The Social Innovation and Impact Foundation (SIIF) is a registered nonprofit organization in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, established in 2023 to promote social innovation and entrepreneurship. SIIF aims to support economic and social development within the community through initiatives such as boot camps, start-up culture, and social entrepreneurship that focus on community engagement and volunteerism.

SIIF’s inaugural initiative is the establishment of Impact Hub Duhok (IH Duhok). Impact Hub is a global network of locally founded impact innovation incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces with a focus on creating a more just and sustainable world. IH Duhok will be hosted at the Mustafa Barzani Building of the American University of Kurdistan.

Dr. Randall Rhodes, one of the founders of SIIF and President of AUK, envisions IH Duhok as a space where students and community members can participate in networking events, workshops, conferences, and training programs geared towards fostering entrepreneurial action and sustainable innovation. Dr. Rhodes explained, “The goal is to foster an ecosystem that promotes economic development in Kurdistan.”

Loucine Hayes, a Board Member of SIIF and Director of the AUK’s Center for Academic and Professional Advancement (CAPA), highlights the benefits that IH Duhok will offer entrepreneurs and start-ups in the region. Membership will provide access to co-working spaces, training programs, and expert resources to support business planning and growth. The team at SIIF is benefiting from the expertise of AUK and CAPA in the conceptualization of the space and its programming. The goal is for IH Duhok to open its doors by November 2024.

Ms. Hayes emphasized, “Impact Hub Duhok will offer memberships, fellowships, and incubation services. Members will have access to resources such as office space and local and global networking opportunities. Experience in running the Innovation Challenge Bootcamp, occurring for the second time during summer 2024, evidences the commitment in providing international quality programming in the area of entrepreneurship, which will serve as foundational for Impact Hub Duhok next year.”