The U.S. Department of State’s Global Innovation through Science and Technology, or GIST, initiative is excited to announce the inaugural GIST Business Incubation, a new program for entrepreneurs in emerging economies, is underway.  

Purdue Foundry in West Lafayette, IN has served as an incubator linked to Purdue University. They offer incubation, acceleration, mentorship, and tech assistance to entrepreneurs and innovators who are students or faculty at Purdue.  

In our first six years, they have helped form 253 new companies. Purdue Foundry has extensive community events for connecting startups and offers coworking spaces. 

Purdue Foundry has programming designed to help startups transform their groundbreaking ideas into a world-changing company.  

Participating Startups

• MFEYTI - Uganda
  • Mfeyti is a web and Mobile artificial intelligence-powered platform for final consumers to determine the authenticity of medicine. A technology that is available to anyone on the planet even with the simplest of phones imaginable. We use artificial intelligence available and telecommunication to make the solution available on computers and mobile phones. A user can be able to order genuine drugs and medical products from their mobile phones.That way people have access to genuine critical medicines like antimalarials, and HI drugs.
• PluriCell Biotech - Brazil
  • PluriCell produces human heart cells in the lab to help patients suffering from congestive heart failure.

Important Dates

The startups will incubate from October 14 - November 8, then convene in Washington D.C. from November 9 -21 for additional incubation. 

About Business Incubation

The goal of the program is to support international science and technology innovators who are looking to expand their startups into the United States market. It will also provide the U.S. startup ecosystem the opportunity to forge new connections with entrepreneurs who are abroad.

The 2019 GIST Business Incubation program will provide entrepreneurs with exposure to the U.S. market and startup resources. While in residence with the program, participants will work on refining their ideas, building their business plans, and finding the right market for their product. Participating entrepreneurs will also have the opportunity to network within the startup ecosystem where they are placed.