PICTI and Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation organize a mini technology exhibition

Amongst the visitors were representatives of the European Investment Bank and Mercy Corps.

Mr. Laith Kassis, PICTI General Manager, thanked Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for their support to Palestine and explained the importance role in encouraging entrepreneurship and increasing the number of creative and improved business models.

Sultan Lootah, Vice-President - Entrepreneurship and Employment Sector, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, said:

"This initiative takes forward the Foundation's efforts as part of the Arab Incubators' Network. The youth across the region and especially in areas such as Palestine must be constructively engaged in the economy and positively integrated so they bring about a tangible social transformation. Much needs to be done in Palestine to boost the economy. This event is one that is bound to have a significant long-term impact and the Foundation is proud to be a part of it."

The Executive Director of PITA, Mr. Ihab Jabari, thanked the representatives for their interest in the ICT Sector in Palestine and presented them with the mission, objectives, and facts of ICT in Palestine.

On the other hand, the Incubator Manager, Eng. Hasan Omar has assembled 20 projects for entrepreneurs to exhibit and orchestrated a one day coaching on how to present to investors and do an elevator pitch for investment.

Mr. Christoffe Litt, the European Investment Bank representative toured in the exhibition, and was fascinated by the exhibited projects and the creative entrepreneurs behind them, when they presented their prototypes.

While Mr. Ziad Jaser, Mercy Corps representative expects that at least two to four projects of the exhibited will be funded and incubated. PICTI is currently following up on potential investors and business angels and will be providing them with more information about the projects.

Post completion of the event, Eng. Hasan Omar conducted a discussion session on the entrepreneurs' participation, presentations, and lessons learnt. The main objective was to train and expose entrepreneurs to the world of investors. This workshop focused on corrective actions to be taken by the entrepreneurs in subsequent investment road show events.

This mini-exhibition was a test bed on how to improve on next series of similar and larger scale matchmaking events PICTI and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation will organize in the near future intended for November.

PICTI believes in the zeal of Palestinians entrepreneurship which was reflected in the mini-exhibition and calls on technology leaders to contribute back to the entrepreneurial community by providing mentorship and angel investment in one of these early (pre-seed and seed) stages with the objective of starting a trend and culture of matchmaking.