PIEC Scaleup Launches to Support Palestinian Startups

PIEC Scaleup, the second phase of the Palestinian Innovation and Entrepreneurship Catalyst, has launched in Ramallah to support startups from early venture building through market entry, investment readiness and regional expansion.

The programme is led by Flow Accelerator in partnership with Flat6Labs, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Swiss Representative Office in Palestine, with Seedstars also participating. It is designed as an eight-stage pathway covering idea generation, product development, market entry, investment preparation, growth and expansion, while working alongside existing entrepreneurship programmes to improve coordination across the local ecosystem.

Flow will contribute local market knowledge and programme experience, while Flat6Labs will bring regional investor and market connections and Seedstars will support company-building methodologies. The model places more emphasis on improving startup quality early and on continuing support after market entry, rather than treating investment readiness as a final-stage checkpoint.

The first phase ran for around two years, during which 37 startups reached the market, 10 more advanced companies joined acceleration programmes and four institutional investment deals were recorded. Around 40% of beneficiary companies operate outside the Palestinian market.

The second phase aims to support 202 companies towards sustainability, with progress measured through market entry, investment readiness, institutional funding and regional expansion. The programme launches against difficult labour-market conditions, with unemployment above 50% overall and around 30% in the West Bank, alongside particularly high rates among young graduates.