This past week, ZAKA had the privilege of standing alongside 21 remarkable Lebanese startups at VivaTech 2025, Europe’s largest startup and tech event. Held in Paris, this global stage brought together innovators, investors, and future builders, and Lebanon showed up with vision, resilience, and purpose.
Despite all odds, a new generation is not waiting for ideal conditions. It is building. Acting. Innovating.
The Lebanese Pavilion: More Than Presence, It’s a Statement
Curated through the joint efforts of leading ecosystem enablers including SmartESA, Berytech, Beirut Digital District, Endeavor Lebanon, Talal and Madiha Zein AUB Innovation Park, La French Tech Beirut, Chambre de Commerce Franco-Libanaise, CCI France Liban, the Embassy of France in Lebanon, and the Embassy of Lebanon in France, the first-ever official Lebanese Pavilion at VivaTech was a powerful declaration: Lebanon is not only surviving, it is shaping the future.
ZAKA was proud to be among fellow startups such as ACCESSOFF, AXELIFE, Chimera Cybersecurity, CME, Edubolt, Fundbot, InBalance, iolokis, Olivya Limited, Oreyeon, Parency, Purpl, Roadie Music, Soft Retail, Spexal, Sword Group, Udaress AI, Water Monster, Zleep, and more. Each company brought something unique, but we were united by a shared belief: that Lebanese innovation has global relevance.
Conversations That Mattered
Beyond the exhibition floor, the Lebanese delegation engaged in strategic visits to:
- JCDecaux Group, to explore how outdoor media is transforming in a digital-first world
- PariSanté Campus, France’s hub for healthtech innovation, where we discussed future collaborations for AI-driven health solutions
We also participated in a meaningful evening at the Lebanese Embassy in Paris, hosted by H.E. Mr. Ziad Taan, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Lebanon in France, with special addresses from Dr. Kamal Shehadi, Minister of State for AI and Technology, and Dr. Mohamad Abou Haidar, Director General at the Ministry of Economy and Trade. Their presence gave strength and legitimacy to our efforts.
From Outsourcing to Opportunity
ZAKA joined a dynamic discussion moderated by Samir Heneine, alongside inspiring voices in the ecosystem: Larissa Abi Nakhle, Fabien Mawas, Bechara G. Maalouf, Myriam Aouad Zarife, and Marwan Gedeon. Together, we explored how Lebanon can position itself as a strategic outsourcing destination for AI talent and innovation.
With its exceptional tech professionals, multilingual workforce, and agile entrepreneurial mindset, Lebanon offers unique value to global partners seeking high-quality AI development and scalable expertise.
What ZAKA Showcased
At Booth B08 in Hall 01, we presented our latest work in AI education, applied solutions, and strategic partnerships. As the region’s partner in building AI capacity, our mission resonated with international investors, collaborators, and companies looking to unlock the potential of AI through local expertise.
A Vision That Transcends Borders
What stood out to us most was not just the opportunity to pitch or present, but the energy. We saw Lebanese founders redefining what’s possible through AI, cybersecurity, healthtech, edtech, and more. This isn’t just resilience, it’s investable momentum.
To everyone we met in Paris: let’s keep building together.
To Lebanon’s ecosystem: thank you for reminding the world that brilliance can rise from challenge.
To our partners and team: this is just the beginning.
Missed us at VivaTech? Get in touch to explore our work in AI talent development, education programs, and innovation consulting, or to collaborate on building the next generation of AI solutions: partners@zaka.ai
