Elie Akhrass is the Director of the Asher Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Université Saint Esprit Kaslik (USEK). Prior to USEK, Elie used to manage the UK Lebanon Tech Hub as their programs manager and director of the International Research Center. His work resulted in creating and growing more than 80 startups and funding 5 applied research collaborations.
Elie started his career at Kafalat where he assessed the financial and credit risk of more than 1500 SME projects across Lebanon.
Elie holds a Masters’ degree in Economics from Saint Joseph University, a Certificate in Research Commercialization from Cambridge Institute and a Post Graduate Diploma in Innovation and Design Thinking from MIT, Columbia University and Tuck at Dartmouth. He is an expert in finance, innovation, entrepreneurship, design thinking and community building.