The contribution of Entrepreneurship to the economy as a whole is significant. But when you’re a furniture, jewelry or graphic designer in Lebanon the market is small. How do you extend your reach beyond the local market? You need to cross borders and be a born global. But how do you achieve this bearing in mind that a large proportion of new business ventures usually fail?

This panel discussion will start by addressing these challenges. It will then focus on one of the most important contributing factors to successful business ventures: the startup team; the attributes of successful startup teams, team formation, and collaboration within the team.

Facilitators:

Dr. Fouad Smokhol is currently the President of the Lebanese Businessmen Associations. He is also General Manager / Co-Owner of Zimco group (a holding that includes a Printing Press, a leather factory and a diary publishing house) and Board Member of “Forum Francophone des Affaires” (FFA). Dr. Zmokhol is a Professor at Saint Joseph University (USJ) – Lebanon and Member of the Strategic committee of the Faculty of Business (USJ) and Speaker at several national and international conferences.

Fouad Saade has both hands-on and academic experience in the field of entrepreneurship. Fouad’s background is a blend of the business and creative worlds. During his university career, Fouad touched graphic design and automobile design and then finally chose the business track; earning a BSc in Corporate Finance (Clemson University, USA), and a MSc. in Entrepreneurship (Aalto University, Finland). Fouad wrote his MSc. thesis around the creative industries and is familiar with the challenges that face new business ventures in this sector. He has successfully spun off two family companies in the Middle East, founded and co-founded startups in Finland, coached high tech startups in entrepreneurship accelerators and incubators, and provided startup strategy consultancy to new business ventures both in Finland and in Lebanon.

From 16 to 24 January, GAIA-Heritage is hosting a weeklong event of activities In Mar Mikhael within the EU-funded project MEDNETA. The event includes Toolbox: a series of free workshops for artists, craftsmen and designers.

Toolbox will be happening over 3 days: 22, 23 & 24 of January.

Day 1 will expose creatives to new technologies and innovative techniques

Day 2 will provide creatives with the needed entrepreneurial, and marketing skills to create their own businesses.

After the first two days of training artists, craftsmen and designers will spend Day 3 collaborating to create products and their respective business plans and present them to a jury. Members of the jury include: Kafalat, RDCL - Rassemblement de Dirigeants et Chefs d'entreprises Libanais, UNESCO, a design market expert and a design process expert.

To participate on Day 3, creatives need to have attended a minimum of 2 workshops on Days 1 and 2 and sign up at the IGA premises by 12pm on Day 2.

By the end of 2015, these products will be further developed between the artists, craftsmen and designers of MEDNETA’s partner cities (Athens, Tunis, Valencia, Florence and Hebron) and exhibited around the Mediterranean.

inMarMikhael