Despite the ongoing conflict, a group of Israeli and Palestinian entrepreneurs are putting aside their differences to build businesses together through a startup accelerator program called 50:50 Startups.
The program, which takes place in Boston, brings together mixed teams of Palestinians, Israeli Arabs, and Israeli Jews to develop their startup ideas and pitch them to potential investors. This year’s cohort is smaller than usual due to travel restrictions caused by the war, but the participants remain determined to make a difference.
Peace Through Business
Salah Hussein, a 33-year-old Palestinian entrepreneur, is one of the participants. He was traumatized by an encounter with Israeli soldiers as a child, but now he’s working with an Israeli Jewish co-founder to develop a business that uses cameras to detect and prevent greenhouse pests. Hussein believes that building businesses together can help build lasting bridges and advance the cause of peace.
Yana Shaulov, Hussein’s Israeli Jewish co-founder, agrees. She says that coexistence is not always easy, but it’s necessary. “It’s already worth it just to show other people that it’s possible,” she says. The team’s company, Qanara Tech, is developing innovative technology to improve food production.
Other teams in the program are working on projects such as a better heart monitor and a water purification system. While the ideas are promising, the partnerships can be challenging. Hussein says that he’s faced backlash from hardliners who accuse him of being a “normalizer” for working with Israelis.
Overcoming Challenges
Despite the obstacles, the participants remain committed to their goals. Aviv Meir, a 27-year-old Israeli participant, says that it’s hard to put herself in the enemy’s shoes, but she believes that understanding the other side is crucial for peace. The program’s co-founder, Amir Grinsteen, says that the goal is to build lasting bridges between Israelis and Palestinians through business.
The program’s success is not just about the businesses that are created, but about the relationships that are built. As Hussein says, “If we are not the ones looking for change, who will be? We are the right people at the right place, at the right time. We have to move on.” The program’s impact extends beyond the individual participants, offering a glimpse of a possible future where Israelis and Palestinians can work together towards a common goal.
