The Asher Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ACIE) @ USEK
The Asher Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ACIE) at USEK helps the University community of entrepreneurs, whether students, alumni, faculty or staff, in developing their skills and beginning their startups. ACIE serves innovators, aspiring and existing entrepreneurs within the USEK community, to contribute to the growth of the Lebanese economy and job creation by organizing events, workshops, competitions, and acting as a go-to center in transforming business ideas into successful startups. It provides mentorship, acceleration, funding, and incubation to support startups and existing SMEs through a mix of targeted initiatives.
ACIE in action
Earlier this year, ACIE organized a “New Venture Challenge” day under the sponsorship of Byblos Bank. Eleven teams made it to the pitch and the first three winners were FreeKey, HelpMePlant, and Starchy.
The teams went on to make a wider impact
FreeKey, the NVC first prize winner, started implementing her idea, which is to provide light food snacks free from additives and GMOs, helping everyone lead a healthy, fit lifestyle. She competed at Souk.lb and made it to the accelerator phase. Starchy, the third prize winner at NVC, that created a new Lebanese 100% natural bio liquid product that coats fruits and perishable fruits to extend their shelf life, won the second prize at Agrytech and made it to the third phase of their Accelerator Program. Shot Gun Cartridge, a USEK student and faculty entrepreneurs team, won the Inas Abou Ayyash Foundation (IAAF) Award for the First Entrepreneurial Project 2017. Similarly, RCC won the Alfa and Ericson IOT Award, Innovate for Lebanon. Finally, Beachill, a USEK alumnus, won the Marriott Test Back in the entire Middle East for his innovative beach mattress.
China
A month later, ACIE organized a small conference entitled “Bridging Lebanon - China and Moving Forward”. Following this event, USEK Zahlé and the Asher Center, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in the Bekaa, organized a dialogue dinner to discuss the problems facing industrialists and the potential collaboration with USEK and the Asher Center to support industrialists in R&D, design and innovation.
Connecting with students
ACIE recently organized the Fortune Wheel Event at the USEK Kaslik campus, and later on at the Zahlé campus. The purpose was to raise the awareness of students about the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship and how the Asher Center can support them.
International symposium
ACIE’s latest event was an international symposium in collaboration with Cleveland State University (CSU) and entitled “The Transforming Power of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems: Lessons Learned”. With more than 40 speakers from all around the world, an exceptional and nurturing experience was delivered to all students from different faculties. During this event, USEK awarded the Honorary Doctorate to His Excellency Riad Toufic Salamé, Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon.
The Asher Center future plans consist of increasing the number of entrepreneurs and startups supported by the Center, and building its own accelerator and eventually its own investment fund.
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