News & Stories
7 Speakers You Cannot Miss At The IGNITE8 Conference 2021
With more than 40 speakers, CEOs, coaches, and executives, the IGNITE8 conference will share key data on how women, refugees, and other vulnerable youth can play a key role in re-imagining jobs across the Middle East and Africa. Here are 7 speakers you can’t miss. BY WESAM OSAMA The virtual IGNITE8 conference by SPARK aims …...
The IGNITE8 Conference Kicks Off this Week to Reimagine Jobs
Running its 8th edition, IGNITE8 is SPARK’s annual gathering of change-makers. The event will take off on October 13th, focusing on innovative solutions to jobs for youth, women, refugees, and other vulnerable people across the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. BY SWB TEAM | IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SPARK The IGNITE8...
5 Migrant-led Startups In The UK That Will Inspire You
As we host the Boost With Facebook bil Mobile – Diaspora edition together with Facebook, we look at five migrant-led startups that are helping the UK economy thrive. These fast-growing startups are not only co-founded by immigrants but have also seen the largest increase in value over the last few years. By WESAM OSAMA While...
7 Inspiring Afghan Refugee Entrepreneurs Who Show The Innovative Face of Afghanistan
Despite witnessing a staggering tragedy unfold in Kabul, Afghan refugee entrepreneurs are a source of inspiration to the world. We’ve compiled a list of seven Afghan refugee entrepreneurs who were courageous in the face of adversity and have built incredible businesses that changed their lives for the best. By WESAM OSAMA The world...
Egypt-based FinTech MNT-Halan Lands $120M Funding Round
Egypt’s leading FinTech ecosystem MNT-Halan has successfully secured $120M in its latest funding round, which is the largest investment ever secured by an Egyptian tech startup. The round was led by major global and regional growth investors to improve its product and expand globally. By WESAM OSAMA MNT-Halan announced a circa...
5 EdTech Startups Rocking the Middle East
As we launch the EdTech Startup Competition together with SPARK, we take a look at 5 EdTech startups championing the educational challenges in the Middle East. From tutoring platforms to teacher-focused professional development hubs, here are 5 EdTech startups you need to know. By Wesam Osama The Edtech sector has seen a boom in...
Startups Without Borders and SPARK Launch the EdTech Startup Competition in the Middle East
The EdTech Startup Competition is open to entrepreneurs in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq. Finalists will get the chance to pitch on the global stage at SPARK’s virtual IGNITE 2021 conference, as well as a curated mentorship program with top international experts. By SWB Team Startups Without Borders and SPARK have partnered to...
Not Just Refugees: Meet the Syrian Talent Revitalizing Tech Companies in the Netherlands
It took Mostafa Azy a long, devastating journey to reach the Netherlands. But as he settled down and joined RefugeeForce, he met other tech talents and embarked on an adventure into the Dutch tech world, landing a job at a company in Amsterdam. By Arin Rahman | In partnership with RefugeeForce Speaking from his friend’s …...
Palestinian Startup WeDeliver Secures $2.4 Million In Pre-Seed Investment Round
By SWB Team WeDeliver, a Saudi Arabia-based B2B last-mile delivery startup, has raised a $2.4 million Pre-Seed Funding Round from Saudi logistics company Salasel Alemdad, VEST investment company, Palestine Paltel Telcom Group, the Mutasami family fund, Arcom Technologies, a group of angel investors, and members of the Riyadh Chamber of...
Key Lessons to Hire Refugees in European Companies
For the 30th episode of the Startups Without Borders Podcast, we teamed up with RefugeeForce to talk about a new reality reshaping the workplace: How hiring refugees in European Companies can drive innovation. Our guests, Gaspar Rodriguez and Azmi Wahab, give us a tour of this new promising landscape. By Arin Rahman As an award-winning...
7 Things Every Entrepreneur Should Know Before Starting Up in the Middle East
Having left Iraq as a teenager, Anas Alchalabi has built a solid career in the MENA startup landscape, having supported hundreds of Refugee founders to create their startups. In episode 29 of the Podcast, Anas shares a touching account of his journey, while unveiling 7 key things every entrepreneur should know. By Divya Jose Anas...
3 Super Cool Entrepreneurship Events to Celebrate World Refugee Day
On World Refugee Day, we take a look at 3 events that focus on highlighting the stories and enterprises of refugee entrepreneurs. From African trailblazers, to Europe’s first marketplace for refugee-led businesses, to the launch of Basefugees, these are three events not to miss. BY SWB TEAM As we mark World Refugee Day on June...
Podcast: This is What I Learned Acting as a VC for One Year
In Episode 28 of the Startups Without Borders Podcast, Afghan entrepreneur Yama Saraj spills the beans on his recent experience as a fellow of Included VC. Gear up for a thrilling conversation on startup building, resilience, and his plans to create Finally VC. By Divya Jose Yama Saraj is an entrepreneur and a “social...
How this Eritrean Woman Got a Tech Job Offer From a Refugee Camp
As Merhawit awaits in a refugee camp for her work permit to arrive, she shares the big news: she has a job offer in a tech company waiting for her in Amsterdam. From volunteering to entering RefugeeForce, here’s the story of a relentless woman breaking into the tech world. By Menna Saeed and Valentina Primo …...
5 Things You Should Know About Starting a Business in Europe as an Immigrant
Irma Rodriguez is a whirlwind of passion and ideas. But when she moved from Mexico to Milan, starting a business in Europe was more challenging than expected. Today, these difficulties are the basis of her Youtube Channel, Emigrar y emprender, where she advises over 5,000 entrepreneurs on starting up in Italy. What are her top …...
