As the third cycle of the IdeaLab program kicks off, we are excited to share the successful completion of our outreach phase. Led by Berytech and implemented by five dedicated partner organizations, this phase was packed with activities aimed at selecting and boosting Lebanon’s top startups in the clean technology and AgriFoodTech sectors.
This initiative is part of the Partner Growth program, co-funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands under The ACT Smart Innovation Hub Initiative. This phase acquired 359 promising applications, with 53 startups being selected to join the program.
“IdeaLab is a program designed for idea and early-stage startups, aimed at propelling them forward and providing the essential foundation for their future growth. In this batch, different program partners have collaboratively worked to bring together entrepreneurs from various corners of Lebanon.”
Zahi Hilal, Partnership and Startup Support Specialist
Key Outreach Activities:
The five partner organizations – Asher Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ACIE), Farah Social Foundation, INJAZ Lebanon, Michel Daher Foundation (MDF), and Park Innovation – executed a variety of events to engage potential applicants. These included info sessions, ideathons, and design sprints, held across different regions in Lebanon.
Here’s a detailed look at each partner’s outreach activities and achievements:
Asher Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ACIE):
Covering the Mount Lebanon region, ACIE received 44 applications and conducted 14 activities, which included 3 info sessions with 62 participants and 2 ideathon with 81 participants. From the interviewed teams, 10 startups were selected.
Farah Social Foundation:
Covering Beirut region, FSF gathered 48 applications and organized 9 activities, including 4 info sessions with 39 participants and 1 ideathon with 17 participants. They selected 10 startups from the interviewed teams.
INJAZ Lebanon:
Covering North of Lebanon region, INJAZ Lebanon received 90 applications and conducted 6 activities, featuring 3 info sessions with 92 participants and 2 camps with 93 participants. They selected 10 startups from the interviewed teams.
Michel Daher Foundation:
Covering Bekaa region, MDF attracted 127 applications and held activities, comprising of 2 info sessions with 98 participants, 1 design thinking workshop with 95 participants, and 7 booths with 120 visitors. They selected 13 startups from the interviewed teams.
Park Innovation:
Covering The South Mount Lebanon region, Park Innovation received 50 applications and organized 8 activities, which included 1 ideathon with 30 participants and 5 info sessions with 193 participants. They selected 10 startups from the interviewed teams.
Selection Criteria & Innovation Focus:
We are incredibly excited about the innovative and impactful solutions presented by the selected startups. Each startup was evaluated based on criteria such as their creativity, potential for scalability, team strength, and the transformative impact of their solutions. This cycle showcases an impressive range of groundbreaking ideas, with 21 startups pioneering Cleantech solutions and 32 startups revolutionizing the AgriFoodTech landscape.
Moving Forward to The Validation Phase
With the outreach phase successfully completed, the teams will move on to the validation phase where they will receive intensive training and mentorship from industry experts on a wide range of entrepreneurial topics. This includes customer discovery, market validation, prototype development, business model validation, and pitching. This phase will then conclude with a demo day, where startups will pitch their innovative ideas to a panel of investors and stakeholders, who will assess their progress and provide them with constructive feedback.
About The ACT Smart Innovation Hub:
The Partner Growth Program operates under the ACT Smart Innovation Hub, a wide-ranging initiative launched by Berytech and co-funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This initiative aims to strengthen the Lebanese entrepreneurial ecosystem and drive innovation and startup creation in the agriculture, food, and clean technology sectors.
We eagerly look forward to witnessing the remarkable achievements of the third cycle’s startups and the transformative impact they will bring to Lebanon and beyond. Stay tuned for more updates and inspiring stories from the IdeaLab program!
