We are thrilled to welcome Ghada Saliba-Malouf to the LebNet Board of Directors. Ghada is a distinguished legal executive with over three decades of experience in corporate law, financial services, and social impact. She most recently served as Managing Director and Associate General Counsel at Wells Fargo, where she led high-impact legal teams and initiatives focused on employee development and engagement.

A passionate advocate for mentorship, women’s rights, and the Lebanese diaspora, Ghada has also served as Board Chair of Equal Rights Advocates, Chair of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, and is currently Vice-Chair of the Board of the Arab Film and Media Institute.

Ghada’s deep ties to Lebanon and long-standing support for nonprofits reflect her unwavering commitment to giving back. As a LebNet Board member, she will help guide our strategic direction and champion opportunities for Lebanese professionals in tech and beyond.

Please join us in welcoming Ghada Saliba-Malouf to the LebNet Board of Directors!

We are delighted to announce that Mouhamad Rabah, CEO of ZEAL and the Beirut Digital District (BDD), has officially joined the LebNet Board of Directors.

With a visionary track record in building purpose-driven innovation hubs, Mouhamad has played a pivotal role in transforming Lebanon’s tech and entrepreneurship landscape. Under his leadership, BDD has become a leading center for digital and creative industries, empowering startups, talent, and communities to thrive.

Mouhamad’s commitment to nurturing youth through Forward MENA and his efforts to bridge academia and industry at AUB’s Innovation Park speak to his deep-rooted passion for impact and sustainable growth. His ability to unite sectors and scale initiatives across Lebanon aligns closely with LebNet’s mission to connect and empower Lebanese professionals worldwide.

As a Board member, Mouhamad helps guide LebNet’s strategic efforts to bridge North American expertise with Lebanon’s entrepreneurial future.

Please join us in welcoming Mouhamad to the LebNet Board!

We are proud to announce that Danny Hamady, Founder and CEO of Momentum Microsystems, has officially joined the LebNet Board of Directors.

With over 30 years of experience at the forefront of innovation in life sciences, biotech, and medical computing, Danny brings exceptional leadership and deep technical expertise to our community. His work has enabled scientific and healthcare advancements globally, powered by sophisticated computing platforms designed for complex environments.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Danny is known for his generosity, humility, and unwavering commitment to giving back. His strong ties to Lebanon and long-standing involvement in charitable initiatives embody the spirit of service and connection that drives LebNet’s mission.

Danny has already been a dedicated supporter of the LebNet community. As a Board member, he brings a powerful combination of entrepreneurial drive and philanthropic vision that will help guide and expand our efforts to empower Lebanese professionals in tech and beyond.

Please join us in warmly welcoming Danny to the LebNet Board!

We are thrilled to announce that Jibran Jahshan, Vice President of Software at NVIDIA, has officially joined the LebNet Board of Directors.

With over 21 years of experience in building global organizations, delivering transformative projects, and advancing AI-driven technologies, Jibran brings invaluable expertise and leadership to our community. A dedicated mentor and advocate for Lebanese technologists and entrepreneurs, Jibran has been the leader of LebNet’s Bay Area community, the largest in our network, fostering connections and opportunities for growth.

As a Board member, Jibran will play a key role in shaping LebNet’s initiatives and expanding our impact across North America and beyond. We are excited to collaborate and leverage Jibran’s insights to further empower the Lebanese tech ecosystem.

Please join us in welcoming Jibran to the LebNet Board!

LebNet was proud to team up once again with the Lebanese Collegiate Network (LCN) for their 17th Annual Convention this past weekend! Sponsored by LebNet, the LCN STEM Award recognizes outstanding subscribing students who demonstrate academic excellence, serve as ambassadors of Lebanese heritage, and lead among their peers. The award includes a $500 scholarship for one deserving undergraduate or graduate student.

This year, we are thrilled to congratulate Sosse Minassian on being selected as the 2025 LebNet/LCN STEM Award recipient!

The event was also attended by several of our LebNet LA/OC Youth Ambassadors — Christopher Bou-Saab, Kareem Dibs, Laura Gholmieh, and Mary Jo Harika — who represented the LebNet community with pride and enthusiasm.

A big thank you to LCN for the partnership and for continuing to highlight the achievements of Lebanese students across North America.

On March 14th, the LebNet Tech Fellows Program hosted its first in-person mixer of the year, bringing together fellows for an engaging and interactive evening. Since launching in January 2025, this was the first opportunity for the cohort to meet face-to-face, fostering meaningful connections in a dynamic and welcoming environment.

The LebNet Tech Fellows Program is a 5-month fellowship dedicated to nurturing the next generation of Lebanese technologists by providing them with the skills, mentorship, and network needed to successfully transition into tech careers post-university. With the program now at its midway point, this gathering was the perfect moment to unite fellows from 13 universities across Lebanon, reinforcing the importance of networking, collaboration, and community-building.

The event was led and organized by Tech Fellows graduates Batoul Hammoud and Nour ElSemrani along with Ghida Tabesh, LebNet's Communication Specialist, showcasing the impact of mentorship and peer leadership in driving the program’s success.

A special highlight of the evening was the introduction of “Bridging the Gap”, an initiative founded by Claritta Khoury, Jana Ayoub and Raghad Agha, graduates from the previous cohort. This inspiring program aims to empower female tech enthusiasts and encourage them to explore control engineering, showcasing the long-term impact of the Tech Fellows community.

We extend our gratitude to LAU for hosting us and supporting our mission to empower young Lebanese talent to excel in tech. As the Tech Fellows continue their journey, we are eager to see them grow, innovate, and forge lasting professional relationships that will shape their careers.

As we enter the second half of the program, we look forward to our next in-person event, where we will celebrate their achievements at this year’s graduation ceremony!

In response to the escalation in Lebanon in September 2024, LebNet and LIFE launched the Lebanon Education Emergency Fund (LEEF), raising $540,000 to support students whose education was disrupted, thanks to the generosity of both communities.

Our commitment was to channel these funds to impactful educational initiatives through trusted organizations. After careful assessment, we partnered with five NGOs:

• Ajialouna: Providing tuition support for school students.
• Bassma: Offering tuition assistance and salary subsidies for school psychologists.
• Beit El Baraka & Nafda (Joint Initiative): Delivering tuition support, psychosocial support, community-building activities for students, and teacher training.
• Ruwwad Al Tanmeya: Providing tuition, psychosocial support, and life/technical skills training.

Impact Overview:

• Over 2,200 students receiving tuition support across 35 schools.
• Over 4,700 students benefiting from psychosocial, capacity-building, and community engagement workshops.
• 200 teachers undergoing capacity-building training.

These projects focus on some of the most affected areas, including Akkar, Alma El Chaab, Baalbeck, Beirut, Ersal, Hermel, Nabatieh, Saida, Tripoli, and Tyre.

We sincerely thank everyone involved in the LEEF initiative, especially our donors and the members of LebNet and LIFE. Your generosity has provided a lifeline to students in Lebanon, helping ensure that they continue their education and have hope for a brighter future.

With the LEEF initiative’s fundraising now officially closed, stay tuned to ongoing milestone updates.

LebNet in partnership with LIFE, is launching a NY Pitch Night on Thursday, October 17, at the Offices of Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher LLP, followed by networking drinks. This event will showcase 8 Lebanese entrepreneurs, giving them a platform to present their ventures, meet potential investors, and expand their network. Prior to the event, they will also receive hands-on support from mentors from the LIFE or LebNet networks. If you haven’t booked yet, please do so by Friday, October 11, as places are limited. To kick off the evening, we’ll host a Fireside Chat: "Meet the Founders Who Secured $70M+ in VC Funding." Habib Kairouz, Managing Partner at Rho Capital, will lead an engaging discussion featuring 3 accomplished Lebanese entrepreneurs: Khaled Kteily (founder and CEO of Legacy), Alice Nawfal (co-founder and COO of Notabene), and Patrick Obeid (CEO of ESG Flo). Together, they will share insights into their startup journeys and how they successfully raised multi-million-dollar investments. The following companies have been selected by the committee: We'd like to express our gratitude to E14 and RHO for generously sponsoring the event, as well as our outreach partners—BDD, Endeavor, Viaka, and the NY alumni chapters of LAU and AUB. A special thank you to LIFE Board Member, Marwan Azzi, for hosting us at his offices.

Building on the success of LIFE's Pitch Nights in Dubai, Paris, and most recently, London, LebNet and LIFE are delighted to announce their partnership to launch their first pitch night in New York! This event marks a significant milestone as we give the floor to talented Lebanese entrepreneurs in the United States.

The event is taking place on Thursday 17 October and aims to offer support and guidance to Lebanese entrepreneurs based in the US or with a US presence, Canada or with a Canada presence, while facilitating networking opportunities and connections with potential investors. We intend to select up to 10 startups to participate in this exciting opportunity.

If you are a Lebanese entrepreneur or know someone interested in applying, complete this Google Form by Sunday 15 September. If you have any inquiries, please contact [email protected].

Due to the large number of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to provide individual feedback to those who are not selected.

Eligibility criteria for start-ups:

✅ At least one Lebanese founder

✅Startup based in the US or with a US presence, Canada or Canada presence

✅Tech startup or tech-enabled

Information to include in the pitch deck:

1. Executive summary (Elevator pitch)

2. Presentation of founder(s) profile and key management members

3. Product overview and value proposition

4. Timeline and traction to date

5. Business model: revenue streams, pricing model

6. Go-to-market strategy, growth strategy and sales/distribution model

7. Operating model: capabilities, assets, infrastructure (IT/technology)

8. Market opportunity: market size and historical evolution, growth drivers, and market growth forecast

9. Competition: an overview of the competitive landscape, your positioning, and key differentiators

10. Performance and financial KPIs: revenue, gross/net margins, number of users/customers acquired to date

11. Business plan: Growth plan and expansion strategy, revenue forecast, P&L forecast

12. Your ‘ask’ for funding: how much are you raising, what form (SAFE/Priced Round), basic use of funds, and any existing investors you want to mention?

Join us in welcoming Maria Salame Karam - LebNet’s Communication Director!

In this key position, Maria will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing LebNet’s communication plans and strategies. 

Maria brings a wealth of expertise, holding an MBA and degrees in Information Technology, Training and Development, and Talent Coaching. Her diverse career journey, transitioning from a software analyst to a management consultant, reflects her adaptability and proficiency.  

Specializing in change management, strategy, and corporate training, Maria is deeply committed to ongoing learning and development.  She is actively engaged in mentoring young graduates in Lebanon and supporting new MBA students at The University of Manchester in Dubai.  

LebNet anticipates achieving new heights under her leadership!

Welcome to Ghida Tabesh - LebNet's Communication specialist!

Ghida Tabesh, an Advertising graduate from the Lebanese International University, embodies a curious mind and a creative spirit.  Eager to evolve as an advertiser and marketer, Ghida is poised to contribute invaluable skills to LebNet.  Armed with enthusiasm, and a readiness to immerse herself in the LebNet community, Ghida aims to establish connections with LebNeters and play a pivotal role in elevating the LebNet website and enhancing its social media presence. Her commitment and fresh perspective are set to propel our marketing efforts to new heights.