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 In nine years, Lozon and his partner Ahmed Abu Shaban have
transformed their firm, Unit One, from a tiny outfit in a single
room in the blockaded Gaza Strip into a successful business with
clients in Europe, the United States and the Arab world.
They can't leave Gaza easily, but they can develop applications for
Web and mobile devices online and provide international clients with
data-management services, competing with firms in India and
elsewhere.
"We have managed to knock a hole in the wall of the blockade," Lozon,
33, said of the company, which will soon expand to more than 60
employees from 13, the majority women. "We deliver in time, just as
the client wishes."
Lozon and Abu Shaban came up with the idea after graduating with
degrees in computer science. Lozon worked briefly as an IT
contractor for the United Nations and quickly realized he would
rather run a company of his own.
They won their first client after making a pitch via Skype and
offering a free trial. They borrowed money from friends to buy
computers and slowly expanded. The firm now occupies two apartments
on the 5th floor of a building in a smart district of Gaza
overlooking the Mediterranean.
At the offices, dozens of women, most wearing headscarves, are busy
at work, one group entering data on global trademarks for a company
in the Netherlands.
GAZA'S GOOGLE
Initially Unit One was focused on software development and building
apps for iPhone and Android, but now there is a larger unit handling
data-processing.
Along the way there have been serious hurdles, including the war
between Hamas and Israel last July and August which caused staffing
and power disruptions, and the fact banks in Gaza cannot easily
receive transfers from abroad.
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"It was difficult at the beginning," said Lozon. "In 2006, when the
blockade started, we had to open an account in the West Bank," he
said, referring to the other Palestinian territory, which is not
subject to the same restrictions.
Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza after the Islamist group Hamas won
power in 2006. Both Egypt and Israel continue to impose tight
controls on the movement of goods and people in and out of the
enclave, where 1.8 million people live.
Lozon said the Gaza war had been particularly problematic in an
industry where success depends on quick delivery.
"We are trying to regain trust," he said. "We are telling everyone
that Gaza can do the job regardless of the obstacles."
Asked about finances, Lozon declines to go into detail, but says the
company is profitable and expanding. When he advertised for 10 new
jobs, he got 400 applications.
"We are working to be like Google," he said with confidence. "I hope
to make Unit One like Google for the people of Gaza, not only for
business but also for entertainment."
(Editing by Luke Baker and Dominic Evans)
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