Palestine’s tech ecosystem is evolving fast, with talent upskilling and industry connections driving waves of innovation. At the 4th edition of the Palestine Launchpad with Google Hackathon, over 30 rising tech experts collaborated with 7 Palestinian tech companies to tackle real industry challenges and build smart solutions.

The results spoke volumes: 21 prototype solutions were built, 87% of participants formed new professional connections, and a new wave of techies gained mentorship, exposure, and team experience. Powered by Google, in collaboration with Udacity and SPARK, this hackathon is part of the community engagement events within Palestine Launchpad with Google, a program offering Nanodegree scholarships to Palestinians, helping to build a stronger, more connected tech ecosystem in the region.

Participants currently enrolled in Nanodegree programs teamed up across AI, web development, data science, and UX design to address challenges designed with leading banks, fintech innovators, logistics, and edtech companies, including Bank of Palestine, Harri, Aqlama, Olivery, iConnect Technologies, Churn Solution, and Quiz+.

Building Real-World Solutions

Over four days, participants worked in teams, connected with mentors, and refined their concepts, before pitching in the main event held on June 14 virtually.
Participants worked on issues that are at the forefront of the region’s tech landscape. Participants were able to showcase their technical skills while solving the exact problems companies like Bank of Palestine, Harri, and Aqlama are dealing with everyday. By solving these tech problems, from AI-powered data platforms to tech-trendy fintech solutions, they developed stand-alone prototypes that are innovative and practical.

Challenges Tackled

These were 4 problems to be solved by participants among the 7 challenges proposed from the participating companies:

1. Customer Segmentation: Personalizing marketing strategies through data science.
2. Predicting Customer Churn: Using behavioral data to enhance retention.
3. Sentiment Analysis: Analyzing WhatsApp conversations to improve customer service.
4. Fraud Detection: Identifying suspicious credit card and insurance claim activities.

“Bringing real companies on board added a powerful layer of relevance—participants weren’t just solving hypothetical problems; they were engaging directly with real technical challenges faced by the industry,” said Suzan Bargouthi, Senior Programme Officer at SPARK, who led the event’s experience design and industry collaboration strategy. “Participants truly immersed their their technical skills from their learning journey in this hackathon, and practiced their ability to collaborate and present their ideas clearly and effectively”

Mentorship & Judging

The hackathon’s success was driven by expert mentors and judges who guided teams and elevated their solutions.

Judges, including representatives from participating companies, brought technical depth and market perspective that sharpened every solution. They provided direct critique and actionable insights that helped teams develop their concepts from pitch to prototype:

• Ghaith Khanfer (Harri)
• Rami Tailakh (Harri)
• Abdelrahman Khatib (Aqlama)
• Saif Al Mashayekh (Bank of Palestine)
• Malak Duraidi (Olivery)
• Aref Hanayshe (iConnect Technologies)
• Dr. Mona Nabil Demaidi (STEMpire)
• Walaa Kashou (Churn Solution)
• Rahaf Abu Aisheh (Salon Beauty Booking)
• Mahdi Washha (Quiz+)

Mentors from global companies, startups, and innovation labs provided critical guidance to participants. With plenty of industry experience, mentors guided participants both online and in person to help turn raw concepts into refined solutions.

• Basel Hamarsheh (AI & Machine Learning Engineer)
• Ayman Sami (Dell Technologies)
• Saéda Aburaed (Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics)
• Muawiya Assali (General Motors)
• Adnan Assali (UX/UI Designer)
• Ayah N. Safin (Data Engineer)
• Hassan Jaddeh (Social Studio Analytics)
• Salem Mufarreh (Full Stack Developer)

More than advisors, these mentors were catalysts in bridging knowledge with execution, sparking breakthroughs across every team. With careers spanning global tech giants, government innovation labs, R&D teams, and fast-growing startups, their presence elevated the hackathon from a competition to a truly collaborative learning experience.

‘I am incredibly proud of the participants’ efforts- from deeply understanding the problem statements and preparing datasets, to designing AI-powered solutions and building functional POCs. This experience reaffirms that Palestinian youth have extraordinary talent, and they can drive meaningful innovation when given the chance’, said Hussein Soboh sharing about his experience as the tech advisor of the hackathon.

Driving Ecosystem Growth

The hackathon wrapped up with winning teams announced, but the impact goes beyond awards. Participants walked away with invaluable experience, industry connections, and critical feedback to advance their careers. Many teams plan to continue refining their prototypes, while several companies expressed interest in ongoing collaboration.
The 4th Palestine Launchpad with Google Hackathon showcased the momentum building in Palestine’s tech sector. It bridged the gap between upskilling and career experience, turning learners into builders and contributors.

For companies, it was a chance to meet and shape the next generation of tech talent. For participants, it marked a shift in mindset: from learners to builders and contributors. Many teams plan to continue refining their prototypes post-hackathon, and several companies expressed interest in exploring future mentorship and collaboration. This is how an ecosystem grows, one connection, one collaboration at a time.

Want to enroll in the next cohort of the Palestine Launchpad scholarship program? Applications are now open: apply here.