Palestine

Palestine's startup ecosystem is defined by extraordinary resilience. Despite the severe disruption caused by the ongoing conflict, the tech sector has continued to thrive — with founders, investors, and support programs maintaining continuity. The ICT sector contributes roughly 4% of GDP, employs over 8,500 people, and produces approximately 2,500 new IT graduates annually, giving the ecosystem a durable, highly-skilled talent base.
The Palestinian Authority has made meaningful strides in building a digital foundation for the ecosystem. In 2024, it announced the National Digital Strategy 2025–2030, launching a government-wide initiative to digitalize public services and transform local government units into e-municipalities. It also launched a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy — developed by a cross-government team led by the Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Economy — outlining plans to automate government processes, build an AI legal framework, and actively integrate marginalized communities into the digital economy. Together, these strategies signal a deliberate push to create a more enabling environment for tech startups, even as founders continue to navigate structural barriers to growth. 
Ramallah serves as the ecosystem's corporate and investment hub, with Palestinian founders characteristically designing for export from the start — validating locally, then scaling to Jordan, Egypt, and the Gulf. Local funds Ibtikar Fund and Sadara Ventures anchor the early-stage capital landscape.
Gaza Sky Geeks — backed by Mercy Corps and Google for Startups — has trained thousands of Palestinian youth since 2011, with nearly 50% of participants being women, making it one of the region's most gender-inclusive tech programs. In February 2025, Tech for Palestine launched the Entrepreneurs for Palestine initiative, building a global network of founders and CEOs supporting Palestinian entrepreneurs across Vancouver, London, Gaza, and Dubai. The Palestinian Mentorship Program connects entrepreneurs from Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank with 90+ global mentors, ensuring founders retain access to international networks even amid disruption.