Two startups from the first batch of Speed@BDD’s acceleration program co-funded by IM Capital as part of USAID MENA Investment Initiative, Next Automated Robots (N.A.R.) and RationalPixels, have graduated from the “LebNet Ignite Powered by Blackbox Connect” program in Silicon Valley. All 6 startups from the first batch applied to the "LebNet Ignite powered by Blackbox Connect" program; 3 were shortlisted and interviewed, and only 2 were selected by LebNet and BlackBox. The startups attended a two-week residential acceleration in BlackBox premises designed to immerse startups in Silicon Valley’s culture and grant them access to advanced expertise in order to grow and scale globally. During the program, the entrepreneurs received mentorship on business and growth strategies from venture capitalists, successful founders, and top-notch experts. The program offers value-add services that are tailored to each startup’s vision, business needs, and plans for long-term growth. LebNet – a network of prominent Lebanese-American professionals who work in the technology sector primarily in Silicon Valley - is able to offer these customized services thanks to its vast network of successful high-tech members.

“When we arrived to Silicon Valley, they told us they were going to transform us in two weeks. I laughed but now I realize that it was true: it has been a real transformation. We had the chance of connecting with Silicon Valley community members, international startups, and domain-specific experts. We will make use of everything that we have learned here and at Speed@BDD to take things to the next level,” stated Charlie El Khoury, co-founder of N.A.R., a startup that aims at delivering a cost-effective, fully autonomous, and drone-based solution for fast wildfire detection and alert. "We left our jobs in Barcelona, moved to Beirut, and started working on our startup during Speed@BDD’s 3-month acceleration program. And now, coming to Silicon Valley and experiencing this real feeling of the possible was just overwhelming," added Rida Sadek, co-founder of RationalPixels, a startup that provides a software technology that allows automatic product placement in already-shot videos. The two Lebanese startups were among 12 international teams for this Silicon Valley immersion; N.A.R’s and RationalPixels’ experience will be a positive development for the Lebanese startup ecosystem, and is just the start of a bridge between Beirut and Silicon Valley.