GIST Community | GIST Network

Innovators

By combining its online platform with on-the-ground partners, GIST creates education and training opportunities for young innovators in more than 130 countries around the world by providing access to U.S. experts and through in-country entrepreneurship networks and support systems.

Ecosystem Builders

Ecosystem Builders aim to bolster networking and entrepreneurial skills to build durable, long-term, supportive networks. The ultimate goal is to stimulate local entrepreneurial activity and ensure participants can grow their skills and scale their businesses together – both in their home country and through the GIST Network’s global connections.

Investors

GIST partners with in-country stakeholders in entrepreneurial ecosystems to bolster local financial support for startups. GIST is able to bring American investment experts to different regions around the world and provides an opportunity for in-country investors to learn how to create and sustain investor networks for entrepreneurs.

Partners

Since 2011, GIST has partnered with the private sector to reach over 27 million innovation community members globally and has provided training for over 15,000 startups who have gone on to generate over $250 million in revenue. This is done through competitions, startup trainings, and interactive online programs, implemented by AAAS and VentureWell. If you would like to explore partnership opportunities please contact Hillary LeBail.

General Pitch Competition

GIST runs a variety of Pitch Competitions that do not fall into the same category as Tech-I or Catalyst. These are usually associated with specific conferences or themes.

Business Incubation

The U.S. Department of State’s Global Innovation through Science and Technology, or GIST, Initiative launched this new program in the fall of 2019 for entrepreneurs in emerging economies.

The GIST Network is a public-private partnership created by the U.S. Department of State to give science and technology entrepreneurs access to needed resources and advice.

In order to create sustainable investment networks, the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Initiative has created the Investor Mobilization Training program (GIST Investors).

GIST Startup Trainings

GIST Startup Trainings empower young science and technology innovators and entrepreneurs through on-the-ground training and mentoring delivered by top U.S. mentors and in-country partners.

GIST Tech-I Pitch Competition

The GIST Tech-I Competition is an annual competition for science and technology entrepreneurs from emerging economies worldwide.

GIST Catalyst Pitch Competition

Applications open 2 August for the 2021 GIST Virtual Pitch Competition!

The GIST Innovates program is a multi-component training program to provide innovators with the training, mentoring, and resources they need to bring their ideas out of the university lab and into the market.

Resources

GIST TechConnect

GIST TechConnects provides entrepreneurs around the world with direct access to leading U.S. experts from business and academia, but without the travel and other related costs.

GIST Innovation Hubs

Innovation Hubs, or IHubs, are designed to build strong and vibrant networks of young science and technology entrepreneurs around the world.

GIST Masterclass Series

Through partnerships with U.S. Embassies and in-country startup incubators, the GIST Masterclass Series brings U.S. experts in entrepreneurship to a specific country for face-to-face interactions with stakeholders.

News

Startup Training Helping Egyptian Founders Scale Their Businesses

The GIST Startup Training program is heading to Alexandria, Egypt this November 4-7 to help young founder start and scale their startups.

Do Not Feel Guilty About Making a Profit While Doing Good

A growing number of entrepreneurs are embracing the idea that it is possible to make money while also creating a positive impact in their communities. Founders who do this are known as social entrepreneurs, but sometimes being a social entrepreneur can come with a sense of guilt.

Thinking Globally in Order to Grow Locally in Morocco

Training U.S. and Pakistani Scientists on the Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship

Supporting Emerging Angel Networks in the Mexico City Startup Ecosystem

For new opportunities in Mexico and other areas of the Americas, visit our homepage.

Igniting a Passion for STEM in Young Nigerian Women

An entrepreneur herself, Chichi Okafor knows the amount of sweat equity required to run your own company.

Philippines Adding Innovation to its Startup Ecosystem

In the Philippines, universities are placing a bigger emphasis on teaching entrepreneurship and innovation to students. The goal is to help the Philippines better compete in a global marketplace.

GIST APEC Startup Training Supporting Women and Vulnerable Communities

GIST and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) will be in Australia this October to host a regional Startup Training aimed at supporting STEM innovations by women and vulnerable communities.

GIST I-Hub: Monrovia – YONER-LIBERIA

The Youth Network for Reform, or YONER-LIBERIA, works to reunite communities, provide services and support for child soldiers and child victims of the Liberian civil wars, and prepare young Liberian entrepreneurs to drive forward the country’s growth and development.

Team smartARM Named the 2018 Microsoft Imagine Cup World Champion

A team that uses computer vision, machine learning and cloud computing to build a smart prosthetic has now been recognized as one of the most innovative techs startups in the world.

Investing in Women has a Positive Ripple Effect on Startup Ecosystems

A paradigm shift is underway, led by women investors who are actively seeking out and financing women-led startups. Known as Gender-Lens Investing, these women are working hard to overcome the financial barriers many women entrepreneurs face in funding their startups.

Embracing the Fintech Revolution in Emerging Economies

Financial Technology, or Fintech, is changing the way companies, startups and entrepreneurs around the world conduct business.