After a successful first acceleration cycle, we began the thorough selection process of our second batch of startups. We carefully reviewed the entrepreneurs’ profiles and experiences and interviewed a big number of them to assess their technology ideas and products. Focusing on quality rather than quantity, we recruited only seven startups for our second acceleration program.

During the welcome note of the launch event, which took place on April 11 at Junkyard, Mar Mikhael, Sami Abou Saab, our CEO, reflected back on the achievements of Batch I startups and shared the acceleration goals for Batch II startups: “We have set our goals for Batch II very high and the seven selected teams look very promising already. We worked very hard using a multi-step recruitment process to make sure we choose the most capable entrepreneurs for the second acceleration. Learning from the first cycle, we fine-tuned our 3-month program to provide the startups with the biggest value and prepare them to follow the trail of Next Automated Robots and RationalPixels to Silicon Valley. Speed@BDD is continuously partnering and working with key players in Lebanon and abroad to create the right environment and channels for the Lebanese startup ecosystem, encouraging local talent to jump onboard the entrepreneurship bandwagon”.

Our seven new startups were then officially revealed to more than 150 attendees, including investors, key startup ecosystem players, and media representatives.

The second acceleration cycle will conclude on July 7 and will be followed by a Demo Day event around mid-July, 2016.

Stay tuned for exciting updates!