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

Maximizing Mentorship

Learning is a life-long process; it is essential to most endeavors, but particularly in innovation and entrepreneurship. Learning takes many forms, and happens in many ways over the course of an innovator's life and work, but at its best, is always built on a foundation of mentorship. Mentorship can mean and do many things to a variety of stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem.

GIST Catalyst Semifinalists Announced!

GIST Catalyst Virtual Pitch Competition Semifinalists have been announced. This diverse and dynamic group of innovators is a great example of the GIST community's commitment to bring innovative solutions to the world's most pressing issues. We could not be more excited to welcome this group to compete at this elite level, to showcase their solutions, and to be part of something greater than themselves.

GIST Insights: Navigating the New Normal

Networking in the New Normal

Finding Their Own Path Forward

GIST Insights: Deep Tech

“Deep tech” is a phrase you’re going to be hearing more and more of in the coming decade, and it’s going to be more important than ever. But what exactly is it, and why should it matter? At its most simple, “deep tech” is used to describe novel technology that is based on substantial scientific or engineering challenges.

Finding Their Own Path Forward: Part 1

Eastern and Central Europe has become one of the most important regions for GIST to work in over the past decade. From our recent pre-accelerator training program, GIST Innovates Ukraine, our stellar Belarusian alumni's recent Series A funding, to our many Innovation Hubs throughout the region, we have been inspired by the incredible vision and ambition present in the young innovators in this space. Read on to find out why much of the future will be born in this exciting region.

Growing the Future Part 2: Global Challenges, Regional Opportunities

There are numerous, cascading challenges that are affecting agriculture globally, with unique manifestations at the local and regional level. We can summarize these challenges succinctly as one, interrelated “triple challenge”-feeding a growing population, providing a livelihood for farmers, and protecting the environment –which must be tackled together if we are to make sustainable progress on any of them.

Growing the Future Part 1: The Increasing Role of AgTech Today

Part 1: The Increasing Role of AgTech Today

Bhutan: A Country That Will Change the World

Why did GIST choose to bring its teams of experts, instructors, and mentors to Bhutan? What is it about this secluded Asian nation that makes it a perfect fit for GIST’s mission to empower science and technology innovators and strengthen emerging economies? The answers might surprise you; there is much, much more to this small mountain kingdom than meets the eye.

GIST Insights: Advancing AgTech

The impact of agriculture on our society cannot be overstated. Agriculture transformed us from nomads to farmers, allowed for the building of cities and nations, as well as new achievements in art, writing, and math. Despite this, AgTech can be seen as a less glamorous and sometimes overlooked field for innovative entrepreneurs.

The Cleantech Revolution is Here

Cleantech innovation has emerged as the hottest space to be in for entrepreneurs wanting to make a positive impact with their commercial venture. Entrepreneurs in the cleantech sector are providing creative solutions not just to everyday issues but also to the larger issue of directly addressing the threat of the climate crisis. As the world collectively grapples with the threat of the climate crisis, this focus allows innovators to have significant contributions to local, regional, and global issues.