SITUATION
The startup ecosystem in Iraq has faced considerable challenges as a result of ongoing regional conflict over the course of the last century, yielding cultural and economic barriers to entrepreneurship.
Without many role models to shine a light on the pathway to entrepreneurial success in Iraq, the economy is less competitive in global markets, and its citizens are overly reliant on state-run organizations and programs.
The U.S. Mission in Iraq, along with The Station Foundation for Entrepreneurship in Baghdad, sought to solve some of these long-standing social and economic challenges facing Iraqi entrepreneurs through programs focused on providing entrepreneurship education to citizens, advocating for friendlier policies for private business owners and investors, and addressing cultural challenges and misconceptions about entrepreneurship.
APPROACH
GEN designed a strategy to address these difficulties, which included introducing the Startup Huddle program to build a support community around Iraqis seeking to start a business in order to encourage more citizens to consider the path of entrepreneurship.
GEN provided the U.S. Embassy in Iraq a National License to launch up to three (3) Startup Huddle chapters across the country. GEN trained staff at The Station Foundation for Entrepreneurship in Baghdad to operate the program. Startup Huddle was positioned to grow the ecosystem from the ground up by:
- Addressing the complexities of business incorporation;
- Unifying business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and stakeholders in the entrepreneurship ecosystem;
- Increasing access to startup support services, educational programming, and international connections through GEN.
GEN provided the National License holder with the tools to roll out Startup Huddle chapters in multiple cities and a training program to upskill the next generation of ecosystem builders to prepare them to lead their startup community. The Station launched the first chapter at its headquarters in Baghdad in June 2021 and progressed to open a second chapter in Mosul at the end of the year.
IMPACT
In one year, the program supported 32 startups at 16 events that engaged over 700 attendees and helped build a community of help and support. The program also expanded to a second location in Baghdad at Baghdad University and a third at the Zain Innovation Space in Mosul.
The first founders to present at Startup Huddle in Iraq were Muhammed Alkhafaji, founder of Pure Platform, and Marwa Almashali, founder of Nosoh Project. According to Sarah Dhafir, programs officer at The Station and the lead local Startup Huddle organizer, entrepreneurs who presented have found co-founders for their startups and business support from key stakeholders in the community.
The program continues to run in Baghdad and Mosul, with plans to expand to Erbil, connecting startup communities in Baghdad and Mosul.