Analysis

April 13, 2022

From Syria to seed rounds: experiences of refugee founders

Founders who’ve fled Syria and Afghanistan reflect on their journeys as entrepreneurs


Tim Smith

8 min read

Think you’ve got it tough fundraising? Try doing it when English is your fourth language, you’ve only just arrived in Europe, you don’t know anyone and Trump's travel ban means you can't set foot in the US. That's the reality for many refugee entrepreneurs who are trying to build startups in the face of even greater odds than their local rivals. 

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Yama Saraj has turned his passion for martial arts into a business
Yama Saraj has turned his passion for martial arts into a business
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Nour Mouakke, founder of Wizme
Nour Mouakke, founder of Wizme
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Rami Kalai, cofounder of Compose
Rami Kalai, cofounder of Compose
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Tim Smith

Tim Smith was news editor at Sifted. He covered deeptech and AI, and produced Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast . Follow him on X and LinkedIn

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