Incubator and accelerator
with digital focus at ESA

Startups to benefit from BDL Circular 331

The ESA Business School (L'École Supérieure des Affaires) plans to start ‘Smart ESA’, an incubator and accelerator in Beirut to cater to startups from the seed stage and up. Smart ESA is a strategic initiative of BDL, the French Embassy, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris and Ile-de-France.

The program will provide its services under Circular 331 of the Central Bank (BDL), which aims to support startups in the innovative and knowledge sector.

Smart ESA will focus on the digital sector and will start receiving startups from June. It will be located in a four-story building within the campus of the ESA Business School in the Clemenceau area.

Smart ESA will provide a nine-month acceleration and incubation program that will help startups create a good business plan and will coach them in all aspects of business activities, such as sales, marketing, legal and human issues. The program will also include connecting startups to successful entrepreneurs who will be invited to give lectures and to be role models. It will also comprise conferences, seminars, workshops, mentorship and training services. The program is based on a set of training courses by the ESA Business School adapted to help develop entrepreneurship and create high performing teams.

Smart ESA will build networks with financiers, investors, banks, business angels, and venture capital funds. It will also provide access to the European market via France, as the Lebanese market is small.

Smart ESA will open networks with regional and European ecosystems and with L’Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), as well as with France Tech, a French Government initiative that supports startups.