Is Lebanon an entrepreneur’s utopia?

Most Lebanese will say that their cuisine, one of the most popular in the Middle East, rests on their specific spices, herbs, and fresh fruits and vegetables. If you sit down to a Lebanese table, you will soon notice that presentation also plays a prominent part and that they rarely, if ever, eat alone. Its […]

Smart money talks

It had to be one of Lebanon’s top resolutions for 2016 when Banque du Liban Governor Riad Salameh pledged at the BDL Accelerate event in December to see to the establishment of an electronic stock exchange for small and medium enterprises. “Our aim for the year 2016 is to succeed in the launching of an […]

BDL official says Lebanon has potential to be startup hub

Lebanon has the necessary human capital and talents to be placed as a regional and international hub for startups, said Marianne Howayek, head of the Governor’s Executive Office at Banque Du Liban. “Of course we are not going to compete with Silicon Valley but we can definitely compete with other ecosystems worldwide and be placed […]

How a Father’s Death Inspired a Startup

Ziad Sankari learned his father’s heart attack could have been prevented. So he got to work. For Ziad Sankari, a family tragedy was the spur that got him to start a business. Twelve years ago, his father died of a heart attack—a painful loss in itself, but even more so when Mr. Sankari learned that […]

The startup state

The plans to create a successful startup and entrepreneurial ecosystem are tentatively falling into place in Lebanon. From Circular 331 to the launch of new accelerators, the sector has changed dramatically over the last five, or even three, years. Executive brings you a small overview of some of the latest developments and challenges to the […]

“Emerging Startup Ecosystems” in Beirut

The Central Bank of Lebanon (Banque du Liban / BDL) is organizing Lebanon’s second annual international startup conference – BDL Accelerate 2015 – on Thursday and Friday, the 10th and 11th of December 2015 at Forum de Beyrouth. The theme, “Emerging Startup Ecosystems”, will gather entrepreneurs, investors, and support institutions from key emerging startup ecosystems […]

How a language startup has connected Syrian refugees with Arabic students

When Ghaith fled Syria in 2013, he left with more than the clothes on his back. Though refugees are commonly thought of as poor, uneducated and helpless, Ghaith, who comes from a middle-class background and was studying computer science at the University of Aleppo before the Syrian civil war, brought his education and intellectual curiosity […]

Lebanon a gateway to start-ups’ success

Samer Karam is the founder of Lebanon’s first accelerator Seeqnce, whose first companies graduated in 2012. He is also the founder of Startup Megaphone, a company which has been asked by the central bank of Lebanon to manage the image of the tiny Middle Eastern country’s start-up ecosystem. Next month Mr Karam will travel to […]

Lebanon’s Start-Up Scene Promises Bright Future for Entrepreneurs

For a country that has defined and redefined itself through politics, religion, immigrations, emigrations, and decades of war, you may wonder what it’s like starting a company in Lebanon. “Surprisingly peaceful, given all that you hear in the media,” says David El Achkar, co-founder of Beirut-based Yellow, a tech startup aiming to make bitcoin payments […]

Ride sharing app wins $20K in AUB contest

A car-pooling app developed by a team of four college grads won this year’s $20,000 Samir and Claude Abillama Eco-Entrepreneurship Award, which promotes the role of entrepreneurship in nature conservation efforts. tulos is a rewards-based carpooling app for university students that aims to reduce the number of cars on the road. “We are creating a […]

Launch of technology start-up accelerator in Lebanon

Venture capital funds Berytech Fund II, Insure & Match Capital and Middle East Venture Partners launched a $5m Beirut-based startup accelerator named Speed@BDD, Byblos Bank ‘Lebanon This Week’ reported. The accelerator will invest $30,000 in high-potential technology startups at the idea and seed stages, and will provide in-kind services for a three-month period, in return […]

Lebanon Opens London Office for Tech Entrepreneurs

A new London office for Lebanese tech entrepreneurs, enabling them to use the UK as a springboard for global growth, has opened in the heart of Tech City in Shoreditch. The London office is the first overseas base of the new UK Lebanon Tech Hub, which aims to support the growth of the knowledge economy […]

Could Beirut become the Silicon Valley of the Middle East?

Beirut’s economy could see major shifts in the next few decades, according to Lebanon’s Central Bank, which has committed millions of dollars for tech growth in the city. A recent report by CNN labeled Beirut as a “resilient, transformation city” with a culture of freedom and diversity which could serve as a solid base for […]

Lebanon Goes Digital

BEIRUT — “Ironically everything that makes Lebanon a tough place to live makes it a good place for a start-up,” quipped Nasri Atallah, a partner in the Lebanese media publishing firm Keeward. “There are a lot of very talented people who have few opportunities and are pushed into starting their own thing.” Lebanon may not […]

The Women Leading Lebanon’s Startups

Beirut is rapidly shaping up as a crucial player in the region’s startup scene. Venture spoke to four Lebanese female entrepreneurs who have made major headway in Lebanon, the region, and even the world with their startups and creations. The Lebanese economy is mired in problems. Growth and consumer and investor confidence continue […]

Tech entrepreneurs and investors lead Beirut out of the ashes

Beirut’s ‘Digital District’ in the shadow of the dazzling Al-Omari mosque has some way to go before it rivals the likes of Silicon Alley or London’s Shoreditch, but the tech scene in Beirut is creating optimism for the future. There is also a British connection. The UK Tech Hub lies at the heart of the […]

ShopBuilder hopes to boost e-commerce in Lebanon

After realizing the huge opportunity for e-commerce in Lebanon, Emile Boustani, a Lebanese entrepreneur who spent 20 years in the U.S. and Africa, and Lebanese-French Julien Fayad, who came to Lebanon from France four years ago, decided to try their hand at this growing sector and develop ShopBuilder, a website that builds online stores for merchants. Before […]

Venture capital firms poised for new initiative

The Central Bank is finalizing a framework for the implementation of circular 331, which provides incentives to commercial banks to make equity investments in startups or venture capital funds. Circular 331, which was issued last August, aims to support Lebanese entrepreneurs and help create new job opportunities, according to Central Bank representative Marianne Hoayek, who […]

Lebanon needs a global vision to support entrepreneurship

Lebanon lags behind much of the world when it comes to a favorable business environment, ranking 111th out of 189 economies in the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) 2014 ‘Doing Business’ report. Political deadlock and a worsening security situation are the most recent drags on the economy, but these only exacerbate a more pressing problem, which […]

Telecom Minister Boutros Harb checking a booth at the Arabtech fair, the accompanying exhibition for the ArabNet Beirut.

Lebanon poised to lead Middle East digital revolution

Creative young Lebanese people have the potential to turn their country into a central hub for the production of innovative digital media, Telecommunications Minister Boutros Harbsaid Wednesday. “Although it is true that external demand is greater in size than the internal market, Lebanon is rich in the creative energies and technical skills of its youth, […]

Presella Wants to Remove Risk From Hosting Events

It’s a band or artist’s worst nightmare: You organise a gig, pay for everything up front and on the big night, no one turns up and both promoter and musician are out of pocket. This is the very quagmire that Beirut-based startup Presella.com is aiming to solve. The website is a cross between a ticketing […]

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