Intersect Graduates 12 Startups in the Seventh Batch of the Incubation Program (STIR) in the Presence of the Minister of Labor

SadaNews - The business incubator Intersect, the entrepreneurial arm of the Palestine Bank Group, organized a graduation event for 12 startups within the seventh batch of the distinguished Startups In Residence (STIR 7) incubation program, with the presence of the Minister of Labor, Dr. Inas Al-Attar, and a selection of investors, supporters, and entrepreneurs. The startups presented their innovative ideas during the event, which was organized under the sponsorship of the Palestine Bank.

Representatives from the Ibtikar Fund, the Higher Council for Innovation and Excellence, the Innovative Private Sector Development Project (IPSD), and a number of supporting institutions attended the event, in addition to a wide attendance from startups, investors, enablers, and active participants in the Palestinian entrepreneurship ecosystem.

During her speech, Dr. Al-Attar emphasized that Palestine, in addition to being a land of resilience and will, is also a land of innovation and creativity. She stressed the importance of the role of youth and their engagement in the wide fields of entrepreneurship, which contribute to enhancing economic development and empowering society, especially in light of the difficult circumstances facing Palestine.

Dr. Al-Attar expressed her pride in the entrepreneurial youth, saying "The youth are the beating heart of Palestine, while entrepreneurship represents the space where their creativity manifests. Therefore, entrepreneurship has been adopted as a fundamental pillar in the national strategy for employment and sustainable development." She reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to support every initiative that opens doors for Palestinian youth towards a better future.

Dr. Al-Attar also confirmed the Ministry of Labor's commitment to supporting the capacities of youth, facilitating the legal and institutional environment for entrepreneurial projects, providing training and financing, and enhancing the participation of Palestinian women in the entrepreneurial scene. She valued the role of incubators, accelerators, and local and international partners in enabling entrepreneurs and transforming challenges into real opportunities that benefit the economy and society.

The event was opened with a speech by the CEO of Intersect, Rateb Al-Rabi, who reviewed Intersect's projects and its incubators located in Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, and Gaza, praising the efforts of the incubator teams that contribute to enhancing the capabilities of entrepreneurs and enabling them to reap the benefits of the training and incubation period and achieve fruitful results through their remarkable innovations.

Al-Rabi indicated that with the conclusion of the seventh batch of the STIR incubation program, Intersect crowns months of hard work and creativity, also confirming the continuity of the program in empowering entrepreneurs and stimulating innovation in Palestine.

Al-Rabi expressed pride in the perseverance of entrepreneurs, saying, "Today we are proud to graduate this elite group of startups that have proven their ability to innovate and compete despite challenges. The success of this batch reflects the strength of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Palestine and the important role of the partnership between the public and private sectors in supporting entrepreneurs."

For his part, Hassan Al-Saadi, the Director of the Incubation and Partnerships Program at Intersect, provided a detailed explanation of the STIR program, indicating that the program serves as a comprehensive platform for supporting early-stage startups, focusing on empowering entrepreneurs to develop their ideas and transform them into projects capable of competing locally, regionally, and globally, by providing mentoring and training programs, in addition to enabling them to access a wide network of investors and experts, as well as offering financial consulting and technical and logistical support for startups.

During the graduation event, the startups presented their final pitch showcasing the innovative solutions they developed during the incubation period. The attendees expressed admiration for the professional level of the presentations and the entrepreneurial ideas that reflect the creativity and ambition of Palestinian entrepreneurs. The "Taqat" project in Gaza, which supports programmers and entrepreneurs, was also introduced as a hosting project in Gaza for the next batch of the STIR program.