The Scale Up 2025 program, a key initiative by Virtual Accelerate Prosperity in Syria, has concluded with a closing ceremony at the National Library in Damascus. The event, held in the presence of the Minister of Communications and Technology, Dr. Abd al-Salam Haikal, celebrated the achievements of promising Syrian entrepreneurs from Damascus and Aleppo and awarded funding to the top-performing startups.
From Hundreds of Applicants to Ten Finalists
The highly competitive program attracted significant interest, with 527 projects initially applying. From this large pool, 58 promising startups were selected to participate in four weeks of intensive training covering diverse sectors such as transportation, digital education, tourism, and health. The cohort was further narrowed down to 20 semi-finalists, who then pitched to a specialized jury. Ultimately, 10 projects advanced to the final Demo Day to compete for the top prizes.
Fostering Growth with Funding and Mentorship
At the final ceremony, the top three startups from each city were awarded soft loans to support and scale their business operations. The fourth and fifth-place startups received technical grants to enhance their capabilities. Beyond the financial awards, all participating projects will benefit from an ongoing follow-up and mentorship program provided by the Aga Khan Foundation, ensuring a framework for sustainable growth and long-term success. The initiative was launched in partnership with the Sanad Youth Foundation.
About Virtual Accelerate Prosperity
Virtual Accelerate Prosperity is a pilot project launched by the Aga Khan Foundation in 2023. It is designed to support both new business ideas through incubation and existing businesses through acceleration programs in Syria. The project aims to help entrepreneurs launch, recover, and redirect their ventures toward growth and profitability while strengthening the broader Syrian entrepreneurial ecosystem.
