Intersect, the venture arm of the Bank of Palestine Group, celebrated a new generation of Palestinian tech startups from its eighth “Startup in Residence” (STIR) program cohort. The graduation ceremony, held in Ramallah, highlighted seven promising companies from the West Bank and Gaza, with founders from Gaza participating via video conference.
Quick Facts
- Eighth cohort graduated from the STIR program.
- 7 startups pitched from HealthTech, FinTech, and AI.
- Founders from Gaza presented their ventures virtually.
- Program backed by Bank of Palestine and Proparco.
The six-month incubation program culminated in a demo day attended by local and regional investors, mentors, and ecosystem partners. The event showcased the progress of the participating startups and provided a platform to explore potential investment and collaboration opportunities.
Fostering Resilience and Innovation
In her opening remarks, Lana Abu Hijleh, Chairwoman of Intersect’s Board, reaffirmed the bank’s dedication to supporting young Palestinian innovators. “Our commitment is to foster a comprehensive entrepreneurial environment, not just through Intersect, but by providing long-term funding and support to startups across Palestine,” she stated. “The six-month incubation is just the first step. We hope to see all participating companies advance, secure funding, and achieve sustainable impact with our continued support.”
Thayer Hamayel, General Manager of PalPay, Bank of Palestine Group’s fintech arm, pointed to potential partnership and funding avenues, noting that discussions are underway to find future collaborations that support the startups’ growth and expansion. Speakers emphasized the resilience and drive shown by the founders, highlighting entrepreneurship’s critical role in creating opportunities and driving economic development, especially amid challenging circumstances.
A Look at the Graduating Cohort
Seven startups presented their solutions across diverse sectors, including FinTech, HealthTech, EdTech, AI, SaaS, and E-commerce.
From Gaza, three companies pitched virtually:
- Makeflow: An AI-powered operating system for medical clinic front desks that automates bookings, answers patient queries, and sends reminders via WhatsApp and social media.
- Wessal: An integrated software platform for schools and institutions to manage attendance, workflow notifications, and operational communication channels.
- MedicoAI: A unified healthcare platform that connects clinics, labs, pharmacies, and AI-powered diagnostics into a single operating system.
From the West Bank, four startups took the stage:
- Students Hub (Ramallah): A comprehensive academic platform that guides Palestinian students in choosing university majors, tracking academic performance, and navigating their university journey.
- Loyint (Nablus): A digital platform designed to help restaurant owners convert casual visitors into loyal customers through a system of rewards, engagement tracking, and referral tools.
- Wamda (Hebron): A mobile-first social commerce operating system for small merchants in Palestine, providing an integrated storefront without requiring technical skills.
- Seola (Hebron): An embedded Islamic supply chain finance solution that connects retailers with Sharia-compliant financing through its alternative credit scoring engine, NeoScore.
About the STIR Program
Launched in 2021, the “Startup in Residence” (STIR) program is Intersect’s flagship incubator designed to help early-stage Palestinian entrepreneurs transform innovative ideas into market-ready ventures. The program guides founders through idea validation, product development, business growth, and investment readiness. STIR operates through Intersect’s hubs in Ramallah, Nablus, and Hebron, along with a virtual extension for founders in Gaza, offering a hybrid model that combines training, mentorship, and networking opportunities. To date, STIR has graduated over 65 startups and supported more than 120 entrepreneurs.
Source: Wattan
