Startup Syria Meetups: Reconnecting Syria's Startup Communities
Between 22 May and 3 June 2025, Startup Syria completed its first nationwide Meetup Tour, bringing together more than 1,300 registered participants and over 400 in-person attendees across 13 Syrian cities and regions.
The meetups brought together founders, freelancers, small business owners, and young people eager to learn what it means to build a startup in Syria today.
A Grassroots Movement for Connection
The Startup Syria Meetup Tour was built on a simple idea: rebuilding Syria's entrepreneurial ecosystem begins with its people.
Events were held in Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Tartus, Latakia, Idlib, Azaz, Daraa, Suwayda, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, and Rif Dimashq.
In some regions, such as Tartus, Deir ez-Zor, and Suwayda, the meetups marked the first time startup conversations had ever taken place locally.
What People Said
It's the first time I meet others who speak the same language. It finally felt like we're not alone.
— Participant, Latakia
For the first time, we felt that someone was listening, someone who genuinely wanted to reflect the challenges we face as founders.
— Participant, Deir ez-Zor
Centralization made many young people in Tartus feel invisible, but now they see each other.
— Participant, Tartus
Beyond discussions, the meetups led to tangible outcomes. In Homs, a local organization offered free co-working space to founders.
A Diverse and Inclusive Effort
The tour reflected Syria's diversity. Female participation reached nearly 50 percent in some cities.
What We Learned
The meetups revealed a fragmented yet hopeful startup landscape:
- •Cities like Idlib and Azaz showed early signs of infrastructure and NGO-led activity.
- •Others, like Daraa and Suwayda, were new to the concept but eager to learn and connect.
- •Major hubs such as Damascus and Aleppo voiced frustration with stalled growth.
- •Across almost every city, the absence of mentorship stood out as the biggest challenge.
By the Numbers
- •13 cities reached
- •1,300+ registered participants
- •400+ in-person attendees
- •48 percent women
- •30 active WhatsApp groups created after the tour
- •1 confirmed angel investment resulting directly from connections made
- •Thousands of new local connections between founders, mentors, and partners
