Bader aims to promote private initiative by inspiring the young generation and providing support to entrepreneurs through Education, Finance and Networking. Mr. Antoine Abou Samra, Managing Director, shared with us the organization's achievements and aspirations.

Ghada Moubarak: What have been the most recognized achievements of BADER since the program started?

Antoine Abou Samra: It is always hard to choose our most recognized achievements, but if we had to, then the following may come on top of the list (in no specific order):

• Becoming the partner institute of the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Network
• Raising $17m for one of the first Venture Capital Fund in Lebanon, the Building Block Fund.
• Launching the first business angel network in Lebanon, the Lebanese Business Angels (LBA)
• Awarding scholarships for a total amount of almost $200,000 over two years
• Partnering with MIT Enterprise Forum to organize the MIT Arab Business Plan Competition
• Developing our own curriculum for a 2.5-3 day workshop administered in under-privileged areas in Lebanon

GM: What are the major challenges that you are facing?

AA: One of the major challenges we face is finding high impact entrepreneurial projects of very good quality.

GM: What does BADER hope to achieve within 5 years?

AA: Bader will be actively expanding its activities to support entrepreneurs in the field of entrepreneurial education (through workshop, mentoring, and scholarships), financing (through the Lebanese Business Angels and others) and networking (especially with the Diaspora) to enable Lebanese entrepreneurs to enhance their reach.

GM: Where do you think that BADER program intersects with Berytech and how do they complement each other?

AA: Both support entrepreneurs each with a different set of programs.