About GIST

The U.S. Department of State’s Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) initiative empowers young innovators through networking, skills building, mentoring, and access to financing to develop startup solutions that address economic and development challenges.

Since 2011, GIST has engaged with science and technology innovators and entrepreneurs in 86 emerging economies around the world, providing training and resources to help them build successful startups. This is done through competitions, startup boot camps, and interactive online programs, implemented by the University of Texas at Austin's IC2 Institute and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Through these programs, GIST gives young entrepreneurs worldwide the tools they need to transform their communities while growing their own ventures.

Tech-I Finals at GES

The GIST Tech-I Competition is an annual competition for science and technology entrepreneurs from emerging economies worldwide. Aspiring innovators submit their ideas and startups online in an application consisting of an executive summary and promotional video. Their applications are then reviewed by experts and voted on by the global voting public in order to determine the finalists. Thirty finalists receive an all-expenses paid trip to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), this year in Nairobi, Kenya, to showcase their ventures and to receive intensive training. Tech-I winners, selected by experts at the GES, win mini-grants and receive one-on-one mentorship and training.

Since 2011, innovators from over 86 countries have showcased their science and technology ventures to the world through GIST Tech-I Competitions. Thousands of expert reviews have taken place and the online voting public has cast over 1 million votes in support of these talented young innovators, selecting finalists representing Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Middle East.

More information on GIST Tech-I: http://www.gistnetwork.org/tech-i

More information on the GIST Network: http://www.gistnetwork.org/