All posts by Banque du Liban Accelerate

What to expect at BDL Accelerate 2015

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The theme for BDL Accelerate 2015 being “Emerging Startup Ecosystems,” Lebanon’s 2nd international startup conference will be bringing together influential stakeholders from startup ecosystems from 9 key cities – London, Istanbul, New York, Tehran, Berlin, Cairo, Singapore, Madrid, and Beirut. An exceptional set of startups, venture capitalists, accelerators, policy makers, and more will represent the 9 ecosystems that will each have its own pavilion to showcase its institutions.

There will be 2 stages at the conference, one of which will be dedicated to panels, keynotes, and fireside chats as a space for 100 influential speakers from over 30 countries to share their best practices, discuss the challenges they faced during the developing stages of their ecosystems, and exchange their knowledge. The aim of the valuable engagement and knowledge shared on this stage will be a great stepping stone for the Lebanese ecosystem to thrive through learning from the trials and errors of other ecosystems.

The second stage will be dedicated to the startup pitches as part of the two competitions BDL Accelerate 2015 is hosting dedicated for idea stage startups and early stage startups. The aim of these competitions is to educate and provide tools to aspiring entrepreneurs and to assist them in succeeding, as well as to find the best startup in the local scene.

Applications for the Idea Stage Startup Competition are currently open until (updated) November 1. Once teams are selected, successful applicants will be notified to partake in a series of weekly workshops over the span of 5 weeks, around the “Reimagine Lebanon” theme. The workshops are offered by SETT, a think tank focused on enabling emerging startup ecosystems, empowering youth with the entrepreneurial skills to develop solutions for a better Lebanon. The participating teams will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges in front of an audience during Banque du Liban Accelerate 2015 for the chance to win 5,000 USD. To be eligible, one may be of any age and background with the will to learn new methods of thought and passionately wants to create an impact in their community.

The 2nd competition, the Early Stage Startup Competition, features a pitch competition for early stage startups. The deadline for applying for this competition is November 9th, from which the selected startups will pitch at Banque du Liban Accelerate 2015 for a chance to win 10,000 USD in cash, and the opportunity to win a trip to a top tier international startup competition.

BDL Offers Rare Opportunity to Learn Innovative Skills

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idea

Aspiring to educate and inspire youth, Banque du Liban is hosting an Idea Stage Startup workshop series and competition themed Reimagining Lebanon. Inspired by youth driving change in Lebanon, the series of design-thinking workshops offered by SETT, a think tank focused on enabling emerging startup companies, is going to empower applicants with the entrepreneurial skills to develop solutions for a better Lebanon.

Reimagining Lebanon will feature a series of weekly workshops over the span of 5 weeks. Applicants will be assembled into 8 teams of 3 with diverse but complementary backgrounds, to develop a startup idea to address a problem that will be assigned to them. The participating teams will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges in front of an audience during Banque du Liban Accelerate 2015 for the chance to win 5,000 USD. To be eligible, one may be of any age and background with the will to learn new methods of thought and passionately wants to create an impact in their community.

Applications for the Idea Stage Startup Competition are currently open until (updated) November 1 and the teams will be selected on November 2. The selected teams will have to attend one workshop per week for 3 hours.

This is an opportunity that anyone can take and learn innovative skills.

To learn more about this rare opportunity and participate in this experience, click here 

Early Stage Startup Competition details announced!

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BDL Accelerate 2015 is offering an enticing and exciting opportunity for early stage startups by exclusively hosting an Early Stage Startup Competition!

The aim of the competition is to find the best startup in Lebanon’s emerging and fast growing startup scene. Banque du Liban has been supporting startups in Lebanon during the past couple of years, which in return has provided startups with a boost and made Beirut a strategic hub for startups.

The selected startups will pitch on the main stage of the conference in front of a panel of international judges. The winning startup will win a trip to participate in a top tier international startup competition in addition to a $10,000 cash prize.

The participating startups will receive regional media coverage and have the opportunity to meet with potential partners and peers. Applying startups must be in the early stage, from any field, or profit, and prepared to talk about their startup in public in English.

If your startup fits the criteria apply before November 9th and find out if you are selected to compete at BDL Accelerate 2015 on November 12th.

This is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!

To apply click here

Emerging Startup Ecosystems

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ecosystem

Under the leadership of Banque du Liban (BDL) and following the successful BDL Accelerate 2014, entrepreneurship in Lebanon has been taking off, the ecosystem has been taking shape, success stories have been popping up, and dedicated accelerators and investors have been active.

Under the theme “Emerging Startup Ecosystems,” this year’s conference, BDL Accelerate 2015, aims to bring influential stakeholders from startup ecosystems from around the globe to share their best practices, discuss the challenges they faced during the developing stages of their ecosystems, and exchange their knowledge. For an early stage ecosystem such as Lebanon, such valuable engagement and knowledge are essential to educate and inspire attendees to learn from the trials and errors of other ecosystems.

There are diverse perspectives to what contributes to the development of ecosystems and to what factors could lead to its stagnation. BDL Accelerate 2015’s mission is to build a sustainable and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in Lebanon through the education of the thriving Lebanese ecosystem by bringing together exceptional entrepreneurs, investors, and support institutions from 9 key cities – London, Istanbul, New York, Tehran, Berlin, Cairo, Singapore, Madrid, and Beirut to share, inspire, network, connect, learn, exhibit, fundraise and do business at BDL Accelerate 2015.