The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), co-funded by the EU, has opened its call for applications for the Star Venture Programme in Lebanon. This opportunity provides intensive, tailored 24-month support, technical advisory, and up to $\text{€}50,000$ in grant funding to high-potential, early-stage Lebanese startups seeking to scale rapidly and internationally.
At a Glance
- Opportunity Type: Technical Assistance Programme and Grant.
- For: Early-stage, high-potential Lebanese startups focused on Research & Development (R&D) or deep technology.
- Key Benefits: Up to $\text{€}50,000$ grant funding, 24-month tailored advisory, mentorship, and access to international markets and investors.
- Application Deadline: November 30, 2025.
- Location: Lebanon (Support is experience-based and includes international soft landings).
Technical Assistance Programme Overview
The Star Venture Programme is Component 3 of the EBRD’s EU-funded Lebanon Innovation Programme, specifically targeting start-ups. The programme selects companies on a competitive basis for an intensive and tailored 24-month support experience designed to help them integrate and scale their innovations. This tailored experience includes strategic business diagnostic workshops, customized advisory projects, and mentorship.
Key Benefits
Selected start-ups receive intensive support and a grant of up to $\text{€}50,000$ through the following mechanisms:
- Customised Advisory: Receive customized advisory services from local and international consultants in diverse areas such as sales, marketing, operations, and finance.
- World-Class Mentorship: Access a network of more than 1,500 world-class mentors across the globe through a dedicated platform.
- Access to Finance: In-depth access to finance through investor pitch events, demo days, fundraising advisory, and introductions to investors.
- Market Soft Landings: Opportunity to attend international exhibitions/conferences or meet potential business partners overseas, with travel expenses reimbursed by Star Venture.
- Digital Credits: Access to free cloud-computing services (AWS/Azure credits) and entrepreneurial content curated in partnership with Amazon, Microsoft, and Coursera.
- Strategic Support: Receive assistance in areas such as research and development, strategy and planning, technology enhancement, internationalisation and scaling, and legal/governance.
Eligibility Criteria
Start-ups are encouraged to apply if they meet the following criteria:
- Location & Ownership: Must be based and/or operating in Lebanon, and majority-owned by Lebanese shareholders.
- Financial & Age: Must be an early-stage business with less than ten years since company registration date and have a turnover of less than $\text{€}1$ million.
- Innovation: Must have an innovative, technology-based solution or business model.
- Focus: Must have a focus on research & development or be leveraging deep technology as part of their business operations and offering.
- Potential: Must demonstrate high potential to scale, a strong addressable market opportunity, and a defensible competitive advantage.
- Commitment: Must be committed to continuous engagement throughout the entire 24-month duration of the programme.
Priority Sectors
The wider Lebanon Innovation Programme, which funds this initiative, prioritizes companies operating in the following sectors and their value chains, although application is not exclusive to them:
- Agribusiness
- Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- ICT and the Creative Industries
Timeline and Selection
The selection process is competitive and follows this tentative timeline for the 2025 intake:
- Application Deadline: November 30, 2025.
- Preliminary Selection Notification: December 8, 2025.
- Company Pitch Sessions: December 17, 2025.
- Final Selection Announcement: December 29, 2025.
Shortlisted companies will be invited to pitch in front of a panel of international experts and investors for the final selection.
How to Apply
Interested applicants are invited to submit their application forms by the deadline. Ensure your financial data and pitch deck are ready for upload.
- Action: Submit the application form in English, providing accurate information.
- Deadline: November 30, 2025.
- Application Link: Here
About The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
The EBRD is a multilateral development bank that belongs to a family of development banks. Its main mission is to help businesses and economies thrive through financial investment, business services, and involvement in high-level policy reform. The Bank operates in 38 countries, assisting them in advancing their transition to open market economies and fostering sustainable and inclusive growth.
Learn More: EBRD
