Palestinian led startups, “At MENACatalyst we are working to develop a vibrant and inclusive startup scene in Palestine by establishing dynamic collaborations with Palestinian diaspora investors and business leaders worldwide.” Furthermore, “We encourage diaspora businesses and professionals from all over the world to commit and invest in the Palestinian startup ecosystem to invigorate the Palestinian economy.”