Sawsan Mahmoud founded her own business, IRIS Designs in 2019, based in Ramallah, West Bank. While other entrepreneurs might have been demoralized by COVID-19 lockdowns, Sawsan used the opportunity to develop the skills, both in product design and marketing, necessary to develop her brand. She saw the potential for entering regional markets with demand for her unique products.

USAID sees women-owned start-ups as engines for economic recovery and growth, which is why the SMART Project awarded Sawsan a cost-shared grant in 2022 as a part of its Private Sector Rapid Recovery Program. The partnership offered Sawsan the resources and assistance necessary to develop IRIS into a viable business. The SMART Project provided production equipment for Sawsan to design and create clothing products, as well as marketing support to develop a cohesive branding strategy.