PAST EVENTS RECAP

On June 27, the LebNet Chicago community came together for an evening of soccer, networking, and connection while watching the Portugal vs. Colombia match.

The event welcomed both familiar faces and first-time attendees, with a particularly strong turnout from early- and mid-career Lebanese professionals, reflecting the continued growth of the Chicago community.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a success. We look forward to seeing you at future events as we continue building connections across the LebNet Chicago community.

On June 23, LebNet Vancouver brought together an exceptional group of leaders from technology, healthcare, investment, engineering, real estate, and industrial innovation for its inaugural Meeting of the Minds roundtable, setting the stage for the growth of a vibrant Lebanese professional community across Western Canada.

Hosted by Marianne Zakhour and Elio Ibrahim, the gathering created a unique space for meaningful conversations around artificial intelligence, innovation, entrepreneurship, and cross-sector collaboration, while exploring how the community can contribute to the future of Western Canada.

A highlight of the afternoon was a keynote by Ibrahim Gedeon, former Chief Technology Officer of TELUS and author of Automata, who shared his perspectives on AI, innovation, leadership, and the technological shifts shaping the decade ahead.

The discussion that followed reflected the remarkable diversity of expertise in the room. Participants exchanged ideas on the opportunities and challenges facing their industries, explored the growing impact of AI and emerging technologies, and identified opportunities for collaboration that could generate meaningful economic, social, and technological impact.

A central theme of the afternoon was shaping the future of LebNet Vancouver itself. Together, participants discussed how the community can create lasting value through mentorship, knowledge sharing, meaningful connections, and collaborative initiatives that strengthen the Lebanese professional ecosystem across Western Canada creating meaningful economic and social impact for the region as a whole.

The energy in the room was evident throughout the event. As attendees shared:

"What a great afternoon today was!"

"Very interesting and interested crowd."

Building on this momentum, the group is already planning its next gathering, with a kickoff luncheon scheduled for September to continue growing relationships, ideas, and opportunities within the community.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed their insights. This gathering marked an exciting first step toward building a thriving LebNet Vancouver community, and we look forward to what comes next.

On June 23, the Lebanese professional community gathered at Amazon's London offices to celebrate the official launch of LebNet London, marking a major milestone as LebNet established its first chapter outside North America.

The evening brought together entrepreneurs, technologists, investors, researchers, students, and professionals from across the UK for an inspiring celebration of community, innovation, and collaboration.

The event featured opening remarks from Georges Akiki, President of LebNet, who shared LebNet's journey, mission, and vision for connecting Lebanese talent globally while strengthening relationships across industries and geographies.

Attendees also enjoyed a dynamic conversation with Petros Farah, Investment Director at Samsung Ventures, moderated by Yasmin Baba, Co-Founder & CTO of Amilis. Together, they explored venture investing, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, innovation trends, and the opportunities and challenges facing founders in today's rapidly evolving technology landscape.

Beyond the discussions on stage, one of the evening's greatest successes was the community itself. Throughout the event, attendees spoke about how valuable it was to finally meet fellow Lebanese professionals working across technology, engineering, finance, venture capital, and entrepreneurship. Many shared that, despite living in the UK, or even spending most of their lives outside Lebanon, they had never before experienced a community dedicated to bringing Lebanese professionals together in this way. New relationships were formed, familiar faces reconnected, and conversations continued well into the networking reception, reinforcing the clear appetite for a community like LebNet in London.

The launch also highlighted one of LebNet London's greatest strengths: its connection to a global network of Lebanese professionals across North America, Europe, and beyond, creating opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, career growth, entrepreneurship, and cross-border partnerships.

As attendees shared:

"May this be the great beginning of many more events to come! Thank you for your passion and commitment to Lebanese in Tech, and for creating a space where our community can connect, grow, and thrive together."

"Very well organized event."

A special thank you to Georges Akiki, Petros Farah, and Yasmin Baba for making the evening so impactful. We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to the head of LebNet London Steering Committee Sami Abou Saab and his community founding team Sami El Houcheimi, Sarah El Houcheimi, Andrew ElKadi, Wassim Rahbani, Elie Matta, Joseph Keyrouz, Catherine Chaya and Karen Nassif, for their vision, dedication, and hard work in bringing this community to life.

Most importantly, thank you to the wider Lebanese community across the UK for showing up with such enthusiasm, embracing this new chapter, and helping make the launch such a memorable success.

Finally, a sincere thank you to Common Breads for generously contributing the food and helping create such a warm and welcoming atmosphere for our guests.

Check the full event album by clicking on the photo below!

On June 17, the LebNet Bay Area community gathered in San Francisco for an inspiring evening of startup pitches, networking, and innovation, bringing together founders, investors, operators, and members of the Lebanese diaspora.

Organized through a collaboration between LebNet, LIFE, and Endeavor Lebanon, the event showcased ten promising startups spanning legal tech, AI, health tech, enterprise software, procurement technology, advanced hardware, and digital innovation:

• Cambria – An AI copilot for music production that turns natural language into professional studio workflows, empowering creators to make real music faster.
• Fitoto Tech — Revolutionizing audiology with instant, on-site manufacturing of custom-fit earmolds using high-speed 3D printing.

• GridWeave – A secure AI infrastructure platform that transforms distributed hardware into shared compute power without relying on the cloud.

• HAQQ Legal AI – A jurisdiction-aware legal AI platform helping law firms across MENA automate research and legal workflows with unmatched regional accuracy.

• Oculi – Pioneering software-defined vision sensors that deliver ultra-fast, energy-efficient AI vision for the next generation of smart machines.

• Pipp – A social storytelling platform that turns real lives into binge-worthy series, connecting creators, audiences, and brands around authentic human stories.
• Revilico – Building the operating system for pharmaceutical R&D by using AI and autonomous cloud labs to dramatically accelerate drug discovery.
• Rivio – The AI workforce for procurement, automating purchasing and negotiations to make enterprise buying faster and smarter.
• Umbrella – An AI-native operating system streamlining logistics, communication, and transactions for live entertainment and hospitality operators.
• Zaqa – An AI platform that works inside manufacturers’ existing systems to automate repetitive workflows like a highly trained digital employee.

A highlight of the evening was a keynote address by George Kadifa, Co-Founder & Senior Advisor at Sumeru Equity Partners, Chairman of the American University of Beirut's Board of Trustees, and former Chairman of LebNet. Drawing on his experience as a technology executive, entrepreneur, and investor, George shared insights on leadership, scaling companies, what makes founders stand out, and the importance of resilience, execution, mentorship, and community.

The event was made possible through the support of many contributors and valued partners. We extend our sincere thanks to our partners at LIFE and Endeavor Lebanon for their collaboration and shared commitment to supporting Lebanese entrepreneurship. A special thank you to Elias Saade for generously hosting us in a fantastic venue and, together with Antoine Saouma and his company, for sponsoring the evening. We would also like to thank the LebNet Bay Area Leadership Team, with special recognition to Karim Ahmad for leading the event and Jibran Jahshan for his welcome remarks and continued leadership in growing the Bay Area community.

The positive feedback from attendees reflected the energy and impact of the evening:

"Great event last night, guys. It was also great to catch up with many of you."

"Great job, Bay Area LebNet community."

"Even more impressive! It was a brilliant evening."

Finally, thank you to all the founders, investors, partners, volunteers, and community members who showed up, engaged, and supported the event. Your participation is what continues to make the Bay Area one of LebNet's most vibrant and impactful communities.

We look forward to continuing to create opportunities that connect founders, investors, and innovators across the Lebanese entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Check the full event album by clicking on the photo below!

As momentum continues to build toward the official launch of LebNet London, the community recently gathered on June 11th, for an exclusive roundtable discussion with Jibran Jahshan, Vice President of Engineering at NVIDIA, LebNet Board Member, and leader of LebNet's largest chapter in the Bay Area.

The intimate gathering brought together Lebanese professionals from across London's technology, startup, and innovation ecosystems for an evening of thoughtful discussion, networking, and knowledge sharing.

Drawing on his extensive experience in technology leadership, Jibran shared insights on the evolving AI landscape, career growth, innovation, leadership, and the importance of building strong professional communities. Participants engaged in an open and dynamic discussion, exchanging perspectives on emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, talent development, and opportunities for Lebanese professionals across global markets.

Beyond the conversation itself, the event served as an important opportunity for members to connect with one another and strengthen the foundations of the growing LebNet London community.

As attendees shared:

"Great event! Thanks team for organizing. It was really nice meeting everyone today."

"Well done, this was flawless. It did hit the very sweet spot of creating the right value, hype, and momentum ahead of the launch event! Looking forward to many more."

"Nice one guys!"

A special thank you to Jibran Jahshan for generously sharing his time, experiences, and insights with the community. We also extend our gratitude to Wassim Rahbani and the LebNet London leadership team for organizing such a successful gathering and helping build excitement ahead of the chapter's official launch.

We would also like to thank all the members of the London community who attended and contributed to the discussion. The energy, engagement, and willingness to share ideas and experiences are what make this community special and will help shape the future of LebNet in the UK.

This event represents just the beginning of an exciting new chapter for LebNet in the UK. We look forward to welcoming more members at the official launch event on June 23, featuring Georges Akiki, President of LebNet, and Petros Farah, Investment Director at Samsung Ventures.

The future is bright for LebNet London, and we are excited to see the community continue to grow, connect, and thrive.

Check the full event album by clicking on the photo below!

On June 5, members of the LebNet Michigan community gathered in Dearborn for an intimate evening of networking and conversation.

The dinner brought together Lebanese professionals in a relaxed setting to connect, exchange experiences, and discuss ways to further strengthen the local community. 

As LebNet Michigan continues to grow, gatherings like these provide an important foundation for building lasting relationships and fostering a connected network of Lebanese professionals across the region.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. We look forward to welcoming even more members at our upcoming events.

The LebNet Boston community came together on June 3 for a vibrant Networking Night, bringing together professionals, students, entrepreneurs, and community members for an evening of meaningful conversations and new connections.

Held at Flat Top Johnny’s in Cambridge, the gathering provided a relaxed setting for attendees to expand their networks, exchange ideas, reconnect with familiar faces, and welcome new members into the community.

One of the highlights of the evening was the strong engagement among attendees, with conversations spanning careers, entrepreneurship, technology, and opportunities for collaboration across the broader Lebanese professional network.

As one attendee shared:

"It went really well; great conversation with interesting new people."

Events like these continue to reinforce the value of community and the importance of creating spaces where Lebanese professionals can connect, support one another, and build lasting relationships.

A big thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making the evening such a success. We look forward to seeing the Boston community continue to grow and thrive in the months ahead.

On May 27, LebNet Women in Tech, in partnership with ZAKA, successfully hosted another engaging session under the Wit Mentorship Program with the webinar “AI Deeper Dive: Automations & Agents,” led by Christophe Zoghbi, Founder & CEO of ZAKA.

The session brought together members of the LebNet community for an insightful exploration into workflow automation, AI-powered systems, and the growing role of AI agents in modern organizations. Christophe walked participants through the foundations of automation, helping attendees understand how repetitive and time-consuming tasks can be streamlined through accessible no-code and AI-enabled tools.

Participants also explored key concepts, including automation triggers, actions, conditions, workflows, and the distinction between chatbots, automations, and autonomous AI agents. Through practical examples and live demonstrations using Make.com, the session highlighted how AI can support smarter operations, enhance productivity, and enable more adaptive systems across industries.

A special thank you to Christophe Zoghbi and the ZAKA team for sharing their expertise and providing our community with practical insights into one of today’s most transformative technology spaces.

We also thank everyone who joined the session and contributed to the engaging discussions. Stay tuned for more upcoming LebNet Wit Mentorship Program events designed to empower and connect Lebanese professionals worldwide.

We highly recommend that you also enroll in the “Agentic AI Bootcamp”. LebNet members get a special 10% discount using the LEBNET10 coupon, available via this link.

Watch the full episode here.

Attached is a PDF on AI Agents & Automations: AI Deeper Dive_ AI Agents and Automations.pdf

The LebNet Montreal community gathered on May 25, for an engaging and timely evening exploring how AI is reshaping today’s job market and what young professionals can do to better prepare for the future of work.

Moderated by Andrew Kobersy, the panel featured Léa El Hage (IBM), Fadi Joseph (EnStream LP), Ralph Kobersy (Accenture), Maher Tabbara (Intact), and Nada Zogheib (Strategic Advisor & Coach), who shared valuable insights on career growth, leadership, adaptability, and navigating rapid technological disruption in the AI era.

A major theme throughout the discussion was the growing concern among young graduates and software engineers around AI-driven automation and the changing nature of technical roles, especially as coding and repetitive tasks become increasingly automated. The panelists emphasized the importance of developing strong communication skills, adaptability, creativity, leadership, and other human-centered capabilities that will remain critical in an evolving job market.

The conversation also highlighted the challenges many graduates are currently facing in securing opportunities, with panelists encouraging attendees to actively network through LinkedIn, industry events, and community platforms while continuously building both technical and soft skills.

The evening sparked strong engagement from attendees, particularly from students and first-time participants, with discussions and networking continuing long after the panel concluded.

As attendees shared:

“Great gathering as usual. Thanks to the organizers and the panelists.”

“It was an amazing event as a first timer.”

“Awesome energy… the audience engaged a lot with the panelists and clearly enjoyed the networking pre and post event.”

Many thanks to our speakers, moderator, attendees, and the LebNet Montreal team for organizing such a thoughtful and impactful evening for the community.

Stay tuned for more exciting events to come!

Check the full event album by clicking on the photo below!

The LebNet Chicago community gathered for an engaging evening exploring how AI, cloud, and cybersecurity are transforming the future of healthcare through real-world applications and innovation.

Moderated by Nadine Ghaith, Senior Manager at Endeavor, the panel featured Najib El Tecle, Neurosurgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Pascal Issa, Managing Consultant in Cyber Defense at Google, and Sammy Nicolas, Principal at Kinetic Point Capital. Together, they shared valuable insights on the intersection of healthcare, technology, cybersecurity, and investment, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of modern healthcare systems.

The discussion explored how AI and cloud technologies are helping improve operational efficiency, patient care, and decision-making, while emphasizing the growing importance of cybersecurity and resilient infrastructure in protecting healthcare systems and sensitive data.

One of the key themes throughout the evening was the importance of building trusted, scalable, and secure systems that can support innovation while remaining practical and impactful in real-world healthcare environments. The event also sparked strong engagement and networking among attendees, bringing together professionals, students, and community members for meaningful conversations around innovation, leadership, and the future of healthcare technology.

As one attendee shared:

“What an amazing evening. What an amazing dialogue. What an amazing group of people. Can’t wait to get together again!”

Another attendee reflected:

“Thank you Nadine for organizing and moderating this informative and wonderful event with outstanding and inspiring panelists. The venue was great and well-suited for the panel discussion and social networking. Thank you LebNet Chicago committee for continuing to impress us with your events. We are looking forward for what's to come.”

Many thanks to our panelists, moderator, attendees, and the LebNet Chicago team for organizing another thoughtful and impactful gathering for the community.

Check the full event album by clicking on the photo below!