Production Firm/Studio - EuroMed Clusters Forward

About Berytech:

Berytech is a leading organization in the Entrepreneurial Eco-system in Lebanon, that aims to provide a conducive environment for the creation and development of startups, through incubation, business support, counseling, funding, networking, and company hosting, hence taking part in the economic revival of the country, participating in wealth and job creation, and retaining graduates and high-level skills in Lebanon.

About Euromed Clusters Forward:

Euromed Clusters Forward is a 4-year project that aims at establishing and improving clusters legal policies, strengthening clusters capacity & regional cooperation, and strengthening regional value chains. Berytech is the implementing partner of Euromed Clusters Forward in Lebanon, that is funded by the European Union and coordinated by Anima Investment Network with 3 implementing partners and 9 affiliates from the Euromed region.

About Cluster Booster:

Cluster Booster is a technical assistance activity under the Euromed Clusters Forward led by Berytech. It aims at strengthening the skills of cluster managers, staff, and SME members in the South Mediterranean region. This 18-month program offers training and technical help to help clusters grow and succeed.

Key focuses include establishing and improving the governance and sustainability models; developing strategies to attract new members; analyzing value chains for better market positioning; scaling-up their business performances and enhancing technological and innovation capabilities to foster North-South Mediterranean collaboration. 

Cluster Overview:

QOOT Lebanon Agrifood Innovation Cluster, established in 2019, operates as a dynamic ecosystem for agrifood businesses, fostering innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth in Lebanon’s agrifood sector. The cluster brings together startups, SMEs, and large enterprises to drive advancements in food production and processing while enhancing competitiveness in local and international markets.

Currently supporting more than 150 members, QOOT plays a pivotal role in strengthening Lebanon’s agrifood industry. Through initiatives focused on sustainability, innovation, and global market access, the cluster contributes to economic resilience and the modernization of Lebanon’s agrifood landscape.

Lebanon's agrifood landscape is powered by resilient entrepreneurs whose operations strengthen local production, rural livelihoods, job creation, and food security. Yet, their foundational journeys and critical milestones remain largely undocumented and hidden from public awareness. Hosted by recognized industry expert Dr. Marc Bou Zeidan, this 6-episode audio-visual podcast series blends sector-specific knowledge with authentic human storytelling. The program aims to inspire youth, engage the global Lebanese diaspora, and accelerate local brand exposure. 

QOOT Cluster is looking to partner with a professional production studio to bring its podcast to life at broadcast quality. The selected partner will take full ownership of the process — from visual branding and studio recording through post-production, distribution, and strategic planning — covering the complete arc of Season 1.

Beyond the technical deliverables, the assignment carries a broader purpose: to craft a media product that honors and elevates the story of local agrifood entrepreneurship, strengthens the regional and international visibility of QOOT cluster members, connects with Lebanese diaspora communities worldwide, and builds a replicable foundation for future digital media seasons.

The service provider will develop:

• Brand Identity & Graphic Asset Kit: Develop a cohesive and premium visual identity for the podcast, including a custom logo and typography, brand color palette, cover artwork and templates adapted to multiple platform specifications, a professional photoshoot for podcast covers and promotional assets, thumbnail templates, an animated logo, intro and outro sequences, and a high-impact cinematic season trailer.
• Studio Infrastructure & Technical Crew: Provide a fully equipped, acoustically isolated, and climate-controlled professional studio environment. Supply multi-camera high-definition (4K) video setups, professional lighting grids, and dedicated multi-track studio audio capture hardware. Ensure full technical crew presence (sound engineers, camera operators) during active recordings.
• End-to-End Post-Production & Mixing: Execute comprehensive professional video editing, multi-cam switching, color grading, sound mixing, multi-track audio mastering, and background sound track integration across all assets.
• Podcast Publishing and Distribution: Create and manage the podcast channels and publishing process on YouTube, and Audio platforms (Anghami and Podeo…) ensuring timely distribution of all audio and video content.
• Targeted Paid Promotional Management: Setup, target, monitor, and structurally optimize paid digital advertising campaigns across YouTube and Instagram to maximize initial community build, listener acquisition, and target visibility indices.
• Strategic Advisory Role: Beyond production services, the service provider shall serve as a strategic advisor, supporting QOOT with expert guidance on podcast branding, content, studio setup, guest experience, dissemination, audience growth, promotional strategy, budget optimization, and overall podcast development to ensure the successful delivery and long-term sustainability of the initiative.
• End-of-Season Evaluation: Prepare a season performance report including analytics, audience engagement, key achievements, lessons learned, identified gaps, and recommendations for enhancing future podcast seasons.

Responsibilities Handled Internally by QOOT Cluster:

• Content and Guest Management: QOOT will lead the selection and coordination of guests, manage scheduling, prepare episode themes, discussion points, and interview questions, with the support and expert guidance of the selected studio service provider.
• Podcast Creative Direction and Set Design: QOOT will define the overall creative direction of the podcast, including the studio setup concept, background elements, thumbnails, and visual identity, with recommendations and technical guidance from the studio service provider.
• Social Media Engagement: QOOT will manage social media communications and audience engagement across the podcast digital channels, including Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Threads. Management of YouTube, audio channels and podcast streaming platforms will be handled by the service provider. QOOT will work in coordination with the service provider to optimize content performance, reach, and audience engagement.

• Title / Name: من الحبّة قبّﺔ | Seeds to Succeed
• Format: A high-quality audio-visual podcast series designed for multi-platform distribution across video and audio streaming channels, combining long-form conversations with short-form digital content for enhanced audience engagement.
• Host: Dr. Marc Bou Zeidan (Recognized expert in food innovation, entrepreneurship, and agrifood systems)

• Season Structure: Season 1 consisting of 6 professionally produced episodes featuring Lebanese agrifood entrepreneurs, innovators, and ecosystem stakeholders.

• Episode Duration: Approximately 30 minutes per episode, designed for in-depth storytelling and meaningful conversations.
• Release Frequency: Weekly scheduled release, ensuring consistent audience engagement and sustained visibility throughout the season.
• Distribution Channels: YouTube (video format), Social Media platforms (short-form highlights and promotional content), and major audio streaming platforms including Anghami, Podeo, and other relevant podcast directories.
• Content Approach: Each episode combines storytelling, expert insights, and real entrepreneurial journeys, highlighting innovation, resilience, challenges, and growth within Lebanon’s agrifood sector.
• Production Style: Multi-camera studio recording with professional audio engineering, cinematic editing, and branded visual identity to ensure a premium and consistent viewing experience.
• Target Audience: Agrifood entrepreneurs, MSMEs, youth and aspiring entrepreneurs, investors, development partners, and the Lebanese diaspora.
• Strategic Objective: To position the podcast as a flagship storytelling platform that elevates Lebanese agrifood success stories, strengthens ecosystem visibility, and promotes innovation and sustainability in the sector.

The service provider is expected to provide the following key deliverables:

• Development and delivery of a complete podcast brand identity package, including logo source files, typography and color guidelines, professional cover photography, video thumbnail templates, animated logo, intro and outro sequences, and a cinematic podcast season trailer.
• Production and delivery of 6 fully edited, color-graded, multi-camera podcast episodes with professional audio mixing and mastering. Each episode will be approximately 30 minutes and delivered in broadcast-quality 4K format.
• Creation of one teaser video and two vertical highlight clips per episode, optimized for social media platforms such as Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok.
• Setup and management of the podcast channels across YouTube and audio platforms, including RSS feed configuration and content distribution across platforms such as Youtube, Anghami and Podeo.
• Provision of ongoing expert guidance on podcast production, including set design recommendations, guest experience improvement, audience engagement strategies, and budget optimization for promotion and outreach.
• Submission of a final performance report within 14 days after the last episode. The report will include audience reach, engagement metrics, campaign performance, key insights, challenges, and recommendations for improving future seasons.
• Creation, setup, and management of podcast channels on YouTube and major audio streaming platforms (including Anghami, Podeo, and Youtube), ensuring proper formatting, timely publishing, and consistent distribution of all episodes and related content.
• Setup, management, and optimization of paid advertising campaigns across YouTube and Meta to increase podcast visibility, attract new audiences, and support initial audience growth and engagement. Campaigns will be continuously monitored and adjusted to improve performance and reach.

The project is expected to launch on June 22, 2026, and will be implemented according to the timeline outlined below. This timeline may be subject to adjustments based on project needs, operational considerations, and external circumstances. Any changes will be coordinated with and approved by the QOOT team.

Milestone 1: Visual Identity & Trailer Sign-Off

Target: July 01, 2026

Delivery of final project logo assets, typography rules, streaming platform master covers, and the main cinematic teaser video.

Milestone 2: Studio Readiness & Printing

Target: July 10, 2026

Installation and quality verification of the studio backdrop and branding elements, to ensure readiness for production.

Milestone 3: Production & Active Release Cycle

Target: July 13 – Aug 21, 2026

Implementation of the episode production cycle, including recording, post-production, creation of promotional content, and scheduled release of all podcast episodes across designated platforms.

Milestone 4: Season Closure & Analytics Handover

Target: August 31, 2026

Submission of the final impact report, financial reconciliation for donors, and complete structured handover of all final media assets.

The service provider should possess the following qualifications and experience:

• Proven experience of minimum 5 years in professional audiovisual production, studio- based video recording, professional podcasting workflows, and multi-platform media asset execution.
• Direct ownership of, or immediate access to, a professional, climate-controlled, and acoustically isolated recording studio environment equipped for multi-camera 4K video acquisition and multi-track audio engineering.
• Mastery of premium industry software platforms for multicam editing, advanced color grading, spatial sound mixing, sound track mastering, and animated motion graphics creation.
• Demonstrated capability in strategic digital distribution, channel infrastructure setup, metadata optimization, and targeted paid advertisement deployment on platforms like YouTube and Meta.
• Availability of dedicated, trained technical manpower (including camera operators, lighting directors, and audio engineers) to provide consistent execution quality under strict weekly turnaround timelines.