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 Masterclass Series Will Support Science Based Startups in Serbia

The GIST Network will be hosting a set of three masterclasses in Serbia later this month, as a way to build and support local science and technology startups in the region.

Investors Looking Globally to Support Colombian Startup Ecosystem

GIST Investors returned to Colombia for its second masterclass in a year-long series to support investors in the Colombian startup ecosystem.

How to Get Your Startup Noticed by Reporters and Influencers

You’ve built a great product and your team is ready to bring it to market. But you can’t start making sales until potential customers know about you.

Wassim El Hariri from Lebanon Wins First Place at the 2018 GIST Tech-I Competition

Wassim El Hariri from Lebanon has been named the 2018 Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Tech-I competition Grand Champion. His company SASHA uses a uniquely designed robot to fully automate food distribution in hospitals.

GIST Investors Indonesia Training Focuses on Funding Women Founders

Jakarta, Indonesia is a hub for innovation in Southeast Asia. And while there is a need for knowledge to help these founders create successful startups, there is an even bigger need for financial capital – this is particularly true for women founders in the ecosystem.

GIST Investors Malaysia Supporting Angel Investors in Southeast Asia

GIST Investors has reached Malaysia and is now working to support angel investors in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysian Students Take Top Prize in Microsoft Imagine Cup Asia Pacific Finals

Microsoft has announced Team PINE from Malaysia as the winner for the 2018 Microsoft Imagine Cup Asia Pacific Finals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

GIST I-Hub: Peru - UTEC Ventures

UTEC Ventures is working to strengthen the startup ecosystem in Peru, connecting startups to investors and convincing more young people to consider becoming entrepreneurs.

The Golden Rule to Perfecting Your Pitch

When an entrepreneur is looking for a potential investor, partner or even customer, she makes a pitch. A pitch is the process of describing the primary features of your product or idea – generally in five minutes or less.

Tech-I Finalists Competing for more than $170,000 in Startup Resources

The U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce the prize amounts for the upcoming GIST Tech-I competition finals. The competition seeks to highlight young science and technology entrepreneurs across the globe.

GIST Investors Helps Build Stronger Startup Ecosystem in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur is quickly becoming a financial technology powerhouse in Southeast Asia.

GIST I-Hub: Amman – Oasis500

Oasis500 in Jordan is working to support seed stage startups and encourage more young people in the region to consider becoming entrepreneurs.