Palestinian startups Pitching at Dtec

Dubai, UAE, Feb. 24, 2019 – Kicking off a week-long series of Demo Events, MENACatalyst in partnership with Silicon Valley of the UAE, Dtec (Dubai technology entrepreneur campus) hosted a day-long pitching session featuring some of the most innovative Palestinian startups, and game-changing investors.

Opening the event, MENACatalyst provided a statement detailing their efforts towards enhancing the Palestinian startup ecosystem by consolidating a network of diaspora professionals, committed to supporting the capacity of a virtual based Palestinian economy.

Dtec followed up by addressing their work within the field of innovation and entrepreneurship in the UAE, and welcoming MENACatalyst as well as accompanying participants taking part in the day-long event. Known for harnessing the power and potential of innovation and entrepreneurship, Dtec, not only hosts but accelerates hundreds of up-and-coming startups at multiple stages to access the resources, gain the experience and develop the acumen needed to succeed in global markets.

Palestinian startups had the great opportunity to then take the stage and pitch their startups to a jury of mentors, judges and investors, to gain invaluable feedback and advice. Pitching startups showcased their talent, and innovation with startups that addressed a wide array of technological, social and even medical concerns sweeping the region.

Concluding the event was a networking session, in which startups also had the ideal opportunity to gain industry knowledge, build connections and explore mentorship and investment opportunities, needed to take their startups to the next level. Mentors and investors in attendance also expressed their eagerness to not only learn more about the Palestinian startup scene but their eagerness to take the first steps in becoming part of participating startups promising entrepreneurial journeys’.

In attendance were a diverse range of investors and mentors with extensive experience within their respective fields, most notably Jury members Moatassem Moatez, Business Partner at Innovest; and Daniel Dos Reis, Senior Portfolio Manager at Dtec. In addition, potential mentors eager to connect and collaborate with Palestinian based startups included Amir Amanat, Business Director at Thomson Reuters for the MENA region; Samer Mahfouz, CFA at Thomson Reuters for the MENA region; Zohare Haider, Founding Director of Dubai based Digital Street; and Abdul Rahman Hajjar, both Senior Associate of Investments at BIAC (Business Incubator & Accelerator Company) and investor at Venture Souq, just to name a few.   

MENACatalyst’s ْUAE Pitch Challenge and subsequent Demo Events are jointly funded by Taawon (Welfare Association), and KOICA (Korean International Cooperation Agency).