Call for Startup Project Presentations and Pitching at NCEI Lebanon Conference & Invitation to Join the 2nd Cohort of Mentees

The National Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (NCEI Lebanon) is excited to announce the upcoming NCEI Lebanon Conference to be held on September 17, 2025, at Beirut Digital District (BDD). This landmark event will showcase innovative startup projects poised to transform Lebanon's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Aligned with our mission to nurture entrepreneurship and innovation, we are opening a call for startup projects to present and pitch at the conference, as well as inviting applications to join NCEI Lebanon’s second cohort of mentees, designed to accelerate promising startups through mentorship, capacity-building, and strategic support.

Who Should Apply?

We seek innovative and motivated startup teams working on projects that directly contribute to the development and strengthening of Lebanon’s startup ecosystem. Applicants should fulfill the following:

Clusters of Focus:
Projects should ideally fall within one or more of the following priority clusters, reflecting Lebanon’s economic strengths and emerging opportunities:

• Technology and Artificial Intelligence
• Creative Industries and Digital Media
• Agriculture and Food Technology
• Renewable Energy and Environmental Innovation
• Healthcare and Life Sciences
• Tourism and Cultural Heritage
• Corporate Governance and Regulatory Solutions
• Community and Social Development Initiatives
• Proof of Concept (PoC):
• Demonstrating a functional proof of concept is mandatory, proving the feasibility and initial validation of your innovation.

Use of AI Tools:
Startups that integrate artificial intelligence technologies to enhance their solutions, management, or impact will receive special consideration.

Startups seeking to intervene in AI projects can focus on several impactful and emerging areas that leverage AI’s transformative potential to drive innovation, efficiency, and social value. Based on current trends and practical applications, here are suggested areas for startup intervention in AI projects:

AI-Driven Healthcare Solutions
Developing AI tools for early diagnosis, personalized treatment planning, predictive analytics for patient care, and telemedicine platforms that improve accessibility and reduce healthcare costs.

Customer Experience Enhancement
Building AI-powered chatbots, virtual assistants, and recommendation engines to personalize customer interactions, improve support responsiveness, and increase engagement.

Predictive Analytics and Decision Support
Creating AI systems to analyze large datasets, identify market trends, forecast demand, optimize supply chains, and support data-driven strategic decisions.

Automation of Business Processes
Automating repetitive tasks in finance, logistics, inventory management, and administrative operations to boost productivity and reduce operational costs.

AI for Corporate Governance and Compliance
Using AI tools to monitor regulatory compliance, optimize governance processes, and enhance transparency for startups and SMEs.

Environmental and Renewable Energy Innovations
Leveraging AI to optimize energy consumption, manage renewable energy resources, and develop eco-friendly technologies that promote sustainability.

Creative Industries and Digital Media
Applying generative AI for content creation, digital marketing automation, media analytics, and personalized digital experiences.

AI in Agriculture and Food Technology
Implementing AI solutions for precision farming, crop monitoring, yield prediction, and supply chain optimization in agritech startups.

Mental Health and Wellbeing
Offering AI-enabled mental health support through conversational agents, mood tracking, and personalized therapy recommendations.

AI-Enhanced Drug Discovery
Accelerating pharmaceutical innovation by using AI for molecular analysis, compound prediction, and drug efficacy testing.

These areas not only align with technological feasibility but also correspond to sectors where Lebanon’s startup ecosystem is focused and where AI can significantly augment impact, governance, and community development projects.

Experience & Team Qualifications:
The founding team should possess relevant qualifications and professional experience, ideally with at least 3 years of combined experience in their field, entrepreneurship, or related sectors.
Proficiency in Arabic is highly recommended to ensure local market relevance and community engagement.

Project Impact:
Projects should demonstrate clear potential for economic growth, social impact, sustainable development, and strong corporate governance practices.

What Does the NCEI Lebanon 2nd Cohort Offer?

• Selected startups joining the cohort will benefit from:
• Dedicated mentorship and coaching by experts from diverse sectors.
• Access to training workshops and capacity-building sessions focused on business growth, corporate governance, and leveraging AI technology.
• Opportunities for networking with investors, ecosystem actors, and potential partners.
• Support in project development, fundraising, and market entry strategies.

Application and Prequalification Process

This call serves as a prequalification stage for a broader application and selection process to join the mentorship program.

Important Dates and Next Steps

Deadline for Submission: Please submit your application no later than August 31, 2025.

• Successful applicants will be invited to pitch and present their projects at the NCEI Lebanon Conference on September 17, 2025, at Beirut Digital District (BDD).
• This pitching event will form an essential part of the selection process for joining the 2nd cohort of mentees.
• Selected startups will be contacted individually with further instructions on the full application process for the mentorship program.

Why Participate?

• Gain exposure and visibility in Lebanon’s growing entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Receive tailored support and mentorship from a prestigious national center and its network of experts.
• Network with potential investors, partners, and industry leaders.
• Accelerate your startup development with focused guidance on corporate governance, AI implementation, and community impact strategies.

Contact Information

For any questions or clarifications, please reach out via the official channels on nceilebanon.org.

Seize this unique opportunity to showcase your innovation, scale your impact, and shape the future of Lebanon’s startup ecosystem! Submit your expression of interest today.