Why We Should not Let Startups Fall During the Crisis
Starting in October of last year, entrepreneurs across the country have had to grapple with successive, often back-breaking calamities, and things don’t seem to be letting up anytime soon. The freeze on dollar assets has created operational hurdles for startups, particularly those that rely on imports – be it raw materials or licensed software. The
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The Impact of Currency Devaluation on Businesses
In a televised appearance in early February, the head of Statistics Lebanon revealed that 5,500 factories had shut down in Lebanon during 2019 due to the financial crisis, citing the need for three billion US dollars to import raw materials needed for production. Now fast forward to today to see news reports of shoppers lining
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Recyclables Pick-up Service Live Love Recycle Scoops up Green Award in Berlin
On September 18, Live Love Recycle, the on-demand recyclables pick-up service was awarded the Green Award for the best environmental startup at the Greentech Festival 2020 in Berlin, crowning five protracted years ripe with ingenuity and perseverance. The service is the brainchild of Georges Bitar, a private banker turned entrepreneur who forged his dedication to
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TIP Meets Oracle to Empower Startups
As part of its continued support to Lebanese entrepreneurs, and in light of the ongoing pandemic, the Touch Innovation Program is reaching out to TIP startups in their lockdown and offering them a chance to attend a series of valuable sessions in partnership with technology giant Oracle. Delivered by Oracle experts, they include tailored informative
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IoTree Leverages the Internet of Things to Give Trees a Voice
It all began three years ago for Nisrine El Turky. On a serendipitous mountain commute, a chance encounter with dispirited farmers intent on selling their land set her heart and mind on finding a tech-driven solution to their plight: failure to grow and export high quality produce. Digging deeper, she uncovered the source of the
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6 Weeks from the Blast: Looking Back at How Startups Are Lending a Helping Hand
More than a month has passed since Beirut suffered one of the most powerful non-nuclear explosions in history. The blast, which pulverized the Beirut port and ravaged much of the city, left more than 190 people dead, 6,500 injured, 300,000 without a home, and $15 billion worth of property damage. And as the city slowly
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Innovation Born out of the Pandemic
We are yet to fully grasp the full impact of COVID-19 on our global economy and our day-to-day lives. But what is abundantly clear is that the pandemic is proving to be a huge catalyst for change and innovation. Naturally, the most notable agents of progress will be the most disruptive technologies and, more specifically,
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The MIT Lebanon Challenge is Nearing Completion
On June 26, 600 Lebanese individuals coming from a diverse range of educational and professional backgrounds got together for a three-day virtual event to develop innovative solutions that address some of Lebanon’s most pressing socio-economic problems. The event, which comprised a 48-hour virtual hackathon, effectively marked the beginning of the MIT Lebanon Challenge. Touch joined
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Scale or Die: Cherpa’s Trials during the Recession
As health officials around the world fret about a second wave and desperately urge the public to keep vigilant, there was a glimmer of hope on Monday that a vaccine against COVID-19 might be found soon. Researchers at Oxford University had reportedly had positive initial results from early trials of a vaccine that appeared to
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