On Friday and Saturday, July 4–5, 2025, the Syrian capital Damascus hosted the Youth Entrepreneurship Conferenceunder the theme “From Idea to Project.” The event was organized by Growfast Platform and Fajr Academy, with media sponsorship from Seer Platform. The conference offered a space that combined training and practical application, delivering hands-on tools for youth interested in entrepreneurship.
The event saw wide participation from students, graduates, and initiative owners, who gathered in specialized workshops that covered key stages of launching a business—from understanding market needs and formulating a clear value proposition, to building a business model and marketing strategies for attracting first customers. The first day focused on value design and investor thinking, while the second day covered personal planning, digital marketing, and an overview of the Syrian job market.
A public panel discussion titled “The Reality of Entrepreneurship in Syria” was held, moderated by engineer Zaher Shurbaji, with the participation of several Syrian entrepreneurs who shared their experiences in launching startups and navigating challenges related to funding and regulations. The speakers emphasized the importance of self-education in a constantly evolving business environment.
Participants engaged enthusiastically with the workshops and sessions, expressing their appreciation for the opportunity to learn and connect in a youth-driven environment of shared ideas and ambitions. The organizers announced plans to replicate the experience in other Syrian cities, aiming to expand its impact and build a national network of youth pioneers capable of contributing to local economic and social development through self-driven entrepreneurial projects.
GrowFast announced the crowning of Arab innovator Nader Al-Mahdi with the Arab Innovator Award in China for 2025, in recognition of his pioneering project, “Sakan Academy”, which is considered a promising initiative in developing educational pathways and supporting linguistic and cultural integration for Arab children and families residing in China.
GrowFast concluded the mentorship and guidance phase of the “Arab Innovator” competition, following the implementation of a training program that supported participants in developing their projects and preparing for the final stage. Yesterday, the platform hosted an official evaluation session that ran from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., during which the owners of 18 projects delivered their final presentations before a specialized judging panel.
GroFast has announced the successful completion of the first stage of the “Arab Innovator” competition, held in its inaugural edition dedicated to developing sustainable solutions for challenges faced by the Arab community in China. The competition received significant attention, with 83 innovative projects submitted from various Arab countries. Of these, 23 projects—representing 28%—qualified for the second stage after meeting the initial requirements and aligning with the competition’s objectives.