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

GIST I-Hub: Beirut – Berytech

Launched in 2002, Berytech provides a dynamic environment for the creation and development of startups. Through its programs at three locations around Lebanon, Berytech fosters innovation, new technology and entrepreneurship.

GIST Masterclass Building Innovation Ecosystems in the Philippines

The GIST Network will be in the Philippines this August to host a masterclass on establishing entrepreneurship programs at universities and colleges in the country. The goal of the masterclass is to build out a startup ecosystem that emphasizes innovation.

MIT Solve Initiative Seeking Innovative Solutions to Global Problems

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Solve initiative is looking for tech-enabled solutions that address four global challenges – and there is $650,000 USD in prize funding available to competing startups.

Showcase Your Tech Startup at DEMO Africa 2018

DEMO Africa is now accepting applications for DEMO Africa 2018. The annual DEMO Africa conference brings together more than 2,000 people from around the world to learn and demo the latest and greatest innovations out of Africa.

Meet Robert Langer, A 2018 U.S. Science Envoy for Innovation

He’s an accomplished biomedical engineer whose inventions are said to have helped upwards of two billion lives. Now, Dr. Robert S. Langer, ScD., FREng, has been named one of five 2018 U.S. Science Envoys. Langer, specifically is the U.S. Science Envoy for Innovation.

What Is the Internet of Things?

If you have been following the tech news even a little bit over the last few years, you’ve heard of the Internet of Things. The IoT, we’re told, is supposed to revolutionize the way we interact with technology and will fundamentally change the way we live our lives.

Using a University Model to Support Science Startups in Serbia

The GIST Network partnered with the U.S. Embassy in Serbia to host a masterclass series on supporting science startups in the country.

Islamic Development Bank Calls for Innovation via Transform Fund

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has established a special fund, known as Science, Technology and Innovation Transform Fund (IsDB-STIF) to support its Member Countries in finding practical solutions to their key development challenges through the power of innovation.

What's Important to an Entrepreneur?

At the 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad, India, thousand of entrepreneurs from across the world came together to network, support and learn.

Scaling Your Startup on the Cloud

A key to success for every startup is the ability to maximize resources while minimizing overhead costs. One tool that has proven it can keep costs low and help a startup scale is the cloud.

GIST I-Hub: Tunis – El Space Social Innovation Hub

El Space is focused on growing the knowledge base within the startup ecosystem in Tunisia so that entrepreneurs have a better understanding of how to start and scale.

Scale Your Tech Startup Using AWS Cloud, Apply to the Cloud10 Scalerator Program

The Cloud10 Scalerator Program is one of the first platforms in the region that helps young and disruptive technology firms to 'scale-up' their businesses and grow through the transformative power of cloud computing. If you own an incorporated company with a deployed product or service, cohesive