Berytech received 146 applications for the first batch of its Cleanergy Accelerator Program innovating in cleantech in Lebanon, including renewable energy, solid waste management, water and wastewater management, agriculture, and transportation.
Twenty-three (23) teams were chosen to join the first phase of the Cleanergy Accelerator program, three of which had received direct access by winning the Cleantech e-Hackathon. Equipped with a grant of $2,000, the teams will go through a 2-month cycle of support during which they have to validate their ideas and work on building the foundations of their business.
Meet the Cleanergy Batch I Teams
Out of the 23 teams, four are innovating in energy, twelve in solid waste management, one in water and wastewater management, another in agriculture, and five in transportation.
Automated Dry-Cleaning System for PV Panels is a startup working on the prevention of dust accumulation on the surface of solar panels that causes efficiency deterioration.
Automated Solar Aquaponics (ASA) is an aquaponic system, fully Automated, powered by solar energy that grows fish and crops simultaneously.
Benzinati is a startup offering an IoT solution allowing private vehicle drivers to monitor their environmental fingerprint through a connected application
BiomWb is a formidable alliance among nature, IoT, and SME that form the nucleus of resilient and affordable sanitation infrastructure.
BIOwayste is a decentralized enclosed system that allows the on-site conversion of organic waste into biogas and biofertilizer through a simple and natural bio-degradation process.
Collect to Create is a startup working on transforming unwanted and broken items into useful and artistic products.
Delivereen is a startup providing services to food-delivery in Lebanon to go waste-free adopting re-usable meals containers.
Enlight is a startup working on upcycling and upgrading any type of old lighting system.
Garbaliser is a startup working on converting household food waste to natural gas and fertilizer
Hadeer is an online platform aiming to revolutionize the transportation sector by providing a safer, more accessible, and more reliable solution for both bus passengers and drivers.
Infrastic is a startup working on new construction technology, made up of plastic processed pigments to replace the traditional hollow block.
Hexafresh previously known as (MCI Smart Charger): is a startup working on new technology for batteries.
Nadeera is working to enable sustainable solid waste management through an integrated, inclusive, and tech-enabled approach.
Parkly is a mobile app that guides drivers to the nearest available parking spot.
Plastc Lab previously known as (Precious Plastic Lebanon): is a startup working on recycling plastic to produce sell-able products.
Quatrus aims to become the leading regional manufacturer of ecological and heavy-duty light-weight vehicles for adults and recreational equipment for children.
Reborn is a startup working on a solution for the inefficient usage of resources in manufacturing fabrics and clothes.
Diwama previously known as (Reseco): is a startup working on a smart waste container that can be placed on any street of a village, town, or city.
Smarter Buses is a platform working on making the formal public transit in Lebanon and emerging countries more accessible and efficient.
Sorters in an online platform that aims to optimize the work of recycling facilities by easily linking them to their customers.
Toddin previously known as (The Kids Factory): is a startup working on reducing waste into refurbished and up-cycled toys.
The Refurbishers is a startup working on electronic waste management.
Two Better is a startup working on recycling plastic waste and turning them into aesthetic products, through providing sustainable and unique designs.
Shortlisting for Phase 1
The 52 shortlisted applicants were interviewed by 17 judges including a team from Berytech joined by Joe Moarkesh and Chadi Snaifer from Wider Consulting, Andre Abi Awad from Entreprenergy, Walid El Baba from Webco, Rani Al Achkar from LCEC, Georges Sallom from Lebanese University, Dounia El Deek, Anwar Al Chami from AUB-NCC, Mireille Kallassy from USJ, Sara Dia from Waterlution, Jules Hatem from Triple E, Nadim Farajalla from AUB-IFI, Joumana Sayegh from LCEC, Salah Saliba from Water for Lebanon, Jad Salhanni from Deloitte Digital, Sevag Babikian and Nicolas el Khoury. The finalists were chosen based on their business and innovation potential, business model, scalability, and team.
Cleanergy Program Phase 1
The first phase of the accelerator is set with a tight schedule of activities allowing the founders to enhance their knowledge and improve their skills.
The phase started with an induction day, giving the participants an overview of the program, the workshops, clinics, deliverables, timelines, processes, access to the Berytech dedicated office spaces for the program, and the Berytech Fab Lab. It included a one-hour power session entitled ‘New Product Development Basics’ providing a brief about product development while detailing the practice of taking hardware products from concept to market.
The workshop on concept Initiation allowed participants to frame the problem at hand and map potential solutions. It gave them the tools to validate the market requirements by building an understanding about themselves, what drives them towards completing the mission, the problem they want to solve, the personas that suffer from the problem they intend to address, and the measurement framework that will allow them to assess the impact of the solution they will create.
During the virtual Design Sprint and over four days, the founders learned how to transform abstract ideas into concrete prototypes, test, and receive feedback from users to further enhance the solution.
Cleanergy Program – Phases 2 and 3
By the end of December 2020, up to twelve (12) teams will be chosen by Berytech to continue to phase two of the Cleanergy program, whereby each team will be granted $15,000 to build their MVP, in addition to receiving training and coaching. At the end of phase two, the participants should have a functioning MVP with enough traction to be selected for phase three.
By the end of May next year, up to eight (8) startups will be chosen to go through the third and final phase of the program. This incubation and growth phase is scheduled over 5 months, with $20,000 awarded in matching capital to the teams, who will start preparations for their scaleup. This phase is crucial in helping the participants receive investment from venture capitals or angel investors.
Learn more and stay tuned about the different activities of the first batch enrolled in Berytech’s Cleanergy Accelerator Program here.
