Authors:
Alana Chiusano, Jouma Ali Al-Mohamad, Harold Abraham Joseph, Wu Zilong, Mageshwari Manivannan, Jawad Hyder

Addresses:
Department of Mathematics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America. Department of Computer and Mobile Communication Engineering, Faculty of Information Engineering, Al-Shahbaa Private University, Aleppo, Syria. Department of Computing and Information Systems, Singapore Management University, 81 Victoria Street, Singapore. Department of Information and Communication Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. Department of Computer Engineering, Coventry University, Coventry, England, United Kingdom. Department of Business, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Abstract:

Building a durable technology-startup ecosystem in post-conflict Syria is difficult. Syria confronts major economic, institutional, and social issues following nearly fourteen years of civil conflict (2011-2024), which killed over 500,000 people, displaced 13.5 million, and reduced GDP by 54% between 2010 and 2021. This study finds that entrepreneurship can boost economic recovery, job growth, innovation, and digital transformation. Based on resilience theory, entrepreneurial ecosystem frameworks, and empirical evidence from Syria's startup landscape, the study identifies four main challenges: financial and capital constraints, regulatory and institutional barriers, infrastructure deficits, and human capital erosion. Restrictive investment, regulatory ambiguity, broken infrastructure, weak digital connectivity, and the departure of skilled talent hinder entrepreneurial growth. Syria has around 200 firms, mostly in digital services, e-commerce, and fintech, but barely a dozen have reached the growth stage. The research also suggests lifting sector-specific sanctions, engaging the Syrian diaspora, and creating support organisations such as the National Startup Agenda (2025–2030), Tech Town, and DIGIT. These activities may improve financing, mentorship, technology, markets, and international partnerships. It concludes with proposals to strengthen regulations, finance, digital infrastructure, human capital, and innovation to build an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable digital economy in post-conflict Syria.

Keywords: Post-Conflict Entrepreneurship; Digital Economy; Startup Ecosystem; Economic Resilience; Innovation Policy; Diaspora Engagement; Venture Capital; Regulatory Reform; Technology Startups.

Received on: 10/12/2025, Revised on: 23/01/2026, Accepted on: 12/03/2026, Published on: 16/10/2026

DOI: 10.69888/FTSFDS.2026.000802

FMDB Transactions on Sustainable Finance and Data Science, 2026 Vol. 1 No. 4, Pages: 223-239

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