Opening New Prospects for International Partnerships and Investment
Intersect Strengthens the Global Presence of Palestinian Startups at WMF 2026 in Italy
Intersect Innovation Hub, supported by Bank of Palestine, strengthened the international presence of Palestinian startups through its participation in WMF – We Make Future 2026, one of Europe’s largest events dedicated to artificial intelligence, technology, and digital innovation.
Held in Bologna, Italy, the event attracted more than 73,000 visitors, over 1,000 speakers, and more than 90 training platforms, bringing together leading companies, investors, and entrepreneurs from around the world.
The Palestinian delegation featured a dedicated pavilion showcasing six startups: Tzkrti, Data Queue, Churn Solution, Aqlama.ai, Agritopia, and SellEnvo. The companies presented their innovative technological solutions and products to investors, entrepreneurs, technology leaders, and representatives of global innovation ecosystems, with the aim of expanding their international presence and exploring new opportunities for growth and expansion.
The founders of the Palestinian startups held a series of bilateral meetings with investors, experts, and representatives of international companies and institutions. The discussions focused on investment opportunities, expansion into global markets, and the development of strategic partnerships that could support the growth of Palestinian startups and enhance their ability to access new markets.
As part of the event, Shatha Musallam, founder of Agritopia, shared her entrepreneurial experience during an appearance on the We Make Future podcast. She discussed the journey of establishing her company in Palestine, the key challenges she faced, the opportunities that contributed to its success, and the lessons she learned through her entrepreneurial journey.
Bassem Khdeiri, representing Intersect Innovation Hub, also delivered a presentation on the development of the Palestinian startup ecosystem. He highlighted the rapid growth of the innovation sector and the promising opportunities Palestine offers to founders, investors, and international partners.
Sura Fityani, representing Intersect Innovation Hub, participated in a panel discussion that brought together leading innovation ecosystem representatives from around the world. The session addressed the concept of leapfrogging and the role of innovation ecosystems in accelerating entrepreneurial growth, empowering startups, and promoting innovation as a driver of sustainable economic development.
The participation extended beyond showcasing Palestinian innovations. It also helped strengthen connections within the Palestinian entrepreneurial ecosystem by bringing together, for the first time, several Palestinian startup founders on a single international platform. This created an opportunity for them to exchange expertise, enhance collaboration, and expand their networks with investors, institutions, and international partners.
Intersect confirmed that the participation achieved its objectives: highlighting the capabilities of Palestinian startups, strengthening their international presence, and opening new prospects for strategic partnerships and investment opportunities that can support their growth and enable expansion into regional and global markets. The Palestinian pavilion also attracted significant interest from investors, visitors, and technology and innovation professionals.
Intersect expressed its appreciation for the support provided by Bank of Palestine in making the participation possible. It also thanked the Orange Corners programme and the Kingdom of the Netherlands for supporting the participation of two members of the Palestinian delegation.
Intersect emphasised that this cooperation helped broaden participation among Palestinian entrepreneurs, showcase their innovations to the global innovation community, and enhance opportunities for their companies to grow and to establish future partnerships and investments.