About Us
By partnering up with 500+ world class corporations, international organizations and academia such as UNHCR, Meta, Google, and UNDP, we have supported over 20,000 entrepreneurs.
From refugees and migrants to diaspora communities and local innovators, we help founders turn ideas into thriving businesses.
Our ecosystem model brings together capacity-building, an investment network, world-class events, and educational media to drive job creation, foster economic resilience, and promote inclusive growth in every community we reach.
WHY CHOOOSE US?
A BRAVE, BOLD COMMUNITY
Startups Without Borders’ is fueled by a 20,000+ community of entrepreneurs with one thing in common: they are the most valiant, ambitious and resilient minds you’ll ever meet. They’ve gone through far corners and risked it all over and over again – they embody the resilient mindset at its best.
AN UNMATCHED NETWORK
Whether you are a corporate, government institution, university or non-governmental agency, we help you leverage on our international network to achieve your innovation and development goals, build impact at scale, and invest in high-potential startups under the radar.
BECOME A TRAILBLAZER
Champion diversity and change perceptions. Our unique community of entrepreneurs includes refugees, migrants, locals and women: underrepresented founders who embody powerful role models to inspire millions.
The Story behind Startups Without Borders
In case you don’t know me, I’m Valentina Primo, founder and CEO. I’m Argentinian, a journalist, and a migrant.
Growing up in Argentina, the world felt too large and too far for me to take on. It was through newspapers and movies that I got to learn about the Middle East, a region that, in the distance filtered by mainstream media, appears as a land where there is only desert, camels, and war.
Our Program Champions
Supporting 1,500 Entrepreneurs with a Digital Boost
In partnership with Facebook, we launched the Boost With Facebook program, an intensive training program designed to support 1,500 migrant and refugee entrepreneurs in MENA and Europe through teaching them how they can boost their business and reach more customers through Facebook.
130 Startups On The Move with Google
In partnership with Spark and Google, in 2022 we launched the Startups on the Move Incubation program, training 130 refugee and local entrepreneurs to go from idea to business in Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq. As part of the program, we held 3 networking events in Ramallah, Beirut and Erbil, gathering over 250 entrepreneurs, ecosystem players and investors and a final Pitching event in Amsterdam with a $1o,000 final cash prize.
Driving Impact Investment with UNDP
Leveraging on Startups Without Borders’ focus on impact-driven business, a multi-year partnership with UNDP Egypt was established, aiming to increasing awareness and advocacy on the SDGs, as well as the importance of impact investment and impact management in the context of the startup landscape. The partnership involved with thought leadership instances and capacity building with intermediary organizations, investors, and stakeholders.
Creating Startups through Diversity Innovation Days
In partnership with the American Embassy in Rome, we hosted the “Diversity Innovation Days” program. The initiative aims to foster entrepreneurship and innovation among young migrants in Rome through a series of hackathons to equip 200 migrants, refugees, and local Italians with the skills to build their entrepreneurial projects.
Start and Grow with GoDaddy
Start & Grow Online with GoDaddy program is an intensive training designed to support migrant and refugee entrepreneurs from the MENA region through teaching them how they can boost their business online by building their websites. The training aims to take entrepreneurs, as well as aspiring entrepreneurs from disadvantaged communities, through a journey to start, improve and expand their business
Mobile Tools for African Diaspora with Meta
In September 2021, we hosted the event “Boost with Facebook bil Mobile, Diaspora edition,” in partnership with Boost with Facebook. The event was streamed live from London and trained Arabic-speaking entrepreneurs in the diaspora on digital skills.
Boosting Female Leadership with Hivos
Driven by the effort to effectively support female entrepreneurs in the MENA region, we partnered with Hivos to design the Female Founders Track at the Startups Without Borders Summit, featuring panels and worshops with some of the most successful women entrepreneurs in the region.
Growing EdTech Startups in MENA
In September 2021, we partnered with Spark to host the Edtech Startup Competition in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq. The competition gathered 660 applications, and supported 50 startups by refugees and locals with a mentorship program, connecting them to mentors from Europe, North America, and MENA for 3 months.
MEET THE TEAM
Valentina Primo
Nader Aljorf
Mary Sherif
Abdallah Adel
Rokaya Abdel Rahim
Farah Khalil
Amr Mohsen
Ameer Elsherif
OUR CORE VALUES
Optimism
Because we believe there are new realities in the making. And we want to support those shaping them.
Empathy, not Sympathy
Because we don’t want to give them an opportunity; we believe that they are the opportunity.
Respect
Because we want to change perceptions. Because it’s time migrants are seen not as job seekers but job creators; not at technology consumers but innovators.
Diversity and Innovation
Because if we all think the same way, then no one is thinking.
OUR international PARTNERS
