BIAT, a not-for-profit organization, was established in 2006 with the assistance and back up of the integrated SME support program, an EU funded project at the Ministry of Economy and Trade of Lebanon.

BIAT’s concept was carefully designed and engineered to help entrepreneurs through the challenge of starting a business or taking major decisions in an existing firm.

Our experienced business advisors will take you through each stage of starting your own business.

+ 5,000

Simple
Interventions

+ 2,800

Major
Interventions

+ 400

Hosted
Incubatees

+ 14M USD

Loans

+ 2M USD

Grants

+ 60

Programs
Executed

What's happening in BIAT?

How To Build A Startup

Thursday September 3

Virtual Zoom Meeting

4 PM

How To Make Money From Home

Thursday July 23

Virtual Zoom Meeting

4 PM

Business Podcast

May 29, 2023

Youtube

7:30 PM

SOLAR TRAINING

June 5 and 6, 2023

BIAT Offices

Pitching Event

ZOOM Webinar

E-Commerce Event

ZOOM Webinar

9:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Our Programs

Bcharreh AGRI/AGRO

The project is funded by the KfW Development Bank (KFW) and in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Business Incubation Association in Tripoli (BIAT) aims to build the capacity building of 50 agro-food producers/MSMEs with the needed skills and knowledge to provide marketable products to the Lebanese market. Furthermore, it aims to […]

WEP Strengthening Women’s Resilience in a Time of Crisis

To date, a total of 52 COOPs, SMEs, and Start Ups in Agro (food production and processing, fruit and vegetable, honey, oregano, freekeh, dairy, small ruminats, aromatic tea), handicrafts, ICT sectors have received support through the provision of relevant training, coaching, and mentoring followed by financial in-kind grants to improve and develop their businesses and […]

E-commerce Promoting Post COVID-19 Recovery and Poverty Reduction through Productive Sector Expansion for Women and Youth in Lebanon

The objectives of this work are to support the implementation of the UNDP project through the accomplishment of the below activities: • Businesses and cooperatives: build the capacity of 10 MSMEs/Cooperatives by providing tailored trainings in the sphere of e- commerce, marketing, business development and new market trends and advising on the required equipment • […]

ARE “Increasing MSME productivity by co-investing in Lebanese Light Manufacturing and Services Sectors”

The intervention will provide in-kind equipment support and group business training to at least 100 MSMEs in and around the Tripoli area. This includes in addition to Tripoli (Kobbeh, Bab El Ramel, Tebbaneh & Jabal Mohsen, Old Souks, Tal, Zuhrieh, New city), suburbs directly related to Tripoli conglomeration in Mina, Koura (Ras Maska), Bedawwi and […]

Promoting business innovation and sustainable growth in light of COVID19 and economic crises in Lebanon.

Objective: Startups, entrepreneurs and MSMEs are supported to enhance creativity and innovation and foster job creation in the longer term Output 1: Beneficiary selection, incubation and competition A call for proposal will be launched by UNDP in February outlining clear and defined selection criteria, and with support from the RP and in agreement with the […]

GIZ Sustained Technical and Business Support

The primary aim of the project is to enhance and create access to livelihood and income generating opportunities for youth and women in T+5 regions. This should be achieved through providing access to finance in the form of in-kind grants for the SMEs. These in-kind grants will be invested in the most efficient and effective […]

The future of business development here today

FAWAZ HAMIDI

Chairman

Dr. Fawaz Hamidi is a strategist with experience in SME, NGO, and community development. He is Chairman and co-founder of BIAT. Former Director of ICMA global operations – MENA region. His educational and professional certificates are a DBA from Grenoble Doctoral School of Management in the field of Strategic management, MBA, LCPA, and CMA. He acted as the economic expert on a World Bank Project, “A strategy for the Alfayhaa 3 cities”. Instructor of CMA courses for senior management accountants. As the head of Economic Development Committee and city council member, he raised a fund from the private sector and restored 100 buildings in the city center of Tripoli from the colonial and ottoman eras.

NASRI MOUAWAD

Vice-Chairman

Vice-Chairman and co-founder of BIAT, Nasri has rich experiences as both an entrepreneur in different sectors (Industrial: OLBLOX, Hospitality: IGLOO since 1986, Construction: BUILD big …), and as a business consultant for entrepreneurs and SMEs since 2006. He helped more than 250 startups and existing businesses and contributed to many success stories. He was responsible for the design of many initiatives and programs. Nasri played a major role in the development of YARD – an online business incubator and the growth of the entrepreneurship ecosystem in North Lebanon. Nasri holds a business administration degree from Toledo University in OHIO, USA.

BIAT offered our company, CodenDot all the needed facilities that helped us expand our services and grow. BIAT acted for us as consultant, also didn’t miss any opportunity to put us on the right way via its effective network.
BIAT is an ideal environment to get started in a new Business. In BIAT, you can find all the support you need to go forward in success.

CODENDOT

Nidal Daccour, General Manager

With the help of BIAT, we have trained our staff on the best sales practices. Not only we were able to invest in new equipment that increase our production capacity but also, BIAT offered marketing and labelling consultancy services which helped us create new products.During these constraining times, BIAT input and impact was more than vital to the survival of our business.

MezzMix

Nemer Mansoor

Promoting business innovation and sustainable growth in light of COVID19 and economic crises in Lebanon” was the program we applied for. From nomination, to selection, to trainings, to coaching sessions, to pitching, to selection, it was the best journey ever. BIAT you were very professional and helpful throughout the process, making it an enjoyable and stress-free experience. You gave RECYCO a sense of validation and recognition and we felt incredibly honored and grateful. You motivated us to continue pursuing our goals with even greater determination and passion.

Recyco

Libana GeaGea

Joining Biat’s Entrepreneurship program was a true challenge, yet, their empowerment and their funding were instrumental in helping us set up a sustainable strategy for our kitchen. With their support, we are able to set up a Central Kitchen to employ more women and farmers. They believed in us and our mission. We are grateful for their commitment to positively impacting the local community, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with them in the future.

Jar Thouraya

Martine Zaarour

Our Partners

Latest Blogs

Blog

Startup Funding in the MENA Region

his year’s 50 Most-Funded Startups In MENA have raised nearly $3 billion in total funding, with the top 10 alone amassing $1.9 billion.

The U.A.E. dominates the list, with 22 startups securing nearly $1.8 billion combined—over 60% of the list’s total funding. It is followed by Saudi Arabia, which is home to 12 startups that raised a total of $520.4 million, while Egypt’s seven entries raised a total of $248.6 million.

Fintech and e-commerce are the most represented sectors, with 13 and 11 entries, but food-tech firms have raised the most money, with $874.9 million in total funding. This is largely thanks to cloud-kitchen operator, Kitopi, which tops this year’s ranking after bagging $804 million. Agri-tech business Pure Harvest Smart Farms is second with $272 million in total funding. Subscription video-on-demand service STARZPLAY and Fintech platform tabby came third and fourth, with $150 million and $130 million, respectively.

Buy-now-pay-later platform Tamara is the highest funded in Saudi Arabia having raised $116 million, while e-commerce player MaxAB is Egypt’s most funded startup with $62.5 million in total funding. The 2022 list includes 30 newcomers, such as North African ride-hailing and delivery startup Yassir and fintech firm PostPay.

Arab sovereign wealth funds had a healthy investor appetite in 2021. Sanabil Investments, wholly owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund (PIF), poured capital into Sary and Foodics, whereas the U.A.E.’s Mubadala Investment company backed tabby and Sarwa.

Mergers and acquisitions also heated up in 2021. Swvl agreed to merge with U.S.-based SPAC Queen’s Gambit Growth Capital, making it a publicly-listed company and the first $1.5 billion unicorn from the Middle East to be listed on Nasdaq. Egypt-based Fintech Halan raised $120 million in 2021, entering into a share swap agreement with MNT BV, a Netherlands corporation. And U.S. operator of delivery kitchens, logistics, and proximity hubs, REEF Technology Inc, acquired the U.A.E.’s cloud kitchen startup iKcon for an undisclosed amount.

According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2021, the MENA region had four emerging ecosystems in the world’s top 100 emerging ecosystems in 2021—including Dubai, Cairo, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi. The study indicates that the total number of late-stage funding rounds in MENA almost doubled in the last five years, while the total late-stage funding amount has also doubled.

Blog

Top 10 Book For Entrepreneurs

The best entrepreneur books are extremely popular for self-education. Working a traditional 9 to 5 job is not as common as it once was. Millions of people are carving out their own path and making money on their own terms. Becoming an entrepreneur takes massive amounts of determination. Many people have proven that putting in hard work, in the beginning, can lead to a life of leisure in the future. Reach your dreams of creating a business faster by learning from the experts. We’ve put together a list of the best entrepreneur books to buy today.

 

The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau

Creating a new life for yourself through entrepreneurship is a real possibility. Chris Guillebeau maps out the path of an entrepreneur so you can transform from a person with a passion into a person with a sustainable income based on that passion. Chris goes over 50 very interesting case studies of entrepreneurs who have created sustainable businesses with extremely low start-up costs often of $100 or less.

So many books have been written for entrepreneurs. This one really stands out because of the specific actionable information. It does not require any special training and it is a low financial risk. You will learn the inner workings of different businesses, which are very eye-opening. Guillebeau also provides convenient checklists to go through alongside concrete examples. You will be inspired to stop procrastinating and start now.

This book is not about making millions. It is about learning how to take the helpful and useful information you currently know and transform it into an income stream. Chris Guillebeau proves you do not need any special skills or a business background. He says all you need is a product or service, a group of people willing to buy it and a means to get paid.

Crushing It! by Gary Vaynerchuk

Building a brand is crucial for entrepreneurs. Gary Vaynerchuk is a master of social media and brand building. It does not matter what industry you work in, building business and influence is a game changer. Learn how to navigate all the best social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Pinterest and more. Plus, learn how to have a breakout podcast on iTunes, Spotify and iHeartRadio.

Using social media is the fastest way to make your business explode with sales. Learning so many different platforms can be exhausting. Learning how to use them effectively and knowing which ones to utilize in your business will get you ahead of the game. It is time to embrace social media and Gary is the author who explains it all.

Vaynerchuk is the CEO of VaynerX, a huge media holding agency. He is considered to be one of the world’s leading marketing experts. And here he gives his most innovative tips and strategies proven to help entrepreneurs excel at creating a vibrant personal brand.

The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco

In order to earn a lot of money, you need to impact a lot of people. MJ DeMarco walks you through the road he took to becoming a millionaire and it all started with seeing a Lamborghini for the first time. His storytelling is excellent and really explains the shift in mindset you need in order to become a millionaire.

The idea here is not to come up with a 100 percent new and unique idea. It is to take what is already out there and improve upon it. Make it better. MJ lays out different ways for an entrepreneur to impact the masses. Help a million people and get into the Millionaire Fastlane. This book will help shift the way you think, creating the mindset of a true entrepreneur.

Reading MJ’s story will leave you feeling excited about the future. He also has an online forum for entrepreneurs to get even more inspiration and encouragement to build an amazing business.

The Introvert Entrepreneur by Beth Buelow

Does being around lots of people drain your energy? Do you enjoy solitude? Do people often describe you as quiet and hard to get to know? Most likely you are an introvert. Can an introvert build a thriving business or is that just for extroverts? Beth Bulow understands how introverts feel and believe introverts make fabulous entrepreneurs.

Learn how to tap into your best personality traits with the help of a mentor who speaks your language. With Beth Bulow’s guidance, introverts can build thriving businesses without pretending they are someone they are not. Get step-by-step actionable advice to help you reach your dream.

The Power of Broke

Starting a business can seem overwhelming and downright impossible if you are broke. But if you are looking through the eyes of Daymond John, broke means being pushed towards greatness. Lots of people don’t have the desire to work hard, they are comfortable. A burning feeling to change your life is often required to overcome the difficulty entrepreneurs face. Some of the most creative and relate-able entrepreneurs start out poor.

Daymond, one of the sharks on Shark Tank, and the creator of FUBU was able to create his six-billion-dollar empire with just $40! He is proof that desperation breeds innovation. Learn how many entrepreneurs harnessed the power of desperation and create something from nothing.

Now more than ever, becoming an entrepreneur is very accessible. With the power of the Internet and the ability to connect with customers, entrepreneurship is based more on creativity and not money. Get inspired by a highly respected entrepreneur in The Power of Broke.

Million Dollar Women by Julia Pimsleur

Transforming a small business into a powerhouse business does not happen overnight. Julia Pimsleur is a scaling coach for women. It is a known fact female entrepreneurs rarely make it to the big time. Only three percent earn one million in revenue or more. Julie provides a path for women to follow in order scale their business to the masses.

If you want to learn how to raise capital from investors, develop strong networks, as well as how to build a multi-million dollar company from scratch, Million Dollar Women is a great place to start. Read through interviews of women who have tons of experience. Get detailed expert advice on how to pursue your dreams.

 Will It Fly by Pat Flynn

Do you have a fabulous idea for starting a business? Pat Flynn sets you up with exactly what you need in order to test your idea before spending countless hours and money trying to make it work. Learn how to pre-launch a product, so you do not create a product until you know for sure it will sell. Doing a little work up front can save you big time!

Every entrepreneur just getting started with a new idea should run it through Pat’s Will It Fly test. Pat has been helping entrepreneurs for over a decade. He is well known for being transparent about his income and teaching others how to create multiple streams of revenue through his website Smart Passive Income.

Best for Kids: Kidpreneurs by Adam Toren and Matthew Toren

Entrepreneurship does not have an ideal person. Anyone can make a great entrepreneur and that includes kids. The workforce is rapidly changing. There are more entrepreneurs than ever before. Teaching kids how to create their own successful business will empower them to succeed in the future.

If you have a child eager to learn how to start a business, Kidpreneurs is a great way to help them get started. Choosing the right business is the first step. The book suggests fun businesses for kids such as dog walking, lemonade stands, lawn mowing businesses and more.

Kidpreneurs is laid out to be easy for kids to understand. It is packed with great illustrations and step-by-step instructions. It helps prepares kids by offering a section to lay out their business plan and includes quizzes to ensure they are following along. It is perfect for creative young minds.