Iliana Montauk is the director of Gaza Sky Geeks, the first startup accelerator in Gaza, launched in 2011 by the global humanitarian organization Mercy Corps. Gaza Sky Geeks fills a critical need in Gaza, where young tech talent is abundant but opportunities are in short supply. It brought the first international private investment to Gazan startups in late 2013. In 2015, Gaza Sky Geeks ran the biggest crowdfunding campaign to date in the Arab world. Montauk’s interest in harnessing tech entrepreneurship for development in frontier markets arose from her past experience at Google, a microfinance nonprofit and Wamda, a media outlet focused on startups in the Arab world. She graduated summa cum laude from Harvard in 2006 and completed a Fulbright in Jordan in 2012 focused on startups in the Middle East. Originally from Poland and the San Francisco Bay Area, Montauk speaks five languages, including Arabic.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM UTC
| 8:00 AM | Networking and Food |
| 9:00 AM | Fireside Chat |
| 10:00 AM | Networking |
This is Startup Grind. We are the world’s largest startup community.
Our Mission
To give startups everywhere the education and opportunities they need to build, grow, and scale their companies.
Our Values
We believe in making friends, not contacts. We believe in giving first, not taking. We believe in helping others before helping yourself.
Tools & Discounts for Startups
Take advantage of resources and offers provided by organizations we know and love, designed to help you navigate the startup journey.
Global Conference
Our annual flagship event in Silicon Valley brings together thousands of startup teams, investors and organizations from all over the world.
Join the Startup Membership
This membership gives you free access to networking, events, mentorship, office hours, and other exclusive opportunities curated by Startup Grind HQ.
