Scale Up Syria 2025 Kicks Off with 58 Startups in Damascus Bootcamp
The Scale Up Syria 2025 bootcamp has officially launched in Damascus, bringing together 58 startups for a high-impact training program designed to help founders scale and grow their businesses. This year's initiative reflects a new wave of entrepreneurial energy and innovation from across the country.
A Nationwide Push for Startup Growth
Organized through a strategic partnership between Saned Al Shabab and the Aga Khan Foundation, Scale Up Syria is a leading entrepreneurship initiative focused on strengthening the nation's startup ecosystem. Building on the success of previous editions, which supported over 60 startups, the 2025 program returns with stronger infrastructure and expanded outreach. The current Damascus cohort features a diverse mix of projects tackling challenges across key sectors, including health, education, commerce, sustainability, and digital services.
High-Impact Training and Mentorship
Participating teams are currently engaged in a series of hands-on workshops, intensive mentoring sessions, and growth planning modules. This curriculum is tailored to provide founders with the practical tools, strategic insights, and supportive network needed to navigate the challenges of scaling a business in the current economic landscape.
Expansion and Long-Term Vision
The program is set to expand its reach in the coming weeks with a new bootcamp planned for Aleppo. This move is part of a long-term vision to embed entrepreneurship capacity-building efforts in Syria’s major innovation hubs and develop a decentralized, inclusive, and sustainable ecosystem that empowers local talent nationwide.
About the Strategic Partners
This initiative is driven by two key organizations:
Saned Al Shabab: A youth-driven initiative committed to unlocking opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs across Syria. Its work focuses on delivering essential training, mentorship, and ecosystem support.
The Aga Khan Foundation: A global development organization that brings decades of experience to the partnership, with a core mission to foster resilience and promote inclusive economic growth in the communities it serves.
Supporting Syria's Economic Revitalization
This edition of Scale Up Syria arrives at a critical time for the country’s private sector revitalization. As Syria looks to unlock new sources of economic value, investing in local entrepreneurship is seen as a powerful tool to generate jobs, drive innovation, and strengthen community resilience from the ground up.
Looking Ahead
The 58 startups participating in this year's program represent a significant pool of potential and ambition. With the right support and ecosystem development provided by Scale Up Syria, these ventures are poised to become important engines of growth for their local communities and the wider Syrian economy.
Source: Saned Al Shabab on LinkedIn