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The Divan Hackathon is back. After the success of the first edition, with 355 applications, 50 teams from 11 countries, 27 mentors, 10 workshops, and 14 finalists, we’re evolving the format to create an even stronger launchpad for early-stage founders.
Whether you're validating a new idea, refining your early product, or preparing for your first customers, the Divan Hackathon is designed to give you the mentorship, momentum, and structure to move fast and build something real.
This time, every startup can participate (not only AI). Teams are prioritized, but individual founders are also welcome. We’re not just looking for built products, we’re looking for early-stage startups with ambition. Starts January 17th, 2026 Apply Now : https://hackathon.divan.ac
Yesterday wasn't just a meeting; it was proof that the narrative is changing. We’ve always heard that collective action is 'hard,' but seeing this Founding Core align with such clarity and speed proves otherwise. We are moving from 'profiles' to 'purposeful action' globally. 🚀
It is a profound honor for me to start this professional journey alongside such incredible Iranian founders from all corners of the world. Together, we are building something truly meaningful—a lasting legacy for the next generation.
I’m deeply convinced that as we grow side-by-side, we will learn and discover so much more in this collective adventure. I’m incredibly proud of this group.
Please help us spread the word and share this with your network of builders. Let’s make this movement grow together!
📽️ The full session recording will be available on our YouTube channel soon.
During London Tech Week last summer, we hosted the Divan London gathering, an evening that brought together an incredible mix of founders, engineers, designers, and creative minds from across the tech scene.
People joined from London and beyond, sharing their journeys, lessons, and ideas around building products, startups, and communities. It was one of those rare nights where the conversations were as diverse as they were inspiring, from early-stage founders to experienced entrepreneurs, all exchanging perspectives and stories that stayed with us long after the event.
What made it even more special was how many of those connections have continued. Several collaborations, side projects, and friendships began that evening, showing once again how powerful it can be when curious and driven people come together.
Since then, Divan Academy has continued to grow as a space for builders to learn, collaborate, and turn ideas into real products. Over the past few months, we have hosted the first Divan Hackathon, that have connected hundreds of people from around the world, all with the same shared goal: to learn by doing.
Now, we are preparing the next Divan London event.
If you would like to be part of the upcoming gathering and get updates about future meetups, hackathons, and workshops, follow us here:
At Hamfounder, we’re not just building a platform—we’re architecting a movement. A global launchpad designed to unite the Iranian diaspora’s untapped entrepreneurial power across borders, time zones, and sectors.
Whether you're in San Francisco, Toronto, Tehran, Berlin, London, Paris, or Dubai, Hamfounder is your strategic bridge to globally-minded co-founders, impact-driven investors, and deep domain experts who speak your language, literally and culturally.
Through cross-border collaboration, we’re empowering a new generation of Iranian entrepreneurs to build globally relevant, future-defining companies.
Early access is now open — be among the first to join!
Canada’s clean energy transition hinges not only on policy and technology, but on the everyday decisions of households and businesses. Yet for many Canadians, the path to installing solar panels or adopting other net-zero solutions remains unclear, with questions about cost, incentives, and trusted providers often stalling progress.
That’s where Solenery comes in. Founded by Arshia Jahangiri, a four-time entrepreneur with deep experience in cleantech and innovation, the AI-powered platform is designed to make clean energy adoption simple, transparent, and confidence-driven. From feasibility snapshots by postal code to streamlined access to rebates, loans, and vetted installers, Solenery bridges the gap between interest and action.
Be part of a 3-week fully online AI-focused challenge where you’ll build, innovate, and launch real solutions with world-class mentors.
Join solo or with a team
- No idea? No problem! Work on your own or get matched with a project - 100% free (scholarship for all accepted participants) - Focus on AI SaaS platforms, scalable product development, ChatGPT & AI, n8n automation, and machine learning
Spots are filling fast – apply now to shape the future of innovation!
The CanExport Innovation program is re-opening on June 1!
This federal program offers up to $75,000 per project, covering 75% of eligible costs to help Canadian organizations establish new collaborative R&D partnerships with international partners.
Due to high demand, the previous intake closed within two weeks - we expect the same this time.
German Startup Awards 2025: Ghazaleh Madani has been nominated as one of the top three finalists for the "Newcomer of the Year" category at the German Startup Awards 2025. This nomination acknowledges her innovative work with CanChip in developing tumor-on-a-chip technology for cancer research.
With its Neon purchase, Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi said the company is looking to sharpen its edge in an “era of AI-native, agent-driven applications.” Per Ghodsi, a good part of Neon’s appeal was that 80% of the databases provisioned on its platform were created automatically by AI agents rather than by humans.
Capital Angel Network (CAN) is now accepting applications for startups raising Pre-SEED or SEED funding to pitch in-person on May 20th in Ottawa!
Application Deadline: April 20th, 2025 Event Date: May 20th, 2025 Apply Now
Why apply? CAN is one of Canada’s most active angel investor groups, with $82M invested to date, including $34M in the last 3 years alone. The average investment is $200K, with individual deals ranging from $10K to $1M.
They’re looking for tech or tech-enabled startups with:
- A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) - Traction in your industry - The potential to scale or exit early
Questions or dealflow referrals? Reach out to Joseph Beals, Founder in Residence at CAN:
Startup accelerator Techstars announced an increase in its standard investment to $220,000 for participating startups, aligning more closely with Y Combinator's funding model.
