Palestine Cohort 10

The Palestinian Entrepreneurial Ecosystem faces significant challenges, including the hindrance imposed by the Israeli occupation through enforced laws and sanctions that limit the movement of goods, people, ideas, and funds. Outdated telecommunication networks and infrastructure further impede progress. Education lacks emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation from an early age, and research and development at the university level face struggles. Legal issues arise from both the Israeli occupation’s laws and the lack of support for innovation in Palestinian trade laws. Access to new technologies is restricted, and limited venture capital and angel investment networks hinder entrepreneurial endeavors. The pipeline for startups and ideas is small, requiring a focus on ideation and innovation. Moreover, the relatively new accelerators and incubators lack the necessary experience and capacity to effectively support entrepreneurs.

The MIT REAP Palestine Team aims to create a unified vision for the development of the innovation-driven entrepreneurship ecosystem. By bringing together various stakeholders, the team seeks a globally recognized platform to foster the growth and competitiveness of the IDE ecosystem on a global scale.