On Thursday 29 September 2016, the winners of the ‘Mount Lebanon Youth Entrepreneurs’ Competition presented the progress and impact of their projects after 4 months of hardwork, trainings and mentoring at Berytech to the delegation of donors, partners and organizers:UNDP Lebanon LHSP European Commission MOSA
The 4 winning teams were selected from 10 finalists and received intensive trainings to be able to turn their idea into a business plan and pitch it. During the last 4 months, Berytech helped each startup develop its action plan with regular follow ups and monitoring. The teams received individual coaching sessions addressing their business plan and marketing strategy. Being part of the incubation program at Berytech, the startups benefit from the access to national and international networks, venture capital funds, a database of coaches and mentors, an access to a whole cycle of trainings and of course will continue to receive support in the future beyond the timeframe of the program.
Of the winning teams is Cranium STEAM Education Platform – a startup aiming at developing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities for children. The startup has greatly benefit from the 4 months to test their product and business model, the develop a mobile version of the concept and the recreate the experience in several Lebanese regions with the partnerships of local municipalities.
Masons, a construction game with real building blocks, would not have seen the light without this program. Berytech provided the links with needed partners to create the first prototypes of this game initially targeting kids. Yet, within their work to enhance their business model, the creators found a new potential market: kits for creatives, engineers and architects who can create brick and mortar mini-versions of their projects.
“Berytech helped us take our idea very seriously, to get operational and functional, a big push to start real work.”
Hum’n Go is a startup selling hummus snacks in a cup with dipping sticks. The founders highlighted the social aspect of the project that is employing women with socio-economical difficulties. Their aim is to eventually export their hummus cups all over the world.
“Could not have done it without Berytech. They were not just a catalyst but a pilar to making the project happen.”
Guidentity is a project aiming at teaching history, geography and sciences through field activities. Their participation in the competition allowed them to transform their idea into a company currently training its first batch of program guides.
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