About Us
By partnering up with 300+ world class corporations, international organizations and academia such as UNHCR, Meta, Google, and UNDP, we have built entrepreneurship events and programs that support over 6,000 entrepreneurs, no matter where they come from: refugees, migrants, diaspora communities and locals.
WHY CHOOOSE US?
A BRAVE, BOLD COMMUNITY
Startups Without Borders’ is fueled by a 15,000+ 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 Vibrant Community
Boost Without Borders
In 2022, we partnered with Meta to launch the Boost Without Borders program in Palestine, which aims to equip 500 SMBs with digital tools and resources to grow their businesses. The program is designed to support 500 Palestinian SMBs. The program also includes an investment readiness program for 50 startups ending with a final pitching competition with up to $20,000 in-cash prizes. The program also offered a TOT training for 13 Palestinian incubators and accelerators on preparing investment readiness programs.
Startups On The Move
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.
The program focuses on providing technical guidance, digital skills training, mentorship, and support to register their business, as well as networking opportunities at a final Pitching at IGNITE conference in Amsterdam with international investors, with a $1o,000 final prize.
Impact Partner
Leveraging on Startups Without Borders’ focus on impact-driven business, the partnership with UNDP Egypt aimed at increasing awareness and advocacy on the SDGs, as well as the importance of impact management in the context of the startup landscape, with thought leadership instances involving entrepreneurs. intermediary organizations, investors, and stakeholders.
Throughout the summit, UNDP Egypt team worked very closely with the SWB team on the summit logistics needed for the Cairo stage. UNDP Egypt played an instrumental role in:
– Providing an event management company to handle venue branding, printings, and catering
– Creating three panels, with their content and speakers.
Diversity Innovation Days
We collaborated with the American Embassy in Rome to organize the “Diversity Innovation Days” project. This initiative aims to foster entrepreneurship and innovation among young migrants in Rome through a series of hackathanks, to equip 200 youth with the skills to build their entrepreneurial projects. The goal of these events is to create leadership opportunities and support the creation
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
HOW TO BECOME AN ANGEL INVESTOR AND SUPPORT EGYPT’S STARTUPS
GIZ
In November 2021, we hosted the webinar series “How to become an angel investor and support Egypt’s startups,” in partnership with GIZ egypt. The webinar focused on providing insights to investors and angel investors in the diaspora.
BOOST WITH FACEBOOK BIL MOBILE
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.
Female Leadership Track
As exclusive partners for our Female Leadership Track, Hivos wanted to effectively support female entrepreneurs in the MENA region.
We worked with Hivos to design the Female Founders Track, including panels with some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the region. The content series aligned Hivos with high-profile figures in the MENA startup landscape, such as Dina El Mofty.
EDTECH STARTUP COMPETITION
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.
BOOST WITH FACEBOOK
In partnership with Facebook, in 2020 we launched the Boost With Facebook program, an intensive training designed to support migrant and refugee entrepreneurs in MENA and Europe through teaching them how they can boost their business and reach more customers through Facebook.
Tech Partner
Zoho, the Tech Partner at the summit, actively engaged in various activities to showcase its presence and expertise. They had a physical booth at the Cairo venue, located at the American University in Cairo, providing an opportunity for attendees to interact directly with their team. Additionally, Zoho had a virtual booth on the summit platform, ensuring accessibility for remote participants.
Ali Shabdar, the Regional Director for the Middle East and Africa at Zoho, delivered a keynote speech, sharing valuable insights and perspectives. Furthermore, Zoho participated in a panel discussion titled “Remote, Hybrid, and Lean: The Future of Work,” contributing to the conversation on evolving work dynamics. Through their involvement in these activities, Zoho demonstrated their commitment to innovation and thought leadership in the tech industry.
EdTech Partner
EdVentures, our official EdTech partner at the summit, played a crucial role in building a pipeline of promising Edtech startups, enhancing the visibility of EdVentures, and facilitating connections with investors. The partnership included a panel on “Edtech: Investing for the Future,” the exclusive “EdTech Investors Room” for personalized meetings, and an impactful EdTech Demo Day featuring 10 innovative startups.
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
