{"id":56,"date":"2014-03-13T21:53:54","date_gmt":"2014-03-13T13:53:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.www.innovationiseverywhere.com\/?p=56"},"modified":"2014-03-13T21:53:54","modified_gmt":"2014-03-13T13:53:54","slug":"lebanon-startups-400m-tech-scene","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/innovationiseverywhere.com\/fr\/lebanon-startups-400m-tech-scene\/","title":{"rendered":"Lebanon startups: $400m for the tech scene"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbsection\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_row admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbrow\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb4_4&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbText\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<p>Lebanon startups are amazing when you know the country is a tiny piece of land lost in a quite noisy neighborhood, with Israel and Syria, to name a few, regularly hitting the headlines for war-related topics. Lebanon has an older history of being a pivot between the West and the East of the world, and its 12m diaspora (for 4m people home!) is a testimony of this history. How Lebanon can expect raise a credible startup scene in a context of turmoil? Why is there an obvious niche for startups at the junction of the Arabic and Western world over there?<\/p>\n<p><iframe style=\"border: 1px solid #CCC; border-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 5px; max-width: 100%;\" src=\"\/\/www.slideshare.net\/slideshow\/embed_code\/33405204\" width=\"427\" height=\"356\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"> <\/iframe><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"><strong> <a title=\"Innovation is everywhere - Lebanon innovation ecosystem\" href=\"https:\/\/www.slideshare.net\/innovationiseverywhere\/innovation-is-everywhere-lebanon-innovation-ecosystem-33405204\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Innovation is everywhere &#8211; Lebanon innovation ecosystem<\/a> <\/strong> from <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.slideshare.net\/innovationiseverywhere\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Innovation is Everywhere<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\n<p>We&rsquo;ve been to <a title=\"Arabnet\" href=\"https:\/\/arabnet.me\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arabnet<\/a>, the top digital conference in the Middle-East, and have met startupers and entrepreneurs from all over the region.<\/p>\n<p>In this report, you will find:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A short history of Lebanon and why it&rsquo;s ripe for innovation today<\/li>\n<li>An analysis of its incentives for the startup world, including the Central Bank circular injecting $400m in startups<\/li>\n<li>A list of startups from the Middle-East, and they&rsquo;re rather big<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbSection\u00a0\u00bb fullwidth=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb specialty=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_row admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbRow\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_2&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbPros\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<h3><strong>PROS<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diverse and tolerant population, prone to innovation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lots of money for the knowledge economy thanks to the Proposal 331 from the Central Bank ($400m)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Access to a huge diaspora to conquer other markets and a tradition for trade and negotiation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Home of the main tech regional event, <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/news.arabnet.me\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arabnet<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with satellites in Dubai, Ryadh<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_2&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbCons\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<h3><strong>CONS<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Small market with big competition around (Israel tech hubs, Jordan more stable and forward going)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infrastructure can be noth expensive and not reliable, with $180 for 20GB on the web<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Expansive country in the Middle-East comparatively to neighbours such as Jordan<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">English is understood by businessmen and elites, but Arabic still needed with most of the local population<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unstable country with frequent bombings, surrounded by countries which regularly \u00a0threaten its independence (Israel, Syria)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbSection\u00a0\u00bb fullwidth=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb specialty=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_row admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbRow\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb4_4&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbText\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<p><strong>TOP STARTUPS IN LEBANON<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbSection\u00a0\u00bb fullwidth=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb specialty=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_row admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbRow\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_3&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbInstabeat\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4879\" src=\"http:\/\/innovao.cluster030.hosting.ovh.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/instabeat_Logo_Final-2.jpg\" alt=\"instabeat_logo_final-2\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.instabeat.me\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">INSTABEAT<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instabeat is a smart swimming goggles that scan motion and heart rate<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_3&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbAnghami\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4880\" src=\"http:\/\/innovao.cluster030.hosting.ovh.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/anghmi.png\" alt=\"anghmi\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.anghami.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ANGHAMI<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anghami is a music streaming app providing unlimited Arabic and International music to stream and download for offline mode<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_3&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbshahiya\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4881\" src=\"http:\/\/innovao.cluster030.hosting.ovh.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Shahiya-Logo-292by218.jpg\" alt=\"shahiya-logo-292by218\" width=\"301\" height=\"225\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/shahiya.com\/english\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SHAHIYA<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shahiya is a cooking platform online with 5K+ recipes and 1.3M unique visitors each month<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbRow\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_3&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbLAmsa\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4882\" src=\"http:\/\/innovao.cluster030.hosting.ovh.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Lamsa-logo-lined-528x600-264x300.jpg\" alt=\"lamsa-logo-lined-528x600\" width=\"198\" height=\"225\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lamsaworld.com\/Welcome.do\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LAMSA WORLD<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lamsa World involves a range of modern and traditional stories with interactive elements that provides edutainment for children<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_3&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbShawarmanji\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4883\" src=\"http:\/\/innovao.cluster030.hosting.ovh.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/logo.png\" alt=\"logo\" width=\"187\" height=\"224\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.shawarmanji.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SHAWARMANJI<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shawarmanji a food chain restaurants designed to be the Home of the Original Shawarma!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_3&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbCedarbooks\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4884\" src=\"http:\/\/innovao.cluster030.hosting.ovh.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Screen-Shot-2016-12-16-at-5.29.43-PM.png\" alt=\"screen-shot-2016-12-16-at-5-29-43-pm\" width=\"262\" height=\"233\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cedar-books.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CEDAR BOOKS<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cedar Books has sourced books for the Arabic World and beyond for Amazon and other retailers<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbSection\u00a0\u00bb fullwidth=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb specialty=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_row admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbRow\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb4_4&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbText\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<p><strong>TOP PEOPLE TO KNOW IN LEBANON<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbSection\u00a0\u00bb fullwidth=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb specialty=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_row admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbRow\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_3&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbOmar\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4885\" src=\"http:\/\/innovao.cluster030.hosting.ovh.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/omar-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"omar\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Omar Christidis<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Founder and CEO<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arabnet<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Founder &amp; CEO of ArabNet, the leading events and media company for the Arab digital industry<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/omarchr?authType=NAME_SEARCH&amp;authToken=f2T8&amp;locale=en_US&amp;trk=tyah&amp;trkInfo=clickedVertical%3Amynetwork%2CclickedEntityId%3A2042622%2CauthType%3ANAME_SEARCH%2Cidx%3A1-1-1%2CtarId%3A1481882321062%2Ctas%3AOmar%20Christidis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Linkedin<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_3&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbFawzi\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4886\" src=\"http:\/\/innovao.cluster030.hosting.ovh.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Fawzi-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"fawzi\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Fawzi Rahal<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Founder and Managing Partner<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gamuttco Digital Consultancy<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Founder, Managing Partner at Gamuttco Digital Consultancy, creative strategist, ex-head of digital at Grey MENA<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/fawzirahal?authType=NAME_SEARCH&amp;authToken=CZvD&amp;locale=en_US&amp;trk=tyah&amp;trkInfo=clickedVertical%3Amynetwork%2CclickedEntityId%3A7084444%2CauthType%3ANAME_SEARCH%2Cidx%3A1-1-1%2CtarId%3A1481882413374%2Ctas%3AFawzi%20Rahal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Linkedin<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_3&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbHind\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4887\" src=\"http:\/\/innovao.cluster030.hosting.ovh.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Hind.jpg\" alt=\"hind\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Hind Hobeika<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Founder<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instabeat<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Former professional swimmer, CEO and founder of Instabeat, the award-winning connected swim goggles<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/hindhobeika?authType=NAME_SEARCH&amp;authToken=FfgG&amp;locale=en_US&amp;trk=tyah&amp;trkInfo=clickedVertical%3Amynetwork%2CclickedEntityId%3A137248509%2CauthType%3ANAME_SEARCH%2Cidx%3A1-1-1%2CtarId%3A1481882499874%2Ctas%3AHind%20Hobeika\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Linkedin<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbRow\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_3&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbRaafat\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4888\" src=\"http:\/\/innovao.cluster030.hosting.ovh.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Raafat.jpg\" alt=\"raafat\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Raafat Mounla<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Senior Head of Marketing Department<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alfa Managed by Orascom Telecom<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key contributor for establishing Orascom Telecom Media and Technology (Alfa\/MIC1) as the first operator of Mobile 4G in Lebanon<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/raafatmounla?authType=NAME_SEARCH&amp;authToken=QicI&amp;locale=en_US&amp;trk=tyah&amp;trkInfo=clickedVertical%3Amynetwork%2CclickedEntityId%3A18978391%2CauthType%3ANAME_SEARCH%2Cidx%3A1-1-1%2CtarId%3A1481882574916%2Ctas%3ARaafat%20Mounla\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Linkedin<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_3&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbMaroun\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4889\" src=\"http:\/\/innovao.cluster030.hosting.ovh.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Maroun.jpg\" alt=\"maroun\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Maroun N. Chammas<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chairman and CEO<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Berytech<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Serial entrepreneur with activities ranging from Oil and gas to telecom<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/maroun-n-chammas-1ab6511?authType=NAME_SEARCH&amp;authToken=bv4x&amp;locale=en_US&amp;trk=tyah&amp;trkInfo=clickedVertical%3Amynetwork%2CclickedEntityId%3A4584659%2CauthType%3ANAME_SEARCH%2Cidx%3A1-1-1%2CtarId%3A1481882671560%2Ctas%3AMaroun%20N.%20Chammas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Linkedin<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_3&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbJoanne\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4890\" src=\"http:\/\/innovao.cluster030.hosting.ovh.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Joanne.jpg\" alt=\"joanne\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Joanne Kubba<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Policy Manager<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uber<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Policy Manager for Uber covering Middle East and Africa currently, former Head of Strategy, Partnerships and Outreach at Eureeca<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/joannekubba?authType=NAME_SEARCH&amp;authToken=hWmy&amp;locale=en_US&amp;srchid=4961646681481882765744&amp;srchindex=1&amp;srchtotal=1&amp;trk=vsrp_people_res_name&amp;trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A4961646681481882765744%2CVSRPtargetId%3A48635106%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary%2CVSRPnm%3Atrue%2CauthType%3ANAME_SEARCH\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Linkedin<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fullwidth=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb specialty=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbSection\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_row admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbRow\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb2_3&Prime;][et_pb_image admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbImage\u00a0\u00bb src=\u00a0\u00bbhttps:\/\/images2.alphacoders.com\/184\/184240.jpg\u00a0\u00bb show_in_lightbox=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb url_new_window=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb use_overlay=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb animation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb sticky=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb align=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb force_fullwidth=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb always_center_on_mobile=\u00a0\u00bbon\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_3&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbText\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<h3><strong>LEBANON<\/strong><\/h3>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GDP (in billions USD):<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">45<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GDP per capita (in USD):<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10,077<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Population:<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4,965,914<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Population in 2050 (est.):<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5,330,000<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internet Penetration:<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">80.7 %<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mobile Penetration:<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">63 %<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Banking Penetration:<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">40 %<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit Card Penetration:<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10 %<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fullwidth=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb specialty=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbSection\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_row admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbRow\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb4_4&Prime;][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbText\u00a0\u00bb background_layout=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbleft\u00a0\u00bb use_border_color=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb border_color=\u00a0\u00bb#ffffff\u00a0\u00bb border_style=\u00a0\u00bbsolid\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n<h3><strong>LINKS &amp; RESOURCES<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/innovao.cluster030.hosting.ovh.net\/lebanon-startups-400m-tech-scene\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lebanon startups: $400m for the tech scene<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lebanon startups are amazing when you know the country is a tiny piece of land lost in a quite noisy neighborhood, with Israel and Syria, to name a few, regularly hitting the headlines for war-related topics. Lebanon has an older history of being a pivot between the West and the East of the world, and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1532,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<p>Lebanon startups are amazing when you know the country is a tiny piece of land lost in a quite noisy neighborhood, with Israel and Syria, to name a few, regularly hitting the headlines for war-related topics. Lebanon has an older history of being a pivot between the West and the East of the world, and its 12m diaspora (for 4m people home!) is a testimony of this history. How Lebanon can expect raise a credible startup scene in a context of turmoil? Why is there an obvious niche for startups at the junction of the Arabic and Western world over there?<\/p><p><iframe style=\"border: 1px solid #CCC; border-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 5px; max-width: 100%;\" src=\"\/\/www.slideshare.net\/slideshow\/embed_code\/33405204\" width=\"427\" height=\"356\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"> <\/iframe><\/p><div style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"><strong> <a title=\"Innovation is everywhere - Lebanon innovation ecosystem\" href=\"https:\/\/www.slideshare.net\/innovationiseverywhere\/innovation-is-everywhere-lebanon-innovation-ecosystem-33405204\" target=\"_blank\">Innovation is everywhere - Lebanon innovation ecosystem<\/a> <\/strong> from <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.slideshare.net\/innovationiseverywhere\" target=\"_blank\">Innovation is Everywhere<\/a><\/strong><\/div><p>We've been to <a title=\"Arabnet\" href=\"https:\/\/arabnet.me\/\" target=\"_blank\">Arabnet<\/a>, the top digital conference in the Middle-East, and have met startupers and entrepreneurs from all over the region.<\/p><p>In this report, you will find:<\/p><ul><li>A short history of Lebanon and why it's ripe for innovation today<\/li><li>An analysis of its incentives for the startup world, including the Central Bank circular injecting $400m in startups<\/li><li>A list of startups from the Middle-East, and they're rather big<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[47,48,49,92,51],"tags":[99,93],"class_list":["post-56","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-countries","category-government-innovators","category-innovators-category","category-investors-angels-vcs","category-markets-category","tag-lebanon","tag-middle-east"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovationiseverywhere.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovationiseverywhere.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovationiseverywhere.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovationiseverywhere.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovationiseverywhere.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/innovationiseverywhere.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovationiseverywhere.com\/fr\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovationiseverywhere.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovationiseverywhere.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovationiseverywhere.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}