LebNet Bay Area was thrilled to host its 6th Bireme Award Ceremony on Tuesday, September 30th, bringing together nearly 70 members of our community for an evening of celebration, inspiration, and connection. 

This year, we proudly honored:

• Simon Kalouche, Entrepreneur of the Year, Founder & CEO of Nimble, a robotics company valued at over $1B and shaping the future of automation.

• Alaa Khaddaj, Young Scientist of the Year, PhD candidate at MIT specializing in trustworthy AI and machine learning.

Both awardees shared their journeys, highlighting pivotal moments in their careers, the influence of their Lebanese heritage, the challenges they faced, and their vision for the future of robotics, AI, and entrepreneurship. Their stories inspired a room filled with students, young professionals, and seasoned leaders alike.

The evening featured a panel discussion moderated by last year’s Bireme awardees, Aya Mouallem and Hadi Salman, who guided an engaging and thoughtful conversation with Simon and Alaa. The discussion explored:

• Building world-class startups and navigating early-stage challenge

• The role of Lebanese heritage in shaping innovation and leadership.

• The future of robotics, automation, and trustworthy AI 

In her remarks, LebNet’s Executive Director captured the spirit of the evening:

“The ties that bind us as Lebanese stretch across oceans and generations, uniting us no matter where we are born or where life takes us. Simon and Alaa are proof of that truth, one born in the U.S., one in Lebanon, yet both deeply proud of their homeland, our tiny country that continues to astonish the world with extraordinary talent, boldly navigating, connecting, and leaving their mark.”

The event drew record attendance for a Bay Area gathering, with a strong showing from the younger generation eager to connect, learn, and contribute to the community. The energy in the room reflected both pride in our shared heritage and a commitment to supporting the next wave of Lebanese talent.

We received wonderful feedback from attendees:

“Heartfelt and inspiring—I was blown away by the talent and ethos of the awardees and everyone I met. A powerhouse in all respects.”
“A record number of attendees, especially from the younger generation. The content and delivery were perfect—bravo!”
“The energy, organization, care, discussion, and attendance were tops. What an event you put on—thank you!”

The unanimous feedback was that participants left inspired, and that they will definitely be at the next event!

A special thank you goes to the LebNet Bay Area Leadership Team: Jibran Jahshan, Nour AbiSamra, Murad el Haj, Luna Maroun, and Ali Thabet, for organizing this memorable evening, and to Paul Klimos and Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton for generously hosting us.  We are also grateful to the five members of the LebNet Board who attended in person to show their support, underscoring the importance of this event for the entire organization.

We also extend our gratitude to Château Belle-Vue (Bhamdoun, Lebanon) for donating their wines for the evening. We encourage you to explore their Wine Club.

Finally, thank you to our community for showing up in full force to support this milestone event. Together, we are building a vibrant community where one connection can change a career, a life, and a future.

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