Subul: The Social Enterprise in The Hague Creating Global Tech Opportunities for Refugees

Subul secures $200K to scale inclusive tech hiring for refugees

In April 2024, refugee-founded tech startup Subul announced a $200K pre-seed investment from the Dutch impact investor Start Foundation. But this milestone represents more than financial backing — it's a powerful endorsement of a mission that is very personal and urgently needed.

“When I first met Jos and Tim from Start Foundation, I told them that the real investment isn’t just the money — it’s having our name associated with a prestigious, values-driven institution like theirs,” Khaled says. “This funding is a breakthrough step toward anchoring Subul in the Dutch ecosystem and unlocking future opportunities with other impact investors.”

Subul’s founder leads a new path for refugee tech talent

Founder Khaled brings a rare combination of experience and conviction. A Syrian refugee himself, he has lived the challenges faced by displaced professionals: from war and detention to life in refugee camps. In recognition of his leadership, Khaled was selected as a 2022 Echoing Green Fellow, joining a global community of social innovators tackling the world’s most urgent problems.

“Subul wasn’t born from a single turning point,” he says, “but from years of witnessing wasted potential in refugee communities — people with skills and ambition, stuck waiting for paperwork, opportunity, or dignity.”

This urgency drove the creation of Subul, a platform that helps refugee tech talent navigate legal, logistical, and career barriers to secure meaningful global employment. By combining AI-powered matching tools with human-led coaching and legal support, Subul removes the structural barriers that often prevent qualified refugees from accessing fair opportunities.

“We don’t just train talent. We connect them directly with employers, manage contracts, ensure legal compliance, and handle international payments. We create a complete hiring solution,” says Khaled.

Finding a home in The Hague: a city that reflects their mission

Subul’s journey to The Hague began with a connection to The Hague Business Agency, which provided the early guidance and network introductions that helped the startup take root.

“I met Diana Eggleston while still in an asylum center,” Khaled recalls. “She helped me navigate the early steps, and when I was finally allowed to choose a place to settle, I insisted on The Hague. Even though people told me it would be nearly impossible, I applied to settle in The Hague — and I was accepted.”

Since then, The Hague has proven to be fertile ground for Subul. Through The Hague & Partners, ImpactCity, and The Hague International Centre, the startup has joined a thriving impact ecosystem of changemakers. Events like ImpactFest have allowed Subul to grow its global network and gain visibility among like-minded entrepreneurs, funders, and policy shapers.

“The Hague isn’t just a base,” Khaled says. “It’s a community of people who believe in social innovation, in justice, and in giving impact-driven founders a real chance.”

What’s next: from refugee talent to a more inclusive global tech workforce

With it's new funding and growing network, Subul is preparing to further develop its AI matching platform, Instalent,  and expand into new regions where refugee tech talent is underutilized. But the vision doesn’t stop there.

As automation, AI, and global inequality reshape the tech industry, Khaled sees Subul’s model evolving to serve not only refugees, but all underrepresented tech professionals.

“Our deepest hope is to live in a world where refugee status no longer limits access to opportunity, that would be the greatest success of all” he says. “But even then, we’ll keep adapting. Our mission is to stand with those whose potential is being overlooked — wherever they are.”

About Subul

Subul is a social enterprise based in The Hague that connects refugee and underrepresented tech professionals to fair global employment using AI-driven technology and human-centered services. Learn more at subul.org.

About The Hague Business Agency

The Hague Business Agency supports international companies and startups in expanding to the Netherlands, with a strong focus on peace, justice, and impact-driven entrepreneurship.