Young entrepreneurs in Gaza launch ventures, teaching children business skills
Who thought it was a cool idea to throw a business bash just for kiddos? That's right, a special Startup Weekend event called Startup Weekend Gaza - Kids is happening in Gaza, and it's exclusively for the young hustlers aged 10-15!
This three-day extravaganza, hosted by the energetic organizer, Ahmed Saqer, promises to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. "It's the first startup event exclusively for kids in the Middle East," Saqer shares with our website.
The event follows the global Startup Weekend model. In a nutshell: ideas get pitched, teams form, and prototypes get developed! Speakers, coaches, sponsors, and company representatives are all set to attend, helping these kidpreneurs polish their ideas and bring them to life.
Gaza's buzzing tech scene has taken a special shine to entrepreneurship in the past few years, with ICT graduates eager to create their own startup businesses. But how did Startup Weekend for kids come into play? Saqer explains that the idea was born from the success of a previous event focusing on education innovation, where four 15-16-year-olds pitched ideas and even won first place.
Over 350 applications have been received for the event, which will be held from August 25-27. Local partners and volunteer community leaders will lead the way, with 11 mentors providing guidance and support throughout the event.
Day one will involve children pitching their ideas to experts, who will then vote for the best 10 ideas. Teams will form on day one itself, with the top 10 children choosing suitable talents from the remaining 40 participants.
On the second day, each team will work on their business ideas, with mentors on hand to help them shape their prototypes before presenting them on day three.
While the main focus of the event is on the learning process and introducing these young minds to entrepreneurship, here's the twist: the kids will have more than the standard 60 seconds to pitch their ideas, with room for feedback and Q&A to ensure their pitch is clear and comprehensive.
Despite the challenging circumstances faced by Gaza's entrepreneurs due to the Israeli siege, from regular electricity cuts to trade restrictions, the community remains hopeful, as they find their passion and energy fueled by web-based startups. Here’s to the next generation of entrepreneurs setting the bar high and making a mark on the global startup community!
- The Startup Weekend Gaza - Kids, an exclusive event for young hustlers aged 10-15, is taking place in Gaza, their ideas to be developed under the global Startup Weekend model.
- The event, hosted by Ahmed Saqer, prides itself as the first startup event exclusively for kids in the Middle East.
- Over 350 applications have been received for the event, scheduled to take place from August 25-27, with local partners and volunteer community leaders overseeing the proceedings.
- In the learning-focused event, kids will have more than the standard 60 seconds to pitch their ideas, ensuring clarity and comprehensiveness.
- The United Nations (UN), education-and-self-development, fashion-and-beauty, home-and-garden, and other organizations may observe the event, keen on supporting and encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs.
- Amidst the challenging circumstances in Gaza, including Israeli siege-induced issues like regular electricity cuts and trade restrictions, the spirit of entrepreneurship thrives, inspiring a new generation ready to make their mark on the global startup community.
