Next to the pandemic, one event defined 2022 like no other–the war in Ukraine. We are especially proud of our work through the years to support innovators in Ukraine but 2022 saw a particularly focused effort. In an unprecedented pivot, GIST redrew its planned programming to create the GIST Ukraine Business Incubation program. Currently, 15 Ukrainian innovators are arriving for 6 months of U.S. incubation with what will be our longest and deepest Business Incubation program ever, in cities as diverse as Chicago, Illinois, and Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. 

But there was more to be done. GIST helped to put Ukrainian innovators front and center across multiple events around the world. From San Francisco to Copenhagen and beyond, we helped ensure they were both seen and heard by the global innovation community. Perhaps our strongest showing was the Ukrainian delegation to Web Summit Portugal, the largest tech event in Europe, where 24 Ukrainian startups participated. As Web Summit special guest, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, described, "This is why the Ukrainian pavilion at Web Summit is impressive. All of [these teams] prove that the time to invest in Ukrainian IT is now."

Summer also saw the first major event in the new GIST Oceans Series, a concerted effort to focus on the blue economy of the future. Beginning in the spring with a series of articles and interviews, this introduction to the series culminated at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal. Innovators from around the world had the opportunity to share their work on a global stage, make meaningful connections with other key ocean stakeholders, and learn about cutting-edge scientific and business insights from leaders in the field. GIST’s events included the innovation Masterclass: Fast Fashion To Ocean Action, GIST TechConnect: Elevating Diverse Voices in Ocean Advocacy and Innovation, and our premier event, the Pitch Showcase for Innovative Water Solutions, on June 28th. National Geographic Explorer and Masterclass instructor Thierney Thys described GIST as “truly remarkable in its ability to attract such talented young entrepreneurs from so many different parts of the world.”

That creativity was on full display as the young innovators inspired us with innovations as diverse as drinking water kiosks in rural India to affordable prosthetics constructed with recycled ocean plastics. Look for more from this series in the coming year.

From November 14-16, GIST once again brought together a group of impactful innovators to learn, inspire, and connect, this time in Bangkok, Thailand for the CATALYST Asia-Pacific Pitch Competition: Advancing Women in Innovation. 16 women-focused innovators from APEC economies dived deep into their pitches and business models with GIST trainers, explored pathways to equitable workplaces in the new Gender Equity workshop, and competed for over $70k in prizes. This was a formative experience for the participants, giving them a safe space to share diverse perspectives and the opportunity to work together building entrepreneurial models that protect and advance women in the startup sector. Emerging from this event, innovator Nadea Nabilla described the experience: “I thought this would be very competitive but surprisingly we are kind of just like sisters. We are helping each other.” The impactful solutions coming out of the cohort touched on the world’s biggest challenges from developing technology around carbon capture and early Alzheimer's detection, to lab-derived meat alternatives and affordable electric propulsion for smallholder fishermen. The success of this event’s structure, providing meaningful learning opportunities and shared experiences, is proof that the future of pitch competitions is more dynamic and expansive than ever.