T4P Incubator Alum Boycat Is Teaming Up With BDS

Boycat, an ethical shopping companion developed in the Tech For Palestine (T4P) project incubator, is now an official partner for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. This collaboration is set to enhance the effectiveness of BDS campaigns by joining the BDS movement’s global influence and Boycat’s 500,000+ users.

Boycat is among the earliest projects developed with the support of T4P's incubator, which officially launched in October but has been in the making since our founding in January 2024. Boycat is a successful example of what we hope to achieve through our incubator program by bringing actionable ideas and a community of talented volunteers together in solidarity for Palestine.

Founded by Adil A., Boycat is designed to be a simple and accessible shopping companion in the pocket of everyone dedicated to supporting a liberated Palestine through ethical purchasing decisions. Developed with the support of T4P’s community of volunteers, Boycat has become one of the most used (and arguably the most adorable) boycotting apps.

With the Boycat app, users can easily scan prospective purchases to determine if they are compliant with their chosen boycott campaigns, giving them the power to make immediate decisions about what they spend their money on. Users can also install Boycat’s browser extension on Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox to empower ethical purchasing decisions when shopping online.

Boycat has already diverted nearly $90 million to date from companies engaged in controversial practices. By partnering with BDS, Boycat is set to apply even greater pressure on Israel and the companies that do business with the pariah state.

BDS has been a pivotal movement for holding Israel accountable since its launch in 2005. Inspired by the South African anti-apartheid movement, 170 Palestinian organizations came together in a collective call to boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel and its accomplices. Despite ongoing efforts to make participation in the BDS movement illegal in the United States, it remains one of the most accessible forms of non-violent action against Israel. The movement’s partnership with Boycat will bolster that accessibility and expand the BDS movement in key demographics like Gen Z, mobilizing more people for sustained activism campaigns.

"As the cause of Palestinian liberation gathers unprecedented momentum, millions of people of conscience around the world are eager to learn more about, and support, the Palestinian-led BDS movement," said Mahmoud Nawajaa, the general coordinator of the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), in a joint press release announcing the partnership. "By connecting our campaigns with a platform that empowers ethical consumer choices, we’re partnering with Boycat to provide another meaningful way to hold corporations accountable for their complicity in Israel’s genocide, occupation and apartheid."

"We are thrilled to partner with the BDS Movement to expand the reach and impact of our campaigns. This collaboration provides a powerful tool for activists worldwide to hold corporations accountable for their complicity in grave violations of Palestinian human rights. Together, we aim to drive greater awareness, engagement, and financial impact, building a stronger global movement for justice," said Adil.

Start taking control of your purchasing power by downloading the Boycat app, available through both the App Store and Google Play, and installing the web extension today.