Rony El-Nashar: Pioneering the Lebanese Startup Ecosystem
Rony El-Nashar is one of the leading figures in the Middle East’s entrepreneurship landscape. As the founder and managing partner of Berytech, Lebanon’s first and most influential startup incubator, he has played a central role in shaping the country’s innovation ecosystem. Through his work, Rony has empowered thousands of entrepreneurs, fostered technological innovation, and positioned Lebanon as a regional hub for startups. His vision and leadership have not only transformed the Lebanese entrepreneurial scene but also contributed to the broader evolution of the Arab innovation economy.
Early Life and Education
Rony El-Nashar was born and raised in Lebanon, a country known for its entrepreneurial spirit but also for its economic and political instability. Growing up in such an environment taught him the importance of adaptability and resilience—qualities that would later define his approach to business and innovation.
Rony’s educational background is rooted in both engineering and business, giving him a unique blend of technical and managerial insight. He graduated with a degree in Engineering from a leading Lebanese university before pursuing further studies abroad. His academic journey eventually led him to the United States, where he earned a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the University of Southern California (USC).
During his time in the U.S., Rony was deeply inspired by Silicon Valley’s startup culture. The dynamic blend of creativity, risk-taking, and collaboration he observed there made a lasting impression on him. He envisioned creating a similar ecosystem in Lebanon—a place where young innovators could turn ideas into sustainable businesses, supported by mentorship, investment, and community.
Founding of Berytech
In 2002, Rony El-Nashar founded Berytech, a first-of-its-kind initiative in Lebanon that combined an incubator, accelerator, and business development center under one umbrella. At a time when entrepreneurship was still a relatively new concept in the Arab world, Berytech became a pioneering platform for nurturing startups and promoting innovation.
Located at Saint Joseph University (USJ) in Beirut, Berytech was established with a clear mission: to empower Lebanese youth, encourage technological innovation, and create sustainable economic growth through entrepreneurship.
Berytech’s model was comprehensive—it offered office space, business support services, networking opportunities, mentorship, and access to funding. Rony envisioned it not just as a business incubator but as a community where ideas could thrive and innovators could collaborate.
Under his leadership, Berytech quickly became a cornerstone of the Lebanese startup ecosystem. It has since supported over 4,000 entrepreneurs, accelerated hundreds of startups, and created thousands of jobs.
Expanding the Vision
Rony El-Nashar’s vision for Berytech went beyond Lebanon’s borders. He understood that for Lebanese startups to thrive, they needed regional and international exposure. To achieve this, he built strong partnerships with organizations, universities, and investors across Europe, the United States, and the Arab world.
Berytech’s impact began to expand through regional projects supported by international institutions like the European Union, the World Bank, and the UNDP. Under Rony’s guidance, the organization also began to focus on key sectors such as agritech, cleantech, and ICT (Information and Communication Technology)—areas where Lebanon had strong potential for innovation.
One of his notable initiatives was the creation of the Berytech Fund, a venture capital fund designed to provide early-stage financing to Lebanese startups. The fund gave local entrepreneurs access to capital that was previously unavailable in Lebanon’s risk-averse banking environment.
This initiative not only provided financial backing but also signaled a major cultural shift: the rise of venture capital in the Arab region. By connecting capital with creativity, Rony helped lay the groundwork for a more vibrant and sustainable startup ecosystem.
Leadership Philosophy
Rony El-Nashar’s leadership is characterized by collaboration, empowerment, and long-term vision. He believes that entrepreneurship is not just about individual success—it’s about creating a culture of innovation that benefits the entire society.
He has often emphasized the importance of education and mentorship in entrepreneurship. For Rony, the success of a startup depends as much on the mindset of its founders as it does on funding or technology. This belief is reflected in Berytech’s strong focus on training programs, hackathons, and accelerator initiatives that help young innovators develop both their business skills and their leadership potential.
Rony also promotes a “give back” culture within the startup community. He encourages successful entrepreneurs to reinvest their experience and capital into supporting the next generation of innovators. This circular ecosystem of support has become one of Berytech’s defining strengths.
Challenges and Resilience
Building and sustaining a startup ecosystem in Lebanon has never been easy. The country has faced numerous challenges, including political instability, financial crises, and infrastructure limitations. Yet, under Rony’s leadership, Berytech has continued to grow and adapt.
During the 2019–2021 Lebanese financial crisis and the 2020 Beirut port explosion, Berytech played a crucial role in helping entrepreneurs stay afloat. The organization provided emergency support, digital transformation programs, and mentorship to help startups survive in an increasingly difficult business environment.
Rony’s ability to lead through crisis reflects his resilient and adaptive mindset. He views challenges not as obstacles but as opportunities for innovation. This philosophy has enabled Berytech to remain a beacon of hope and stability in Lebanon’s volatile economy.
Regional and Global Recognition
Rony El-Nashar’s work has earned him recognition not only in Lebanon but across the Middle East and internationally. Berytech is now regarded as one of the top innovation hubs in the Arab world, often featured in global reports on entrepreneurship and development.
Through his efforts, Lebanon has gained a reputation as a country with one of the most active and creative startup communities in the region, despite its small size and political challenges.
Rony has been invited to speak at major global conferences and has collaborated with organizations such as the MIT Enterprise Forum, UNESCO, and the European Investment Bank, contributing insights on innovation policy, entrepreneurship education, and ecosystem building.
Impact on the Middle East’s Startup Ecosystem
Rony El-Nashar’s influence extends far beyond Lebanon. The Berytech model has inspired similar initiatives across the Arab world—in Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, and the Gulf region. Many Middle Eastern innovation hubs cite Berytech as a benchmark for how to build a sustainable, inclusive, and impact-driven ecosystem.
His work has also helped bridge the gap between academia, the private sector, and government institutions—a crucial element in fostering innovation. By positioning entrepreneurship as a national development tool, Rony helped shift perceptions about business creation in the Arab region.
Legacy and Future Outlook
Today, Rony El-Nashar continues to lead Berytech with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity. His ongoing initiatives emphasize green entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and women’s empowerment—areas essential to the region’s future economic resilience.
His legacy lies not only in the companies he has helped create but also in the culture of innovation he has cultivated in Lebanon and the Middle East. Through his vision and leadership, Rony El-Nashar has proven that even in times of crisis, creativity and entrepreneurship can flourish.
As Lebanon and the region continue to evolve, his mission remains clear: to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs to dream boldly, act decisively, and build businesses that make a positive impact on society.
Published: 26th November 2025
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