Supporting Palestinian startups and small businesses during this time
Google is offering 4m USD of financial assistance to early-stage startups and small businesses in Palestine to help them continue operating during the current conflict. Through this fund we hope to safeguard 4500 jobs and create new ones for Palestinians during this difficult time.
In partnership with local and global non-profit organizations, we will provide loans and grants to 1000 Palestinian small businesses which they can use to purchase inventory, acquire equipment, or cover operating expenses. Google will also provide seed grants to 50 tech startups currently operating in Palestine. Businesses will be able to apply to these financial grants through local organizations that provide loans to entrepreneurs.
This support comes in addition to the humanitarian relief support provided in Gaza which Google announced on October 17. Funds were given to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, UNICEF and Save the Children which provide essentials — food, shelter, and psychological support.
As part of our ongoing commitment to support Palestinian businesses, Google announced the launch of the Palestine Launchpad program in July 2023. The program was initially designed to address gaps in talent and employment in Palestine and to offer capacity building, mentorship and employment matching. The first Cohort of the program was concluded in September last year with around 400 graduates from the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, in partnership with Spark, Udacity and local universities.
