The Palestinian Ministry of Women’s Affairs, in partnership with Flow Accelerator, organized the “Her Story – Connect & Inspire” event in Ramallah to bring together and support female entrepreneurs, tech professionals, and changemakers. The initiative, part of the “Orange Corners” program funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and with strategic support from The National Bank (TNB), gathered key figures from Palestine’s startup ecosystem, the private sector, and international institutions.
Quick Facts
- Event: Her Story – Connect & Inspire
- Location: A. M. Qattan Foundation, Ramallah
- Organizers: Ministry of Women’s Affairs & Flow Accelerator
- Goal: Connect and empower Palestinian women in entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship as a “Necessity, Not a Choice”
Majd Khalifeh, CEO and Co-founder of Flow Accelerator, framed the importance of entrepreneurship within the unique Palestinian context, emphasizing human capital as the most crucial asset.
“Entrepreneurship in Palestine is no longer an option, but a real economic necessity,” Khalifeh stated. “In a context characterized by a limited market due to geography, occupation, and restrictions on movement, import, and export, the only resource that cannot be confiscated or besieged is Palestinian human capital—our true raw material on which we build our economy.”
She highlighted Flow’s success in fostering an inclusive environment, noting, “40% of the startups we support today are led by women. This figure did not come by chance, but because we created the conditions that enable women to enter, compete, continue, and succeed on the same terms.” Khalifeh added that the “Her Story” event falls under the ‘PowHER’ strategic pillar of the Orange Corners program, which aims to build a strong community for and around female entrepreneurs.
Government Pledges Legislative and Programmatic Support
Government officials affirmed their commitment to creating a more inclusive economic environment. The Minister of Women’s Affairs outlined the government’s efforts to develop policies and programs that enhance women’s economic empowerment, aligning with the National Cross-Sectoral Strategy for Gender Equality.
Echoing this sentiment, Minister of National Economy Mohammad Al-Amour detailed the development of a supportive legislative framework, including the recent e-commerce law and a new online portal for business registration, designed to simplify the process for all entrepreneurs. He stressed that the government is working to facilitate women’s access to economic opportunities and leadership positions.
Ecosystem Leaders Share Insights on Scaling and Support
The event featured a series of practical sessions designed to provide tangible value to attendees. A panel discussion brought together leaders from across the ecosystem, including Rand Safi from Gaza Sky Geeks, Dina Al-Masaeid from SPARK, Lama Amr from BuildPalestine, and Dr. Mona Demaidi from the Arab American University’s AI program and Intersect incubator. The panelists discussed available support programs and the challenges women face in accessing funding and training.
A fireside chat between Majd Khalifeh and Minister Mona Al-Khalili explored the hurdles and opportunities for women in leadership and entrepreneurship, bridging the gap between government policy and the on-the-ground reality for female founders.
The agenda also included sessions focused on skill-building. Walaa Qashou, Co-founder of Churn Solution, and Aisha Amer, President of the Charitable Women’s Association in Mas-ha, shared their entrepreneurial journeys. Walaa Samara, Director of the Palestine Techno Park, led a workshop on positioning and personal branding strategies to help participants build an effective professional presence. The summit concluded with a dedicated networking session, “She Connects,” allowing attendees to build new professional relationships.
About Flow Accelerator
Flow Accelerator is a prominent business accelerator based in Palestine dedicated to cultivating the local startup ecosystem. It provides startups with mentorship, training, and access to networks and funding, with a strong focus on building an inclusive environment where female-led ventures can thrive.
Source: shfanews
