When Issa Nassar, founder of Databuddy, joined Flow Accelerator’s Ideation Phase, he barely knew where to start. He had a rough idea of building a product that helps startups understand their data without all the setup pain. The spark came from his time at Confinity, where he was responsible for integrating analytics into the company’s tech stack.
“No matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t find a solution that just worked for our use case,” Issa recalls. “Everything required so much setup time and was overly complex; time we didn’t have.”
That frustration became the seed for Databuddy, a privacy-first analytics platform that helps businesses understand customer behavior, trends, and performance without violating data laws. Designed for simplicity and compliance, Databuddy delivers secure, actionable insights that enable smarter business decisions without compromising user trust or data protection standards.
Ideation: Framing the Problem and Shaping the Idea
Issa’s journey began during the Building Smarter Futures Innovation Challenge, organized by Flow Accelerator in collaboration with Axsos Academy, under the umbrella of the Palestinian Innovation & Entrepreneurship Catalyst Program (PIEC).
The hackathon provided a dynamic platform for entrepreneurs, innovators, and students to develop digital solutions for real-world challenges. Participants engaged in Innovative Thinking for Entrepreneurs and Building User-Centric Tech Products sessions, followed by expert-led discussions, interactive workshops, and hands-on collaboration. They explored different sectors, applying problem-solving and customer discovery strategies to refine their ideas.
The challenge emphasized technology, digital product design, and market viability, guiding participants to develop impactful, user-centric solutions. It concluded with a pitching day, where participants showcased their innovations to a panel of industry experts.
During this stage, Issa learned how to:
- Frame real-world problems
- Understand user needs
- Develop and refine his idea
- Collaborate across disciplines
- Pitch his solution to experts
“For the first time,” Issa says, “I could clearly pinpoint the exact pain points, understand what I wanted to build, and explain why it mattered and to whom.”
Pre-Incubation: Validating and Building the Foundation
After Ideation, Databuddy moved into the Pre-Incubation Program, part of PIEC’s Formation & Development Phase. Through hands-on workshops, one-on-one mentoring, and targeted coaching sessions, Issa worked on validating his idea and reaching a clear problem-solution fit.
“Every decision we made, from our business model to the legal setup, was rigorously tested and validated,” he says. “That process gave us a complete picture before building anything.”
Incubation: Turning Ideas into a Working Product
With a strong foundation, Databuddy entered the Incubation Program, where ideas evolve into working products. This stage focused on building the MVP and strengthening the business structure.
Issa began developing the product himself, but with the MVP Development Fund from Flow, he was able to accelerate progress; launching a working MVP, onboarding early adopters, gaining traction, and even generating early revenue.
Along the way, Flow provided continuous support through:
- Market Research
- Business Planning and Model Identification
- Marketing, legal, and financial guidance
- Mentorship from seasoned experts
- Networking and Startup Pitching sessions
- Product Developmet Guidance
Pre-Acceleration: Scaling What Works
Today, Issa and Databuddy are part of the Orange Corners Palestine (OCPT) Pre-Acceleration Program – Cycle 8, where the focus is on growth and scalability.
Through in-depth training, milestone-based funding, and mentorship from industry leaders, Issa is refining Databuddy’s business model, expanding its market reach, and preparing for the next stage of market and investment readiness.
“The pre-acceleration phase is about growth, but more importantly, being ready to grow fast,” he explains. “We’re learning what’s working, what isn’t, and how to move forward efficiently. The workshops, mentorship, and community make all the difference.”
The Flow Model in Action
Issa’s journey with Databuddy reflects Flow Accelerator’s end-to-end model, designed to guide entrepreneurs from idea to scalable startup:
- Ideation: Frame problems, understand users, and shape solutions.
- Pre-Incubation: Validate ideas and test assumptions.
- Incubation: Build your MVP, develop your business model, and get funding.
- Pre-Acceleration: Grow, scale, and get investment-ready.
From a simple idea to a working, privacy-first analytics platform, Databuddy stands as proof that with the right support, mentorship, and structure, Palestinian founders can turn bold ideas into real-world impact.
