Startup Syria, a community-powered initiative dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship, has launched its Catalyst Bootcamp, an intensive online program designed to train and empower the next wave of startup community builders across the nation. The program has brought together 45 local ecosystem leaders from all over Syria for a seven-day journey of learning, collaboration, and practical skill-building.
An Intensive Digital Program For Community Builders
The Catalyst Bootcamp is structured as an interactive, online learning experience. Over seven consecutive days, participants will engage in two-hour daily sessions led by experienced facilitators, founders, and experts from across the Arab region and the Syrian diaspora. The curriculum is designed to provide practical tools to spark and sustain local startup activity, covering key topics such as community facilitation, outreach strategies, event design, building local partnerships, and effective storytelling. By the end of the week, participants will be equipped to facilitate inclusive startup gatherings, mobilize underrepresented groups, and design impactful local initiatives that address real community needs.
Identifying And Equipping Local Catalysts
The program targets motivated individuals aged 20-45 from across all of Syria’s governorates, with a particular focus on including those in fragmented, underserved, or hard-to-reach areas. Startup Syria selected participants who have demonstrated a commitment to learning, connecting, and enabling entrepreneurship in their local contexts, whether they are already organizing events or just starting out. Participants are expected to commit to attending all sessions and organizing at least one startup-focused community activity after the bootcamp, ensuring the program’s impact extends beyond the training week.
Rebuilding From The Ground Up
The launch of the Catalyst Bootcamp is a direct response to the evolving needs of Syria’s startup ecosystem. According to Startup Syria, a national meetup tour conducted in 2025 revealed a high level of entrepreneurial energy across the country but also significant gaps in the tools and frameworks needed to maintain momentum. This initiative aims to turn that insight into action by empowering local leaders to build a more resilient and interconnected entrepreneurial landscape from the ground up. Selected catalysts from the bootcamp will also have the opportunity to participate in a major nationwide initiative later in the year, further amplifying their impact.
About Startup Syria
Founded in 2013, Startup Syria is a community-powered initiative dedicated to supporting founders, startups, and entrepreneurship support organizations working in and for Syria. It actively engages with both the local Syrian entrepreneurship community and the Syrian diaspora to foster the exchange of knowledge, resources, and expertise. The organization’s mission is to empower Syrian entrepreneurs, nurture the next wave of startups, and ensure entrepreneurship becomes a cornerstone of the country’s economic and policy priorities.
Source: Startup Syria
