Incubator Challenge · October 2026
How do we make it easier for users to migrate to ethical alternatives to complicit tech?
Boycott lists name thousands of complicit products. This month we're forming a cohort of projects that make leaving them easy.
- Instagram to UpScrolled
- ChatGPT to Thaura
- Elementor to Gutenberg
- Wix to WordPress
- Vercel to Netlify
About the challenge
Make leaving complicit tech the easy choice.
Boycott lists contain thousands of products to be boycotted, but ethical alternatives may not exist for each complicit company, or the effort to migrate to an alternative might be daunting to regular users.
We want to build teams focused on supporting boycotts on individual products, providing guides, lists of alternatives, content, technical tools, technical support and migration assistance, consulting, and marketing, to help people move off boycotted products.
The projects could consist of building an ethical and privacy-preserving alternative to such a technology, or, when suitable alternatives exist, helping tens of thousands of users migrate successfully using automation, integrations, content, advisory services, and advocacy campaigns.
Targets projects could take on
- Stripe
- Shopify
- Deel
- PayPal / Venmo
- Spotify
- Wix
- Figma
- Vercel
- Microsoft
There are many other complicit companies and industries which could be targeted, such as the Israeli cybersecurity or gaming industry.
Our recommended approach
Four steps from a boycott list to users who have actually switched.
Apply for this challenge-
Pick a target
Choose a company from boycott lists which has a large enough user base and is clearly complicit.
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Research where the leverage is
Do in-depth user and market research on the target to understand how we can get leverage on it: a technology which can be easily replicated, a user base which is supportive of Palestine, or existing concerns around user privacy and ethical policies.
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Find the ethical alternatives
Find out if there are existing ethical alternatives to promote, or help users migrate to them using guides, campaigns, automation, data migration tools, or advisory services.
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Consider building one
Consider building a viable alternative for this technology, built on ethical and privacy-preserving principles.
Already in the Incubator
Projects we already support on this challenge.
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UpScrolled
UpScrolled is a social media platform that doesn't silence you when you speak up for Palestine, unlike other social media platforms from Big Tech. UpScrolled combines elements of Instagram, TikTok, and X into one platform. It also doesn’t rely on algorithms. You simply see content from the accounts you follow in chronological order. It’s designed to make you log off, not keep you addicted.
Visit website (opens in a new tab) -
Thaura
Thaura is an AI platform that combines the practicality of ChatGPT with the ethical focus you've been looking for. You can use Thaura for everyday tasks like writing emails, doing homework, and researching online. It remembers your conversations, helps you create documents and code, and even searches the web for you. And it works seamlessly with your existing tools through full OpenAI SDK compatibility. What really makes Thaura different is what it doesn't do: It doesn't collect your data or spy on you, tt doesn't have political bias, and it doesn't water down the truth on sensitive topics.
Visit website (opens in a new tab) -
Boon Digital Solutions
Ethical software development & software migration company for websites and other digital solutions.
Visit website (opens in a new tab) -
Migration Tool From Elementor To Gutenberg
Migrate websites build on Elementor themes and page builder to the native WordPress Gutenberg page builder.
View project -
Tribe-X
Tribe-X is a decolonial tech initiative aimed at dismantling the exploitative systems of big tech. Through our flagship product, Kenzy, we provide privacy-first, open-source tools that empower users to reclaim control over their data. We stand at the forefront of the decolonization movement in tech, challenging the dominance of exploitative corporations and pushing for a digital future centered on equity, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability.
Visit website (opens in a new tab) -
Migrate Off Vercel
Many developers and organisations want to move off Vercel. It could be for ethical reasons, costs, vendor lock-in, etc. Unfortunately, this can be incredibly laborious and prone to mistakes. The entire process can be very time-consuming. E.g. see https://techforpalestine.org/guides/vercel-to-netlify However a few simple guides, some tools and the support of a community can be a great help.
Visit website (opens in a new tab)
Mozilla Festival · Barcelona · October 31
Join our upcoming hackathon
As part of Mozilla Festival, Tech for Palestine will hold a hackathon in Barcelona, Spain on October 31st on this same challenge. Join us in-person at Canodrom in Barcelona for a full day of hands-on work and collaboration, powered by Thaura.ai!
Join the hackathon (opens in a new tab)What are the Tech for Palestine Challenges?
To date, the Tech for Palestine Incubator has supported more than 90 projects working on different aspects of Palestinian liberation. These projects span themes like media bias, protest tech, divestment, exposing complicit companies, and much more.
Applications for the Incubator are open on a rolling basis for any relevant idea which furthers the Palestinian cause. On top of that, each month we pose one open challenge to the community, to direct efforts towards priorities we consider urgent.
The projects which apply for the challenge and are approved to join the Incubator form a small cohort, with tailored capacity building and opportunities for close collaboration with the other projects in the cohort.
More about the Incubator