Intersect: THE Entrepreneurial Support Organization in Palestine with Rateb Rabi
Discover how Intersect is making a significant impact on the Palestinian entrepreneurial ecosystem. Learn about their mission, success stories, and their role in Viaka's BIG upcoming Demo Day!
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We spoke with Rateb Rabi, CEO & Founder of Intersect
Current work & the story behind the venture
Can you share the story behind your current venture? What motivated you to pursue this path?
Intersect was born from a shared vision with Hashim Shawa, Chairman of Bank of Palestine Group, and a commitment to transforming Palestine’s socio-economic landscape through technology and entrepreneurship. With a background in political science and diplomatic studies, and experience as a Senior Private Sector Development Specialist at the European Union Representative Office and Country Director for The Kaizen Company, I saw the immense potential of the Palestinian entrepreneurial spirit. Co-founding ICEP further fueled my passion to create a platform that nurtures innovation. With Bank of Palestine providing cutting-edge infrastructure and a robust local and global network, combined with the expertise of the Intersect team, we’ve built a powerful ecosystem to drive sustainable growth and empower future generations of Palestinian innovators and entrepreneurs.
Connecting with the MENA startup community
Why are you interested in connecting with MENA's global startup community?
Connecting with MENA's global startup community is vital for Palestinian entrepreneurs to collaborate, exchange knowledge, scale and access broader markets. Given Palestine’s small population, regional expansion is key for scalability. Strong partnerships with hubs like AstroLab and Flat6Labs, along with other regional networks like Viaka’s, enable startups to share knowledge, foster innovation, and establish partnerships that position them on the global stage. By tapping into larger markets like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Palestinian startups can expand their reach and impact, creating opportunities that transcend borders.
What is Intersect? How do you contribute to the local ecosystem?
What is Intersect Innovation Hub, and what is its mission? How does it contribute to the Palestinian entrepreneurial ecosystem?
Intersect is a catalyst for the Palestinian tech and startup ecosystem, empowering entrepreneurs with access to resources, mentorship, and funding. Backed by Bank of Palestine, our mission is to foster an innovation-driven economy that supports startups and tech talent. We've launched key initiatives like RISE Palestine and SAFE Palestine to provide urgent support in response to the war on Gaza, and more recently, the STEP program, designed to create a sustainable pipeline of emerging startups. Through incubation services and a commitment to agility in a challenging environment, we continuously advance a resilient and thriving entrepreneurial landscape, serving the community through our hubs in Ramallah, Nablus, and Hebron, with expansion plans in other cities.
Startup success stories & impact of Intersect
How has Intersect contributed to the growth and development of the Palestinian startup scene? Can you share some success stories of startups that have been incubated or supported by your organization? What impact have these startups had on the Palestinian market and beyond?
Intersect has played a pivotal role in shaping Palestine's startup ecosystem, especially through initiatives like the International Conference on Entrepreneurship Palestine (ICEP). Over the years, ICEP has connected Palestinian startups with global investors and markets, with milestones like 6,000+ attendees from 37 countries in 2021 and 104 investor meetings at ICEP 2022 in Dubai. Which showcased Palestinian startups, and expanded their reach to international markets and investments. Our partnerships with Bank of Palestine have nurtured innovation. Salah Yahya, a Bank of Palestine employee, participated in our 1st fintech hackathon, Yahya’s hackathon idea, now the bank’s "Lahza" secure payment gateway. Additionally, two startups from our STIR6 cohort are integrating their solutions with the bank, further driving fintech innovation in the region.
Overcoming challenges and Intersect's resources for entrepreneurs
What are the unique challenges facing entrepreneurs in the Palestinian market, and how does Intersect address these challenges? What specific resources and support services do you offer to startups and entrepreneurs?
Entrepreneurs in Palestine face significant challenges like limited access to capital, market fragmentation, and socio-political instability. At Intersect, we tackle these barriers through tailored incubation programs and funding opportunities such as RISE Palestine, SAFE Palestine, and the recent partnership with Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF). We also launched the STEP and STIR programs to cultivate a pipeline of tech startups and LINK Insourcing Solution, enabling international companies to access Palestinian tech talent through staff augmentation. Our support includes mentorship from local and global experts, legal and financial advisory, workspace, and investor connections. Additionally, our partnership with Palestine Techno Park connects diaspora mentors with local startups to further empower the ecosystem through the Tech Circles program.
Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs in the MENA region and beyond? What key skills or qualities do you believe are essential for success in the startup world?
Resilience is key - especially in markets like ours where challenges are numerous. Aspiring entrepreneurs must cultivate adaptability, learn quickly, and stay focused on their long-term vision. Building strong networks and being persistent in the face of adversity are equally important for sustainable success.
Favorite Viaka network moments & connections
What's your favorite part of the Viaka Network thus far? Do you have any memorable experiences or helpful connections to share?
My favorite part of the Viaka Network thus far has been their boutique and tailored approach to networking, guided by the personal involvement of the founder. Over the past three months in Dubai, Viaka engaged with us in LINK events, supporting us reach a the right audience. In our events, we aim to connect with like-minded individuals and organizations to find thriving partnerships. Our partnership with Viaka is still in its early stages, but it has been helpful, and I'm excited to see it grow.
Support from the Viaka network
Are there any upcoming events or important announcements that you would like to highlight for the Viaka community?
We invite the Viaka community to connect with us at three exciting events: a B2B mixer on October 14th at DIFC with IPSD, the Palestine Pavilion at Expand North Star GITEX from October 13-16, and the launch of Palestine Tech Circles on October 15th with key partners at Wamda Capital.
We’re also proud to share the progress of RISE Palestine, having received 1,179 applications and approved 39 grants, allocating $413,350 in funding to the tech community in Gaza. Our SAFE Palestine program has preserved over 365 jobs by providing liquidity to 29 high-growth startups. With $2.4M raised, including $1M from Google, we’re now seeking an additional $1.6M by October 31 to expand this crucial support. We encourage the Viaka community to join us in empowering more startups—support can be offered online through the RISE Palestine initiative’s website.
Psst! Join the Viaka network now and unlock our exclusive Slack channel, along with many other benefits! Chat directly with members like Abe and others eager to share their expertise. Don't miss out!
Entrepreneurial Support Organization (ESOs) Showcase: Intersect
What is the most common piece of positive feedback you receive from the startups you've incubated?
The startup founders positively provide feedback about the team's support, availability, and dedication. In addition to the program design which provides them with essential support and mentorship to develop and scale their MVPs.
What are your future goals for Intersect? How do you envision the organization's role in shaping the Palestinian entrepreneurial ecosystem in the coming years?
Our goal is to expand our impact by building more partnerships with global investors and hubs, creating a robust platform that helps Palestinian startups reach international markets.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who are interested in joining the Intersect’s community?
The best advice I can give is to embrace risk, stay committed to your vision, and actively engage with Intersect’s supportive community. Whether you’re at the idea stage or ready to scale, leverage our programs resources, mentors, and events to grow. Collaboration and openness to feedback are key to thriving in this entrepreneurial journey.
Follow Intersect on LinkedIn and head over to their website for more information.
🪐 Events within the Viaka network & beyond:
Venture Con by DIFC Innovation Hubs- October 8th (In-Person)
VC Spotlight: The Difficult Conversations You Have To Have As A Founder October 9th (In-Person, Abu Dhabi, UAE)
24six9 Dxb Chapter: Pitch Roulette - October 11th (In-Person, Dubai, UAE)
If you’d like to share an event in this newsletter, we encourage you to join the Viaka Network and share the event with info@viaka.net!
🌐 Register now for our TWO Viaka events happening this October!
🌮 Viaka Mezze Mixer on the 13th at Expand North Star Dubai
Heading to Expand North Star in Dubai? Join us for a Viaka mixer!
We've got 3 tables reserved and delicious mezze snacks waiting for you. Come connect with other Viaka members and make new connections.
A big thank you our esteemed Viaka member Maxim for reaching out to us and help organizing this meetup.
🙌 Viaka Demo Days Presents: MENA Startups Pitch US VCs 🤝
✨Viaka's virtual Demo Days are back! Join us for MENA Startups Pitching American VCs, an exciting demo day where top seed and Series A startups from the MENA region will showcase their innovative solutions to an esteemed panel of American venture capitalists 📢
📺 This live event promises to highlight the remarkable talent and entrepreneurial spirit in the MENA region as startups present their visionary ideas to secure investment and mentorship from leading VCs.
🚀 Participating startups include uktob.ai, omniful, capifly, and wellxai, each bringing unique solutions to the table.
📈 Our panel of distinguished investors, Ramy Adeeb (1984 Ventures), Travis Lowry (Vinyl Capital), Naseem Sayani (Emmeline Ventures), and Riley Rodgers (Valia Ventures), will provide invaluable feedback and support.
🤝 A special thanks to our sponsors: Taft Law, SVB, and Intersect for making this event possible!
🆙 Click above for access to our regularly updated job database, including new opportunities and talent open to work. 💡 If you apply, let us know so we can make a personal introduction!🤝
If you’d like to share a job posting in this newsletter, we encourage you to join the Viaka Network and share the event with info@viaka.net!
That’s it for this week. Thank you! 👋
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