We all need a place to sit in front of a computer and get things done, whether it’s planning the next big startup idea, freelancing or writing a term paper. If you are not a fan of cafes, you can check out the co-working spaces in Beirut, Lebanon. The below cafes for freelancers, creatives, students and entrepreneurs all provide free WiFi and pretty good coffee or wine and tasty bites. Personally, working in busy, noisy places like coffee shops enhances my concentration.
Here is a list of 5 cafes for freelancers and entrepreneurs in Beirut, Lebanon where you’ll meet like-minded professionals and you can sit down, focus, and finally get some work done.
1- Aaliya’s Books
Location: The Alleyway, Gouraud Street, Gemmayze, Beirut District (map)
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AaliyasBooks/
Wifi: Pretty good
2- Urbanista
Location: my favorite spot is gemmayze (map)
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/urbanista.me/
Wifi: Good
3- Em Nazih
Location: Gemmayze (map)
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/atyab.man2ouche/
Wifi: When its crowded, the internet is very slow
4- Cantina Sociale
Location: Achrafieh (map)
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cantinasocialebeirut/
Wifi: Afternoon, not so good. Otherwise good.
5- Bartartine
Location: Hazmieh (map)
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bartartine/
Wifi: Pretty good
All the above cafes have an outside area, It’s hard to stay motivated and productive when it’s so sunny and summery outside. Have you found a coffee shop where you can get some work done? Let me know your favorite cafe to work at!
Coworking spaces in Lebanon is booming. Experts agree that the working in a shared space with professionals from different industries rather than a company office or coffee shop is working.
Coworking spaces for entrepreneurs, freelancers, startups and business owners in Lebanon are developing rapidly and successfully. The shared spaces provides a community that boosts productivity, creates discipline and motivates coworkers.
I’ve been an 8-5 office worker for almost 6 years and I just kick-started my freelance social media & digital marketing career. I’ve set up my home office, spent long days in coffee shops and I’m going to try working in coworking places for a month
So, here’s a complete list of coworking spaces in Beirut, Lebanon offering functional work environment with unique services and packages for all budgets:
Antwork:
Amenities: Fast unlimited internet, 3 locations, Free Coffee, a Relaxing Open Garden, Rooftop, Professional & Social Events…
Location:
Main Campus: Spears, Hamra, Beirut (Map)
Touch Lab: Beirut Souks, Beirut (Map)
Geek Express: Saifi Village (Map)
Website: https://www.antwork.com/
Day pass: 16$/day
You can become an antwork member and get your free nomad subscription 1 day access per month to the coworking space. PS Antwork have been nominated for ‘Best Coworking Space in Beirut’ in the Members’ Choice 2018 Awards.
Beirut Digital District BDD:
Amenities: Very Fast internet, 7 Buildings, events & workshops, gym, free coffee, auditorium, outdoor terrace.
Location: Nassif El Yaziji Street, Bachoura District, Beirut, Lebanon
Website: http://www.beirutdigitaldistrict.com/
Day pass: Berytech DigiHive 20$/day
BDD is currently the biggest community hosting more than 50 startups in Lebanon and 3 accelerators including Berytech, Speed and UK Lebanon Tech Hub. But if you are looking to for a private office, you will have to join a long waiting list.
The Koozpace
Amenities: Internet, pool, gym, 200 sqm coworking space, housing, workshops & events
Location: 20 Rue 17, Yarzeh, Baabda, Lebanon (map)
Website: http://www.thekoozpace.com/
Day pass: 25$/day
The Olive Grove
Amenities: Free coffee, conference room, fast internet.
Location: West House 3 Building, 2nd Floor, Jeanne D’Arc Street, Hamra (map)
Website: https://www.togbeirut.com/
Day pass: 15$/day
Servcorp Louis Vuitton Building
Amenities: Fast & free Internet, free coffee, free parking, events & workshops
Location: Levels 2 & 3, Louis Vuitton Building, 1479 Marfaa Beirut Souks, Fakhri Bey, Allenby Street
Website: http://www.servcorp.com.lb/en/locations/beirut/louis-vuitton-building/
Day pass: 10$/day
Berytech Co-Working Space
Amenities: Fast & free Internet, free access to lounge and food court, referral & loyalty program benefits, access to Fablab
Location: Mathaf, Berytech Building, 3rd Floor
Website: http://berytech.org/
Day pass: 16$/day
Mindlie
Amenities: highspeed Internet, kitchen, free coffee, events space
Location: Twin Towers Building Joünié Lebanon (map)
Website: https://www.mindlie.com/
Day pass: 7$/day student plan
Innovation Factory Beirut
Location: Street 401, Mkalles (map)
Website: http://www.innovationfactory.io/
The Submarine
Amenities: high speed internet, events & workshops, exhibition space, conference room, kitchenette, conference room
Location: Jnah, venezuela street (map)
Website: http://thesubmarine.me/
Day pass: 18$/day
Place and productivity are more connected than ever. With over 10 coworking spaces in Lebanon – Beirut, a small country, you’re sure to find the right budget and environment for you and your business!
When You’re a ‘Digital Nomad,’ the World Is Your Office – nytimes.com
Drop me an email if I missed listing your favorite coworking spaces in Lebanon – Beirut and share your experience (and this article).
The TechWadi Roadshow Powered by Google for Entrepreneurs came to Beirut, Lebanon for the first time on October 24 -25, 2015.
TechWadi RoadShow was developed in partnership with Google for Entrepreneurs (GFE) a division of Google designed to support entrepreneurial ecosystems as an opportunity to expand outreach to the MENA region.
The “TechWadi Roadshow” consisted of two day-long educational workshops led by TechWadi and powered by Google for Entrepreneurs that brought experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and stakeholders straight from Silicon Valley to mentor local startups in Beirut.
The mentors included seasoned professionals from companies like Google, Yahoo, Facebook, as well as founders of various Silicon Valley startups. The event took place in UK Lebanon TechHub, the local host and partner who worked with additional ecosystem partners to accommodate as many entrepreneurs as possible.
The event kicked off with Daniel Navarro, Marketing Manager at Google for Entrepreneurs (GFE) & Christina Ashtary, Program Manager at TechWadi, who welcomed the attendees and introduced TechWadi Organization and it’s dedication to building bridges between Silicon Valley and the MENA region in partnership with GFE.
The event consisted of multiple sessions that provided engaging presentations discussing entrepreneurship, market development phases, startups and investments in the MENA region allowing attendees to learn from established experts including Sherif Badawi, a serial entrepreneur and technology executive, who currently serves as a partner to VCs and startups at Google, Ramy Adeeb, Founder & CEO, Snip.it (Acquired by Yahoo!), Walid Hanna, Managing director at MEVP and many more.
Day 2 was exclusively limited to a selected group of partners startups and entrepreneurs and focused on tailored mentorship meetings and design thinking workshops.
Attendees shared their excitement during the event by live-tweeting speaker quotes and photos of the event on social media using the following hashtag: #SV2MENA.
For those who missed the event, you can find slide decks of mentor presentations here. You can also apply for the 2016 TechWadi Sprint Acceleration Program or the TechWadi Mentorship.
Hadafi, the women entrepreneurship program launched in 2013 is a FREE development program that provides female entrepreneurs with expert training & consultancy, financial support, entrepreneurial coaching and, of course, lots of priceless media exposure.
The program is directed towards women, aged 18 years and above, located in the MENA region with a scalable business idea, a startup or a newly established business.
Hadafi provides multiple awards for the winners including:
- Cash prizes,
- Being featured on “UN Women”,
- Invitation to “AllWorld Network Summit” at Harvard
- Coaching from “Girls in Tech”
- Access to the “Ahead of the Curve” training program
- A Booth in one of “Mompreneurs Bazaars“
- Training by Arab “ArabWomenPreneurs”
- Special Offer from “Eureeca- Crowdfunding “
Potential, Hadafi founders, just announced the launch of its fifth season. Participating in the program requires 3 simple steps:
The program is offered in collaboration with multiple strategic partners such as MBC TV, Pepsico and Ministry of Youth in Kuwait in addition to multiple regional and local partners such as Girls in Tech, Embassy of the United States in Kuwait, AllWorld Network, Eureeca, Arab Womenpreneur, In5, Flat6lab and many more.
Check out this video recap of the previous season:
Hadafi is a great program for all women out there with innovative ideas. Make sure to register & give your business the head start it deserves!
For the first time in the MENA region, Intel announced on August 10, 2015 the launch of Challenge ME! An IoT (Internet of Things) competition in collaboration with reputable educational institutions and non-profit entrepreneurship across the Middle East and North Africa.
If you have a start-up idea or you’re an entrepreneur developing technologies for the Internet of Things (IoT) market, make sure to sign up and submit your prototype before the closing date of the submission on October 22nd. The project idea should be aimed at developing or using new technology trends within the areas of the Internet of Things (IoT) with great business potential, such as: Drones, Wearable Products, Smart Homes/Cities, Automotive, Aerospace….
Experts from Intel corporation and the business community will assess the submitted projects based on two major areas; Innovative aspects of the IoT Technology Components and the attractiveness and scalability of the Business Model. Shortlisted projects will be invited to travel to Beirut in November 2015 for the final pitching with a chance to win over $15,000 in prizes and an opportunity to attend the Intel Innovation Summit in UK.
Eligibility: Participants must be above 18 years old and located in the MENA region: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Intel will also be conducting a series of webinars to assist participants and answer any questions regarding the submission process. Webinar Details
Visit challengeme.intel.com or ChallengeME! Facebook Page for more info about the competition’s; Timeline, Webinars, and Process…