2025 has begun on a high note for Lebanon, and that energy resonates across our campus. Over the past 12 years, BDD has continually evolved to meet the growing ambitions of our members. Today, we are proud to be Lebanon’s leading, community-driven digital hub. As we reflect on the journey, it’s the highs that stand out the most!
Achievements Rooted in our Five Pillars
Our success has been driven by the core foundations that guide everything we do. From the very beginning, we understood that growth and innovation stem from fostering a strong sense of community. It is with these principles at the heart of our journey that we’ve achieved so much and continue to thrive, overcoming challenges and moving forward with purpose!
Community: Now 4,000+ members strong, from diverse industries and backgrounds calling BDD home
Throughout the year, over 1,000 events took place at BDD, contributing to Lebanon’s vibrant startup and innovation ecosystem. To highlight some of the most inspiring partnered events, we compiled the Top 10 Events we were a part of this Year:
- BDD Founders Meet up
- Web Summit Qatar 2024
- President’s Innovation Challenge 2024 | AUB iPark
- Créer, Innover, Entreprendre en Français XIXe Sommet de la Francophonie
- Ecoswitch Festival 2024
- AWS Community Day 2024
- “Rise. Innovate. Rebuild.”, Innovation Day
- Third Edition of the SDG Brain Lab
- The Summer of Tech event
- TechCircle Event: Lebanese Tech Ecosystem Challenges & Opportunities
Despite the challenges and hardships our country faced, our community member’s achievements left us standing in awe of the unbreakable spirit of the Lebanese people—who time and again prove that no obstacle is too great to overcome.
Last and most importantly, what is a community if we do not look out for one another, especially during challenging times? During the 2024 war on Lebanon, BDD stood by its founders, offering support to help navigate the crisis with the aim to ensure the protection of businesses and jobs. Our commitment remains to continue standing alongside the entrepreneurs who are shaping Lebanon’s future.
Sharing Economy: Creating Opportunities
Our 40,000 SQM business district includes 6,500 SQM of shared spaces and amenities, offering cutting-edge facilities that complement our smart and hassle-free value proposition for founders. In 2024, we added numerous meeting rooms, large event spaces that support live streaming and video conferencing, state-of-the-art boardrooms, and data centers housed in our LEED Gold-certified building. We’ve also introduced a brand-new podcast room available for booking by tenants and outside visitors alike, the space can be easily reserved at the click of a button through our app.
Smart Design: A Futuristic Connected Campus
Having completed phase 2 of the BDD Masterplan, today we are shaping the future of smart urban spaces through:
=> Offices of the Future This year, Lebanese startup Chabaka, acquired by Universal Music Group, joined our thriving ecosystem, while PepsiCo relocated to a brand new fully customized office within BDD.
=> BDD APP continuously connecting our campus with community members.
Our journey doesn’t end here. With renewed optimism echoing this year, we’ve begun the design of Phase 3 further expanding our vision of a connected, sustainable, and future-ready district.
Sustainability: All around
Beyond our environmental efforts, BDD and its educational arm, Forward MENA, are tirelessly working towards a sustainable future for Lebanon’s youth. We are proud to have launched nammiskills, a platform designed to bridge the gap between education and businesses, with a focus on upskilling and reskilling young adults. Our mission is to empower youth to enhance their earning potential by preparing them for the jobs of the future. We are proud to have assisted +3,000 youth in obtaining certifications so far—looking forward to expanding this impact even further in 2025, with a focus on private sector employment needs.
As a progressive and socially conscious community, we collected over 12 tons of recyclable materials in collaboration with Live Love Recycle.
On Earth Day 2024, Lebanese artist Paulette Touma Eid showcased upcycled art at a special exhibition at the BDD Piazza!
Social Wellbeing: Work, Live and Play
We believe that a thriving community is about more than just work—it’s about living well, connecting with others, and finding balance. We ensure all members have access to an inspired and motivated environment that nurtures productivity and creativity.
For a better lifestyle, amenities at BDD include:
A New Moms Room – A comfortable and private space designed to support working mothers.
A Dry-Cleaning Service by Fabric AID – Bringing added convenience to our community.
A Playroom – Foosball and pin pong for all to unwind from a busy work day
A Montessori Kindergarten – Providing a safe, nurturing, developmentally-appropriate learning environment for children of specific ages.
…and what is Innovation without Art?
Enriching and encouraging art exposure across the campus through various exhibitions, including the “Caminante Exhibition by Alida Tarabay” and the addition of Michael Blitz’s Picnic bench installation, which made its way to BDD from Banksy’s Dismaland exhibition in the UK.
Our community spirit continues to grow with:
Happy Hours – A time to unwind, socialize, and strengthen bonds after a productive day.
Cycling & Yoga Classes – Encouraging movement, mindfulness, and overall wellbeing!
We believe in the power of our community, placing BDD, Beirut and its talent on the global map.
Thank you to all those who were part of this journey. We look forward to another chapter of Innovation, Growth and Impact.
