Tech for Palestine Launches Incubator for Pro-Palestinian Tech Initiatives
In a bid to support pro-Palestinian advocacy through technology, Tech for Palestine has launched the “Tech for Palestine Incubator.” The incubator aims to bolster efforts for a free Palestine by providing resources and connections to projects dedicated to Palestinian rights advocacy. These initiatives, whether individual-driven, non-profits, or tech companies, focus on supporting Palestinian freedom and addressing inequities in the tech and media landscapes.
The incubator offers a range of support, including mentorship, marketing, and access to a network of industry professionals. Paul Biggar, the founder of Tech for Palestine and tech entrepreneur behind CircleCI, described the incubator as a direct response to what he calls a “well-funded apparatus of oppression” operating in the tech, media, and political spheres. Biggar emphasized that the organization’s mission is to “stand for human rights, equality, and freedom for Palestinians.”
The Tech for Palestine Incubator currently supports 20 projects. Among them are Boycat, a mobile app and Chrome extension that identifies products under boycott, and Newscord, an AI-driven tool that exposes media bias. Both apps have gained significant traction in recent months. Other initiatives include Apricot, a service connecting U.S. companies with Palestinian tech talent, and Pal-Chat, a chatbot tailored to help advocates access credible information about Palestine.
Biggar’s personal journey towards founding Tech for Palestine began after he penned a blog post criticizing the tech industry’s lack of support for Palestinians, which went viral. “Thousands of people reached out, many too afraid to speak up publicly for fear of professional consequences,” Biggar said. Recognizing a shared desire for change, he organized these voices into the Tech for Palestine community.
This initiative arrives at a particularly polarized moment for the tech industry, where many companies have publicly sided with Israel. In contrast, vocal support for Palestine has often resulted in job losses or other professional repercussions for those who speak out. Biggar hopes the Tech for Palestine Incubator will create a safe space for those wishing to contribute to the Palestinian cause without fear of reprisal, and he envisions the incubator as a foundation for meaningful change in the industry’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Projects within the incubator address various aspects of advocacy, from connecting activists with protests through apps like Find-a-Protest, to the ethical oversight of investment with Ethics.vc, which rates venture capital firms on their involvement in human rights abuses. Additionally, Jaywalk, a tool described as “Waze for protests,” provides real-time information for activists, aiming to enhance their safety and effectiveness on the ground.
Tech for Palestine invites individuals and groups passionate about the Palestinian cause to participate by starting their own projects, joining as volunteers, or simply amplifying the message on social media. By offering a wide array of entry points for involvement, Biggar hopes to cultivate a robust pro-Palestinian advocacy ecosystem within the tech community.
As the organization grows, Biggar remains focused on raising awareness of the Israel-Palestine conflict, particularly the situation in Gaza, and on rallying the tech industry to advocate for a permanent ceasefire. Through these initiatives, he believes that the Tech for Palestine Incubator can reshape the industry’s approach to political advocacy and bring renewed attention to the struggle for Palestinian rights.
